A Sauternes Tasting Dinner

Inspired by a tasting I read about on Wine Berserkers - https://www.wineberserkers.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=65095&p=868113#p868113 - 

I recently arranged a Sauternes Tasting Dinner. 

I thought it would be a once in a lifetime tasting. Would it be possible to drink only Sauternes throughout a whole dinner?

The answer is yes, it worked out really well. You can see the dishes below. I used another 1988 Sauternes - Bastor Lamontagne - for all sauces and marinades, and that helped making the dishes work with the wines.

But will I ever do it again? No, I don´t think so. After the tasting I really craved a red wine...

1988 Château Rabaud-Promis

Corked.

No rating   (tasted 2022/10)

1988 Château La Tour Blanche

A rich, concentrated, a bit stifled nose with notes of lemon licorice, moist earth, dried figs and detergents. Very deep.

The taste is rich and concentrated with notes of dried apricots, lemon jam, dry honey and earth. Very long. Almost fully mature.

88p   (tasted 2022/10)

Terrine of duck legs and duck liver with a Sauternes aspic

1988 Château Rayne-Vigneau

A very deep, focused nose with notes of cooked red apples, glue, saffron and Christmas spices. Very fine.

The taste is big and concentrated with notes of sweet/sour lemon confit, apricots, sweet spices and glue. A very good acidity. Very long. 8+ years.

92p   (tasted 2022/10)

Sweetbreads and mushrooms

1988 Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey

A very fine, deep, focused nose with gorgeous notes of orange honey, wet asphalt, butter fudge, smoke and autumn apples. Just lovely.

The taste is rich and balanced with fruit, sweetness, acidity in great harmony. Very long. Ends semi dry. On its way towards maturity but I guess that this will go on for 20+ years.

95p   (tasted 2022/10)

1988 Château Filhot

A soft, mature nose with notes of glue, warm rocks, yellow apples and a ever so slight hint of coconut. A fine dried up sweetness.

The taste is semi dry and mature with notes of bitter almonds, dried apricots, dried grass and orange peel. Long and fine. Feels fully mature but will surely last for many years to come.

90p   (tasted 2022/10)

Baked salmon with a lemon and Sauternes sauce

1988 Château Suduiraut

A big, bold nose with notes of dried up orange jam, almond paste, detergents and saffron. Rich and fine.

The taste is big and fat with intensity and power. There is a good amount of acidity too keep the sweetness at bay, but it lacks a bit of charm. Will go on forever.

90p   (tasted 2022/10)

1988 Château Rieussec

A very fine, multi layered nose with notes of apricots, dry lavender honey, tangerines, hand cream and wet asphalt. Racy and refined. Lovely.

The taste is tight and concentrated with stunning fruit, balance and a perky acidity. Elegant. Very, very long. Still on the young side of things. Great wine.

95p   (tasted 2022/10)

Rabbit with root vegetables and a sauce made from the rabbit bones, cream & Sauternes

1988 Château de Fargues

A very deep, dark, concentrated nose with notes of burnt sugar, white raisins, banana peel and moist earth. Very fine.

The taste is high and intense with notes of caramel, scorched earth, figs and candied orange peel. Very, very long. On the verge of maturity, this will last for decades before drying out.

93p   (tasted 2022/10)

1988 Château Climens

A brilliant nose with everything you want and need in a Sauternes. It has the typical Barsac character with a lighter touch and stunning notes of ripe tangerines, hay, lemon fudge and a high salty note. Beautiful.

The taste is all about understated elegance and a laser like focus. The lenght is counted in minutes. Beautiful fruit. Wonderful to drink today but this will go on for 20+ years.

96p   (tasted 2022/10)

Roquefort, figs and white raisins

1988 Château d´Yquem

Well, Yquem delivered the goods. Awesome from start to finish. There is an extra dimension here compared to the fine wines above. There are extra layers, both on the nose and on the palate. You could just sit and sniff on this for hours and taking a small sip from time to time. Still young. This is for ones grandchildren. Perfection in the making, just wait 20-30 years...

98p   (tasted 2022/10)