2020 La Tour Blanche (Sauternes)

This was still on the lees when tasted, but full of super attractive orange zest and saffron flavours, plenty of depth and concentration, as you would expect with the tiny 1.8hl/ha yields. In conversion to organic farming. New oak barrels for the Sémillon, stainless steel vats for Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle. 93 points

Pale gold in color, the 2020 la Tour Blanche opens with nutty notions of praline and toasted almonds, giving way to a core of peach cobbler, pineapple tart and baked apples, plus spicy wafts of candied ginger and nutmeg. The palate is incredibly concentrated and hedonic, its richness beautifully offset by a wicked backbone of freshness, delivering layer upon layer of nuts, stone fruits and spices, finishing with epic length and impressive lift. Wow! 95-97 points

Pale orangey gold. That pear-juice/botrytis nose plus light, interesting cheesiness. Good energy and balance. This has some of that tarte Tatin juice character. Weight but not heaviness. Light smokiness. Impressive. 17 points

Pale orange-gold; a quite intense, dried-fruit character suggests a little botrytis on the nose, complex and persistent to smell; moderately rich, fresh, some concentration and an overall attractive, if lighter, Sauternes balance; sweet, a nice gentle complexity, some spice and light length. Clearly some botrytis here, and one of the richer wines for the year, but this, too, is a pleasing aperitif style, and notably limited for the cru. 90–91 points