...I recommend stocking up the 2010s and relishing these exceptional Sauternes. NEAL MARTIN

The embryonic 2010 Sauternes are fresh, vibrant, taut, linear and precise. They are not the rich, effervescent, seductive wines that formed last year's alumni, but they are pretty in their own individual way, particularly for wine-lovers with a penchant for tension and minéralité. Residual sugars are between 120-140gms/L, although I felt their sweetness was less tangible than the 2009s due to the slightly higher acidity levels that seem sharper than analysis suggests.

The top names have produced some exceptional wines whose notes you will find below. Châteaux Yquem, Climens, La Tour Blanche, Coutet and Suduiraut all fashioned taut, mineral-driven Sauternes that have the linearity of a fine Riesling Trocken ... but a lot more sweetness!

---- and how long will this run of successful Sauternes vintages continue? How long can they keep throwing the dice and turning up a six? Denis Dubourdieu's father reminded his son of the woeful 1960s and 1970s when, in many seasons, nothing could be produced. You never know when such a cycle could return, but they will keep throwing that dice. I recommend stocking up the 2010s and relishing these exceptional Sauternes. NEAL MARTIN

Ch Suduiraut now a 4th Growth?  
Im writing this article I am in danger of insulting all my dear Sauternais friends - not least Christian and Pierre at Suduiraut after a headline like that! I hope that they (and you) will read the whole article so that I can explain myself.

I have written before about how Sauternes prices have fallen behind those of red Bordeaux wines since the 2000 vintage. In this article I try to explain the practical implications of this and to really highlight the great value that exists today in Sauternes.
 
The London based wine trading exchange, Liv-Ex, have just released their 2011 reworking of the 1855 Classification.  Tellingly they only bother to do this for red Bordeaux wines, so Steve and I thought it would be interesting to apply their criteria to Sauternes and Barsac.
 
The original 1855 Classification, ordered by Napoleon III, was decided by merchants looking at historical prices achieved in the Bordeaux market and to a certain extent taking quality and reputation into account.  The Liv-Ex reworking looks at average prices achieved through the exchange for the last five vintages and then uses a banding system to decide on the revised classification. 

Are Dauzac or Pouget really in the same class as Doisy Daene or Lafaurie-Peyraguey?  Can d'Armailhac cut it alongside Suduiraut?  Of course not - a quick look at the critics scores will tell you that!  Over the same time period Suduiraut averages 94.5 points on erobertparker.com against 89.9 for d'Armailhac and Doisy Daene 93.8 points compared to 88.2 for Dauzac.
 
But this is the current state of the market!  Driven by China and associated speculation red wine prices have increased dramatically.  Sauternes prices have remained reasonable (until now) and currently represent fantastic value in comparison.  For example, for 2010 En Primeur you can buy nearly 3 cases of Ch Coutet or Ch Suduiraut for the same money as a single case of Ch Pontet Canet, Ch Montrose or Ch Pichon Baron - Crazy!  Now that it is legal to import Sauternes into China this situation will not last for much longer.
 
Frankly, I advise anyone to buy as much Sauternes as they can drink and afford.  Old vintages or new there has never been such a glut of good Sauternes at reasonable prices.  BILL BLATCH

Welcome to Prince Wine Store's 2010 Sauternes en Primeur Offer!

Like Neal Martin from Robert Parker and Bill Blatch (the highly respected merchant who, each year, provides the best and most detailed vintage analyses) we also think that 2010 is a brilliant Sauternes vintage and that the wines are extremely well priced.

This year we are offering good pricing (as usual!) via the traditional format of quoting the en primeur price (which includes all taxes) and the pay now price which is due now.  In two years time when the wine is ready to collect or deliver you will simply pay the difference between the primeur price and the pay now price as long as there are not any significant changes to wine tax legislation or current exchange rates.

In addition we are also offering you a further discount for unbroken cases of nearly all the wines. Where there is no dozen discount it simply means we don't have a lot to sell.

You can see a complete explanation of our pricing options by clicking here and if you are at all confused then please contact Philip Rich on psrich@princewinestore.com.au

Alternatively please feel to contact either of us anytime on 9686 3033 with any queries you may have about Bordeaux 2010.  My complete overview of the vintage is available via our website. Simply click here!  And you can download a PDF order form here.

Our offers will be constantly updated as new wines become available. These wines will be offered via email and will be immediately posted on the website.  Also, if there are any wines not listed and that you are interested in, please let us know and we will do our best to track them down for you.

Cheers
Philip Rich
Prince Wine Store

Please use the SORT BY buttons below to assist in finding what you are looking for.