2001ChateauFayauCadillac(375ml)

Sans The 2001 vintage in Sauternes has been acknowledged as one of the greatest ever, resulting in wines of immense power and concentration that are now mostly unaffordable. According to vintners who have both red and sweet white, 2001 could be the sweet white vintage of the century. Picking began in most parts (left bank: Sauternes, Cerons, Barsac; right bank: Saint-Croix-du-Mont, Loupiac, Cadillac) on the first of October and continued almost without interruption until October 19th. Botrytized wines are picked in several runs, selecting each time only those grapes which have reached the right stage of noble rot (botrytis). Exceptional weather conditions with hot sunny days and virtually no rain at harvest time meant that the grapes could be picked in as few as two or at most three tris (selections). The grapes needed to be gathered quickly because potential alcohol was very high, as much as 21-22° with barely an interruption between the tris. Noble rot was uniform and not spoilt by rain. In addition the favourable east wind dried out the grapes from the morning dew, dispersing the mist that bring the botrytis. The praise for the 2001 Sauternes continues. Patrick Jen of Domaine du Noble, President of the Loupiac Syndicat said, “It is as yet early to make a definitive appraisal but after tasting the wine already in fermentation I can say there is plenty of substance; full of richness and finesse. It is as good as, probably better than, the great 1990 vintage and could be similar to the mythical 1929 which I tastedrecently.â€?/p>