2023 Sauternes are a dream for lovers of sweet white Bordeaux wine. Unlike the last vintage, when wines were produced at this level of quality, the harvest was ample, so there are a lot of wines to sell. For those readers who remember 2021 Sauternes, numerous estates were devasted with massive crop losses due to frost. Some properties were only able to produce 1 hectoliter per hectare, down from an average of 12-15 hectoliters per hectare!
2023 Sauternes are loaded with the most important ingredient to make fabulous sweet wine in Bordeaux, Botrytis. The magic combination of September rains with late, afternoon sun, and warm temperatures were perfect for the onset of Noble Rot.
For a detailed overview of the 2023 Bordeaux vintage, growing season, and harvest, with links to all of our appellation reports 2023 Bordeaux Vintage Analysis with Buying Tips for the Best Wines of the Vintage
All of the following 2023 Sauternes and 2023 Barsac wines were tasted in Bordeaux in April in non-blind tasting conditions. Most of the wines were tasted at the property. However, I also tasted several wines at Negociants, and Consultants, as well as with various trade groups.
2023 Sauternes… The Wines…
2023 Bastor Lamontagne – Sauternes – Candied lemons, pineapple, marmalade, and white peaches with honey on the nose are perfect for the medium-bodied, fresh, sweet, palate. This lighter, fresher, Sauternes is a nice wine to pair with savory courses, or serve as an aperitif. Drink from 2026-2040. 91-93 Pts
2023 Broustet – Barsac – Roasted nuts, and pineapples with floral accents shine here. The wine is perfect for early-drinking pleasure with honey, pineapple, and cashew character. The is going to be delicious as a chilled aperitif, or with savory courses. Drink from 2026-2038. 89-91 Pts
2023 Clos-Haut-Peyraguey – Sauternes – Caramel, brown sugar, roasted pineapples, vanilla, toasted orange peels, spice, candied oranges and apricots combine and make it happen in the nose, and palate. work together to create the attention seeking perfume. What’s not to like? It is unctuous, spicy, racy, lush, ripe, and sweet On the palate, the wine is viscous, sweet, and intense. You find a wealth of honey-coated pineapples, apricots, mangos, marzipan, vanilla, and spice that are as creamy, and unctuous, as they are fresh, and vibrant. The wine blends 80% Semillon with 20% Sauvignon Blanc. Drink from 2028-2049. 94-96 Pts
2023 Coutet – Barsac – Flowers, pineapples, candied orange rind, lemon curd, and saffron aromatics are all over the place here in the nose, and palate. The wine is perfectly balanced between its sweet, and zesty side, with ample, honeyed fruit, vanilla, roasted nuts, and over ripe pineapples. This is already simply great, and it is only going to get better from here. Drink from 2027-2050. 95-97 Pts
2023 De Fargues – Sauternes – Flowers, ripe, sweet, candied pineapples, toasted nuts. mangos and apricots offer intensity, purity, sweetness, and a racy lift. The fruit delivers intensity, lift, length, and a hint of spice that adds complexity to the honey-drenched tropical fruits. Drink from 2027-2055. 95-97 Pts
2023 Doisy Daene – Barsac – Vanilla, flowers, candied pineapple, white peach, apricots, orange skins, and roasted nuts. The vibrance on the palate, with the purity, and energy in the tropical fruits, paired with ample acidity to give this lift makes this a true, sweet, treat. Drink from 2026-2050. 94-96 Pts
2023 Doisy Vedrines – Sauternes – Candied lemons, mango, honey, spice, and yellow, tropical fruits slathered in honey are at work here. The wine is zesty, with sweetness and a racy finish. Drink from 2027-2040. 92-94 Pts
2023 Guiraud – Sauternes – Floral, sweet, and energetic, with pineapples, lemon curd, honeysuckle, candied mangos, and roasted nuts, with a touch of saffron coming in at the end of the nose. Perfectly perched between its sweet, and racy side, with length, purity, freshness, and sweetness, yet it remains light on its feet. This seems to be a new era for Guiraud, with Sandrine Garbay in charge. Drink from 2027-2050. 95-97 Pts
2023 La Tour Blanche – Sauternes – Bright, sweet, honeyed, yellow citrus, and candied orange rind, zesty, and fresh, sweet, and bright… Candied lemon, pineapple, and honey with floral accents, apricots, and hints of white peach on the nose, and on the sweet, medium/full-bodied, fresh, mango, and pineapple-infused palate. Drink from 2025-2045. 92-94 Pts
2023 Lafaurie-Peyraguey – Sauternes – Apricot, saffron, cashew nuts, roasted pineapples, candied tangerine, mango, and vanilla bean aromatics let you know you are in for a sweet, treat. Juxtaposed between candied, and vibrant, the wine is intense, racy, and sweet, leaving you with ripe, very ripe, and overripe pineapples, apricots, spice, honey, and vanilla bean. The wine is produced from 100% Semillon. Drink from 2029-2055. 95-97 Pts
2023 Sigalas Rabaud – Sauternes – Juicy, ripe, and overripe pineapples, apricots, candied white peaches, caramel, flowers, and honey are all over the place. The finish is all about the honey-slathered, ripe, and over ripe, sweet tropical fruits with their racy edge. You can enjoy this early as well as age it. Drink from 2026-2045. 92-94 Pts
2023 Suduiraut – Sauternes – Intensity is the keyword here. The wealth of ripe, and overripe white peaches, pineapples, pears, roasted cashews, apricots, spice, and vanilla is off the hook! The wine is rich, opulent, and seductive, but there is ample racy acidity giving this sweet treat the lift it needs. Long, and seamless, this is a true, decadent treat, that lovers of sweet wines should have in their cellars. It will age for decades. The wine was made from 100% Semillon. Drink from 2025-2060. 97-99 Pts
Up Next, we move to look at all of the best 2023 White Bordeaux Wine we tasted 2023 Bordeaux Blanc.
