2001 Château de Malle- France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes (6/5/2021)
Oh yum! Saturday afternoon at our beach place and decided to open a Sauternes. Beautiful brass color! A big nose of apricots with the botrytis. I’m surprised how much acidity this wine still has… very full flavored showing creme brulee and oranges. This showed much better than I expected. Now if I can keep the beach bugs out of my glass I’d enjoy it even more!
I drank a lot of these early. They had a distinct grapefruit taste. My wife universally avoids any sweet wines, but could drink these when they were young. I wasn’t as impressed as they aged and went from citrus to compote, but haven’t opened one in many years.
de Malle is likable but isn’t my first choice among Sauternes. Given how most of the non Yquem/Climens wines all seem to be comparable in price, I’m biased towards other producers.
Had a lovely 2001 Lafaurie Peyraguey last weekend - viscous, honeyed, golden - yet with a touch more zip than 2003.
