Ch.Suduiraut 2011 ex-ch 750ml

Wine Advocate #217, Feb 28, 2015, by Neal Martin
The Château Suduiraut 2011 has a muffled nose at first: dried honey and quince, wet wool and marzipan scents that gradually open up with aeration. Coming back after 10 minutes there is a heartwarming gingerbread note. The palate is viscous on the entry and full of tension. There is a keen line of acidity here, quite linear at first, but it fans out nicely toward the finish and offers notes of honey, mandarin and even a touch of rhubarb! This is a class act, a Sauternes that does not need to shout about its inherent qualities.

The responsibility lies with Leonard de Suduiraut, a Bordeaux parliamentarian, who in 1580 married Nicole d'Allard, whose family owned the land that is today the site of the eponymously named chateau. This fine property was not where the 16th-century newlyweds lived, however, as this was not erected until many years later.
This construction of the fine chateau, was a response to the local Governor, the Duc d'Epernon, who having fallen out with the Suduirauts expressed his rage by flattening their property, forcing the family to redesign and rebuild. In the process the Comte Blaise de Suduiraut, Leonard's grandson, created one of the finest properties in all Bordeaux, and he surrounded his pristine and elegant chartreuse-style two-storey chateau with an expanse of gardens. These are still a notable feature of Chateau Suduiraut, having been designed by Andre Le N'tre, who was also responsible for the creation of the Sun King's gardens at the Palace of Versailles, the Tuileries Gardens in Paris, as well as the gardens at a number of other historic estates.

Cheese, Blue Cheeses