Château Suduiraut 2010 - 1er Grand Cru Classé

Rich, toasty, velvety, impressive—still a bit heavy-bodied—it leans more toward Barsac than Sauternes. Great potential.

The estate now produces the exceptional wines that its terroir allows, with perfect consistency and a complex yet carefully considered range of first and second wines, as well as two remarkable dry wines. It’s hard to choose between the sweet second wines—Lion, which is a bit more modern and exuberant, and the more classic Castelnau—since both are crafted without compromise, featuring a lovely roasted character from the grapes. Among the dry wines, S has a bit more density than the standard dry wine. Only Yquem manages to do just a tiny bit better, especially when it comes to aging.

During the reign of Henry IV, Suduiraut was a medieval castle known as the “cru du Roy.” After being destroyed by fire during the Wars of Religion, it was rebuilt in 1670, resulting in the magnificent château we know today, surrounded by gardens designed by Le Nôtre. Much like the castle, this wine—fresh, full-bodied, and powerful—embodies order, robustness, and balance while avoiding any sense of austerity. Very elegant throughout the tasting, perfectly balanced, powerful, rich, and round, enlivened by a healthy freshness that extends the finish, and subtle in its aromatic development (flowers and white fruits, caramel, brown sugar, candied and toasted notes), it is already very enjoyable while showing serious potential for long-term aging.

The liqueur is certainly rich, but it balances elegantly with the crispness of the fruit and the tartness of the citrus. The nose is intense and powerful, with lingering notes of tobacco, truffle, amber, and candied fruit.

This vast estate was acquired in 1992 by AXA Millésimes. Thanks to a geographically well-distributed vineyard, Suduiraut combines the power of Haut-Sauternais wines with the prestigious fruitiness found in the wines of the Preignac and Barsac plateaus. The result is a well-rounded wine that ages very slowly and, in great vintages, borders on genius. The most recent vintages have reached a very high standard.