Château Nairac 2009

From the 17 ha in production, Nicolas Tari-Heeter has drawn the very essence of botrytis. With 185 g of residual sugar and 4.4 g of acidity, this Barsac wine is one of the vintage’s great successes. Without denying its richness, the palate reveals an airy, delicate balance, with a smooth finish. Fermented and aged in barrels (25% new oak) and lees-stirred, this wine shows tremendous promise.

Nicolas Tari oversaw a sensational 2009 Chateau Nairac. It has a richer bouquet compared to the 2010, with exuberant, explosive scents of acacia honey, dried apricot and a hint of petrol that conveys the exoticism of the vintage. The palate is well-balanced with a viscous opening. There is plenty of vibrant, spicy fruit, interwoven with orange rind and pineapple, leading to a beautifully focused and intense finish. Stack this high in your cellar. Drink 2016–2040+. Tasted March 2014.

Rich, with seemingly languid persimmon, quince and glazed peach flavors, this quickly picks up a racy feel, with toasted almond and orange blossom notes running through the finish. Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle. Best from 2013 through 2020. 1,400 cases made.

This is so delicious with thick honey and dried fruit character. Full body, medium sweet, with lots of dried fruits. Almost oily. Long and intense. Better in 2015.

Tasted blind. Proper pear-juice botrytis nose with a spread of clean, interesting fruit. But very sweet! (JR)

With a fragrance packed with orange blossom, apricot, honey and citrus, it offers sweet, honey-coated tropical fruit, nuts and candied lemon zest on the finish.

Medium bright yellow with lime-green nuances. Rich bouquet, delicate vanilla notes, peach compote, a hint of mint, showing an almost perfumed sweetness. On the palate, the wine starts with a fine, dancing acidity reminiscent of Riesling, then unfolds an incredibly complex, juicy fruit play with great minerality. A kind of 2002 with more Burgundian richness. This is how Barsac is fun – now and in 50 years. Very close to the 20-point mark.

Medium yellow with linden-green nuances, bright. Rich bouquet, delicate vanilla, peach compote, a hint of mint, showing an almost perfumed sweetness. On the palate, the wine opens with a dancing, fine acidity reminiscent of Riesling, complex, an unprecedented play of fruit, great minerality, juicy. A kind of 2002 with more Burgundian weight. This is how Barsac is fun. Drink now and for the next 50 years. Tasted four times. At times very close to the 20-point mark. (19/20). 13: Pale yellow. Freshly chopped sultanas, acacia honey, an extremely sweet density. Very creamy on the palate, almost oily, showing superb breed at its core. Since the en primeur tasting, it has thickened a bit due to its occasional closed phase. Nevertheless, this rich Barsac is already moving.

Dense, creamy, complex bouquet with dried apricots, honey, vanilla, caramel. Creamy, opulent palate with a dense, velvety structure, varied sweet aromatics, pronounced sweetness, fine, well-integrated acidity, long, mellow finish. 19/20 drink - 2040

Broad attack, a lovely mid-palate, good structure, noble rot, generous, with a pretty finish of candied fruit

Delicacy and finesse perfectly sum up the bouquet’s characteristics. Inviting notes of quince and mirabelle plums complemented by a hint of hazelnut. Dense, silky texture on the palate. Thanks to the freshness provided by the acidity, the wine is well balanced. A beautiful symbiosis of power, charm and vibrancy. An exceptional Nairac… yet another!

Logo on the cork: illegible Golden yellow color with green highlights. Intense, fine, fruity, ripe and complex nose. Nuances of candied pineapple, lime, mango, melon and spices. Very roasted. Woody backdrop. Wonderful. Meticulous to the touch, ultra-melting on the palate development, particularly aromatic, suave and airy, the wine glides across the palate and finishes complex, with nuances of fresh almonds, exotic fruit and an exceptional roasted character. It’s unspittable! A second tasting this month confirms this level.

In this concentrated wine, an opulent botrytis character dominates. Notes of yellow and citrus fruits combine with a lemon-flavored honey accent to produce a wine that has both richness and intense acidity. It needs to age.