Bordeaux 2007 at Two Years: Sauternes & Barsac
The UGC tasting of the 2007 vintage included, as is the norm, a fine and representative sample of châteaux from Sauternes and Barsac. This was very exciting, as I recall from my tasting of the primeurs that this was a very good vintage for this little region of Bordeaux and its very particular style of wine. My pre-existing bias was further strengthened during this tasting, when not one wine really disappointed. Indeed, a number of wines showed better than my notes tell me they did during the primeur tastings in April 2008.
The style of the vintage is one that is fresh and vibrant, the wines characterised by crystalline fruit and deliciously evocative and vivacious aromas and flavours. Not many of the wines showed much overt botrytis-related aromas or texture, most being purer, linear and lightly golden in style, imbued with the aromas of mangoes, pineapples, peaches and more. In those that did display hints of botrytis it was a minor element at the moment. This is perhaps surprising, as Aline Baly of Coutet described the vintage as one that was rich in botrytis. Perhaps it is merely hiding behind all the pure and youthful fruit at the moment?
