1990 Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey, Sauternes (375 ml)

Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey, a Premier Grand Cru Classé in 1855, is in the highest part of the village of Bommes. With Château Yquem as its neighbour, its 18 hectares of vineyards stand on the third terrace of the Sauternes appellation, over 70 metres above sea level. The mosaic of terroirs – spread across the four villages of Bommes, Sauternes, Fargues and Preignac – give the wines of Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey their typical, long-reputed style. The ‘L’Enclos’ and ‘Maisons Rouges’ plots of land form the historic heart of this exceptional terroir, with the others distributed near to various Crus Classés within the appellation in the form of five-hectare islands (Yquem, Suduiraut, Guiraud, Rieussec and d’Arche). A wide range of soils and subsoils (mostly gravel and clay) have been recorded here, a unique typology which explains the exceptional aromatic complexity offered up by Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey wines.

"I remember how one-dimensional, diffuse, thick, and alcoholic this wine tasted from cask and immediately after bottling, but it has progressed enormously. The 1990 exhibits a deep golden corn-like color, followed by sensational aromatics (honeyed citrus, pineapple and pear intertwined with smoke and creme brulee-like notes). In the mouth, the wine is massive and full-bodied, with an unctuous texture, and powerful, juicy flavors that possess mouth-staining extract, glycerin, and viscosity. This is a blockbuster-styled, sweet Sauternes with at least 30 years of longevity, (WA, 92 points)".