1986 Chateau Lafaurie-Peyraguey, Sauternes, Premier Cru Classe, Sweet White Bordeaux, France.
A friend celebrating his birthday opened this to share his special day and what a treat, especially to taste a lovely aged Sauternes in it’s prime. The 1986 Lafaurie is still vibrant and fresh with bright and tangy fruit that has hints of honey, but not overly sugary and a wine of subtle charm and good depth. The nose is still a bit shy, but the palate is refined and shows candied tropical fruits, lemon, orange peel, tangerine and stone fruit fleshiness with warm creamy vanilla and sweet spices. There is good tension here and remarkable lift, and while really super now, it does have plenty of time to get even better. I was grateful to share in such a fine sweet wine and will keep an eye on sauternes like this in the future.
($125-180 Est.) 94 Points, grapelive
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