critic reviews
A blend of 80% Semillon and 20% Sauvignon Blanc, the 2023 de Rayne Vigneau has 160 g/l of residual sugar and a pH of 3.71. It is pale lemon-straw in color and bounds out with exuberant notes of fresh mangoes, persimmons, and musk melon, leading to hints of wild fungi, honeycomb, and orange marmalade. The palate is wonderfully concentrated, bursting with tropical fruit flavors and earthy accents, supported by a refreshing backbone and finishing on a lingering, lemon-curd note.
Enjoyably concentrated and intense, highly spiced as are many of the Sauternes wines in this vintage due to small yields, which gives focus and a welcome edge of bitterness to the exuberant nectarine, pineapple and fresh fig flavours. Silky texture. Vincent Labagère director.
The 2023 Château de Rayne-Vigneau has an intense nose that currently shows a bit of oak; that will be integrated with time. The palate is sorbet-fresh on the entry with tangy marmalade, peach and saffron notes. There is an undercurrent of stem ginger that lends a bit more complexity on the finish. Once the aromatics cohere, as I am sure they will, this will constitute a fine Sauternes. Give it four to five years once bottled.