1997 Château Bastor-Lamontagne, Sauternes
When first tasted in our offices two years ago, we were hugely impressed by this sauternes. It has ranked in our top recommendations ever since and has become a bulwark of our list of 'stickies'. The chateau has earned an enviable reputation of late, however it is no coincidence that the wine comes from the undeniably fine 1997 vintage. Mid-gold appearance with good clarity, the nose reveals pure honey, tangy citrus peel and a wheaty, toasty note too. The palate shows good breadth and intensity, though comfortably avoids the pitfalls of being too viscous or too bold. A sense of balance and a pure accent from start to finish make this a striking example. No clumsy sweetness here, just a buttery, caramel-like persistence. A versatile partner to many desserts and a sauternes that ranks a good notch over the benchmark, particularly given its price point.