4 | Wine | Sweet, $20 to $50, 91 to 95

"The Sigalas-Rabaud has a well defined nose: grapefruit, nectarine, honey and lime, much more primal than some of the other 2009s. The palate is very well balanced with excellent acidity: apricot, honeysuckle, a touch of orange zest and then vibrant white peach bursting across the finish with lime flower and lemongrass on the aftertaste. Wonderful persistency, power and freshness. Without question: the 2009 is the best Sigalas-Rabaud that I have tasted and this nectar comes highly recommended."

"The 2009 Rayne-Vigneau is one of the stars of the vintage. It has a very well defined, almost understated nose with white peach, apricot and lime leaf: very pretty and succinct. The palate is very well balanced, beautifully defined with real minerality showing through the viscous, botrytized fruit. Great tension here, effortlessly counterbalancing the richness to perfection."

"This has a very primal nose. ...the oak exposed at the moment although there is obviously a great deal of fruit concentration underneath. The palate is well balanced, a little oaky on the entry, dried honey, lemon curd, apricot and orange peel towards the linear finish. Tightly coiled Sauternes, quite modern in style, this should develop over 8-10 years in the bottle before really opening up and one hopes, evolve a little more "personality"."

"The minerality and stoniness really comes through on the nose of this Rieussec, more than the 2007. The palate is very well balanced with superb acidity, real tension, steely with great precision with notes of apricot, white peach and honey on the beautifully defined finish. Probably the best Rieussec since the astounding 2001."

"This is initially very muted on the nose, but it unfurls seductively. ...with subtle, perfumed aromas of lime leaf, white peach, fresh apricot and touches of white flowers: very pretty and well defined. The palate is beautifully balanced, so pure and succinct with wonderful precision towards the vibrant, white peach and apricot finish. This is a wonderful Sauternes and one of their best wines in recent years." -Neal Martin, The Wine Advocate, 94-96 pts.

"The palate is well balanced with a citric entry, touches of apricot and lime. ...tightly coiled towards the finish with the acidity slicing through the viscous honey fruit with a touch of Tropicana. Again, this is a very focused, tensile Sauternes with beguiling clarity." -Neal Martin, The Wine Advocate, 92-94 pts.

"Richly layered and detailed, but thoroughly mouthwatering, this lets lacy citrus, floral and white peach flavors meld into a core of quince, fig and persimmon fruit, while warm piecrust and honey roasted almond notes drive through the finish. Very long, with superb cut despite its power. "
-Wine Spectator, 94 pts

"This is comparatively timid on the nose, giving very little away at the moment despite rigorous coaxing. But the palate is very promising, very well balanced, very focused with a fine citrus attack on the entry, fanning out towards an apricot, white peach and lime tinged finish that shows a great deal of unctuous honeyed fruit on the finish. This is an exuberant Doisy-Vedrines that yearns to offer pleasure."

"Very well defined and natural. ...An expressive nose with notes of clear honey, apricot, fig and a touch of walnut...The palate is quite racy and spicy with ginger inflecting the mandarin, pear, marmalade and apricot fruit. It displays superb weight and persistency towards the finish with just a faint tang of ginger lingering on the aftertaste."