Chateau Lafaurie Peyraguey 2016

ANTONIO GALLONI: "The 2016 Lafaurie-Peyraguey replicates its showing from earlier this year. It was picked from September 29 until November 4 via three tries, the yields a comparatively bounteous 23hl/ha. It is matured in 30% new French oak with 132g/L residual sugar. The nose offers seductive aromas of honey and brioche, the latter perhaps a little more accentuated in this bottle, but still very well defined. There is just a touch of chamomile that evolves with aeration. The palate is supremely well balanced, delivering a viscous opening and coming across very honeyed and luscious if not quite as powerful as the succeeding vintage. This is extremely pure in style, and not the most persistent compared to its peers, but I do adore the ginger and white pepper note that pops up on the aftertaste. Very fine. Tasted from an ex-château bottle sent to my home."

DECANTER: "This has a lovely texture and shows a clear botrytis character, with a lift of menthol freshness and twist of lime on the finish. Pinpricks of enjoyable bitterness on the final push give contrast to the rich body."

FALSTAFF: "Helles, zart trübes Gelbgrün. Frische weiße Frucht, floraler Touch, ein Hauch von Honig. Kraftvoll, gute Komplexität und Eleganz, deutliche Süße, mineralisch unterlegter Abgang."

JAMES SUCKLING: "Very exotic and attractive aromas of white peaches and lemon curd with yellow-grapefruit, fresh-apricot and light, green-mango notes. The palate has a superbly polished array of bright white peaches and yellow grapefruit. Truly exotic and very polished. The acidity underpins smoothly fleshy fruit to good effect. Drink or hold."

THE WINEADVOCATE: "Pale lemon colored, the 2016 Lafaurie-Peyraguey gives up bold notions of fresh pineapple, green mango, lemon meringue pie and yuzu zest with touches of beeswax, lime blossoms, toasted almonds and cedar chest. The palate is all class with fantastic poise, purity and precision giving the tropical and citrus layers loads of sparkle through the long finish."

WEINWISSER: "93 % Sémillon, 6 % Sauvignon Blanc, 1 % Muscadelle, 23 hl/ha, 30 % neue Barriques. Produktion: 48.000 Flaschen. Mittleres Goldgelb mit grünem Schimmer. Was für ein Parfüm nach Ananas, Mango und Papaya, dahinter Lindenblütenhonig und Eisenkraut. Am öligen Gaumen mit intensivem Pfirsichfleisch und feiner Minze. Der Wein besticht durch eine atemberaubende Frische, die ihresgleichen sucht und mit Mandarinenöl in einem gebündelten, sehr langen Finale endet. Die Balance macht für mich dieses Jahr den kleinen, aber feinen Unterschied aus und daher setzt sich der Lafaurie-Peyraguey ganz knapp im Fotofinish vor Yquem und L'Extravagant de Doisy-Daëne durch. Ganz nah an der Perfektion!"

WINESPECTATOR: "Direct, with a polished beam of pineapple, yellow apple, honeysuckle and elderflower honey notes, this has a pretty charm and good range for the vintage. Best from 2022 through 2032. 3,833 cases made."