Semillon

World Wine – Formed from ugni blanc, clairette, viognier, muscat-a-petit grains, riesling. Mostly ugni blanc though. Old vines, low yields here. The wine was matured on lees for its life before bottling. This is delicious. It’s slippery in texture, fragrant and bursting with character. Honey, lemon blossom, pear, green apple in the bouquet, suggestively sweet, but not so to taste. Glides in the palate, shows depth of pear-like flavours, licks of oatmeal and sweet spice. Precise, but with a come hither drinking appeal. Lovely stuff.

Wine Spectator – A light straw note frames modest tangerine and grapefruit peel flavors, with a flicker of quinine adding zip to the finish.

The Wine Front – Sauvignon blanc and semillon with some chardonnay, they say. This is the Little Touch Of Christmas label (which is just a festive season alternative). About 20% is barrel fermented. It’s been a winning drink for a long while. Good balance, refreshing feel, easy going texture with a touch of extra interest. There’s good intensity of green pea/grassy semillon and a counter punch of tropical fruity semillon. The palate has good energy, stacks of freshness, dry finish. There’s all the citrus and zestiness to acidity you could ask for. Kind of an old school Margaret River dry white kind of feel, in the best possible way. It’s got plenty of charisma.

The Wine Front – Softer style, with richness of flavour and almost creamy to taste. There’s gooseberries, lime, subtle whiff of tomato bush and thistle, but it’s more about fruit than shrubbery. Chalky feel, juicy fruit, and a lime and snow pea infused finish of good length. Altogether good. Composed and stylish.

World Wine – "...a quiet veneer of pencil shavings on the nose, which adds a sense of refinement to the quince and grapefruit notes...medium-bodied in the mouth and slightly creamy in texture, with vanilla swirled effortlessly in with an array of ripe citrus flavours...and there's a dose of cedar on the long, mouthwatering finish." - Joe Czerwinski

Robert Parker/Wine Advocate – Robert Parker - A prodigious effort, possibly the finest Suduiraut since 1959, the medium gold-colored 2001 offers notes of creme brulee, caramelized citrus, Grand Marnier, honeysuckle, and other exotic fruits as well as a pleasant touch of oak. With terrific acidity, a voluptuous/unctuous palate, and sweet, powerful flavors buttressed by crisp acidity, it is a phenomenal Sauternes.

World Wine – Neal Martin - The nose is rather taciturn at first, unfurling with tantalising slowness: clear honey, pear, orange-blossom and apricot. Wonderful definition. The palate is not as powerful as others, but there is a tangible sense of minerality underlying the honeyed fruit, very focused and endowed with breathtaking definition and tension towards the vibrant finish.

James Suckling – This is big, powerful and intense, with loads of ripe fruit and spice character. Full-bodied, racy, very sweet and long. Complex, layered and fantastic, showing ginger spice. Really stands out. Excellent.

Wine Spectator – This is so creamy, almost milky in feel, with toasted coconut and cashew notes giving way to sweet peach, apricot and glazed pear flavors that glide along, while ginger, green tea, lychee and kumquat flavors extend through the finish. Shows terrific range and definition. Feels like it's just starting to open, and is in no rush. Drink now through 2035.

World Wine – Neal Martin - The 2004 Chateau de Fargues is a fantastic wine for the vintage and should not be overlooked. It boasts a heavenly bouquet with touches of white chocolate, dried honey, marmalade and quince that opens exuberantly with aeration. The palate is extremely well-balanced with a fine line of acidity. There is certainly very good weight here, similar to the Doisy-Vedrines, albeit packed with greater sophistication and breeding. It builds gloriously in the mouth toward its tender praline and honey finish, which lingers long in the mouth. This is a superb and perhaps overlooked Chateau de Fargues. (Apr14)

James Suckling – Pretty deepness and ripeness to this with honeydew, dried-melon and lemon character. Medium body.

Antonio Galloni/Vinous –

World Wine – Vinous - Deep straw with green tints. The nose displays good intensity: taut and minerally, well defined,developing with aeration aromas of crème-brulee, honey and a touch of biscuit. The palate is very attractive: well balanced, lithe and feminine, very good poise, attacking but not aggressive. The acidity slices through the honeyed fruit with precision and style. A touch of viscosity towards the finish, but not as unctuous as other ’02 Sauternes. This is a finely tuned Sauternes that excels in this vintage. Excellent

Decanter – This dry white from Doisy-Daëne is a lively pale gold colour. It's bright, tight, firm and sculpted, with some verve through the palate. An impressive dry white this year, with good persistency.

Wine Spectator – Offers a bright inner core of honeysuckle, pineapple, star fruit and white peach flavors, coated for now with heather honey, marzipan and mango notes. Fresh and racy through the finish, this is an elegant beauty, showing terrific cut and precision. Best from 2015 through 2030.

James Suckling – A triumph for the vintage with spices, dried mushroom, dried pineapple, peaches, and honey. Full and sweet with bright acidity and a long, intense finish. Powerful wine. This could be the best Coutet ever.