Best Sauternes & Barsac 2023 wines tasted en primeur
Both Sauternes and Barsac have delivered outstanding wines in 2023, combining profound richness with beautiful acidity for a truly heavenly result.
All Bordeaux 2023 coverage:
Verdict & top-scoring wines | How the weather conditions shaped the vintage | Decoding the yields | Wine styles: what to expect
St-Estèphe | St-Julien | Pauillac | Margaux | Pessac-Léognan | St-Emilion | Pomerol | Haut-Médoc | Dry whites | Top value
Sauternes & Barsac: Sheer excellence
Average yield: 12.2hl/ha
Variance from 2022: -14%
Scroll down to see tasting notes and scores for the top Sauternes & Barsac en primeur 2023 wines
Vintage overview
From Château Coutet in Barsac to Château Suduiraut in Sauternes, the botrytised sweet wines of Bordeaux had a fine vintage.
Although the Barsacs have a slightly flintier edge compared to the richer Sauternes, the difference between the two appellations is not as clear cut in 2023 as it sometimes is, says Sauternes expert Bill Blatch.
Unusually, both appellations were picking at roughly the same time – between October 2-12 – when Barsac usually harvests first. The extra ripeness means that the traditionally lighter Barsacs have a more Sauternes-like heft and unctuousness in 2023.
Sauternes suffered from virulent outbreak of mildew in June, seeing 45% more rainfall than normal that month and with higher-than-normal daytime temperatures. Hotter weather in late August and a hotter-than-normal September led to concentrated grapes, but with little botrytis.
Initial September pickings featured mostly raisined grapes with just some botrytis, accounting for only 15-20% of everyone’s total harvest. Finally, significant late rainfall allowed the development of considerable amounts of noble rot.
For Bordeaux oenologist Axel Marchal, ‘harvesting botrytised grapes with a good level of concentration was not a problem in 2023’, and he classifies many wines as ‘outstanding’.
For Blatch, Sauternes and Barsac reflect the richness of the 2022 vintage, but with more pronounced acidity.
Some wines proved flabby or lacking intensity, but most – and from different price points – convey opulence, botrytis spice and freshness. These include two standout Barsac wines in Château Coutet and L’Extravagant de Doisy-Daëne, and Château de Fargues, Château Guiraud, Raymond-Lafon and Château Suduiraut in Sauternes.
See the top-scoring Sauternes & Barsac 2023 en primeur wines
Search all 550+ Bordeaux 2023 en primeur ratings published
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Château Doisy-Daëne, l'Extravagant de Doisy-Daëne, Barsac, Bordeaux, France, 2023
With a potential for a higher score, as it is that good, this 100% Sauvignon Barsac displays vivid pink grapefruit, orchard peach and tangerine with...
2023
Château Doisy-DaëneBarsac
Château de Fargues, Sauternes, Bordeaux, France, 2023
A top wine among the Sauternes and Barsac, with gorgeous aromatics and flavours of acacia, beeswax, white flower, peach, 'soft' cinnamon, crème brulé (more custard...
2023
Château de FarguesSauternes
Château Coutet, Barsac, 1er Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, 2023
Superb Barsac energy and keen spice, almost Cayenne pepper with pronounced ginger, clove and both dry and fresh fig. Tasted twice with the same beguiling...
2023
Château CoutetBarsac
Château Raymond-Lafon, Sauternes, Bordeaux, France, 2023
As with other estates in Sauternes, Château Raymond Lafon harvested most grapes in October to benefit from a wave of botrytis. The wine is a...
2023
Château Raymond-LafonSauternes
Château Nairac, Barsac, 2ème Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, 2023
A superb second growth, with peach, pear and citrus freshness. The layered palate combines opulence with plenty of zing to keep you on your toes,...
2023
Château NairacBarsac
Domaine de L'Alliance, Sauternes, Bordeaux, France, 2023
95
A wine to buy for its excellent price/quality ratio along, this 90% Sémillon-based wine from a 14ha vineyard in Fargues evinces a cornucopia of aromas and flavours imbued with botrytis spice, including grapefruit, black tea and ginger. I love its fresh, crispy aspect, like so much autumnal freshness. It lacks the opulent mid palate of the very top wines of Sauternes and Barsac, but this balanced sweet wine shows excellent palate tension (and fun), at 13.3 alcohol with 143 grams of residual sugar and 4.3 grams of total acidity.
2023
Domaine de L'AllianceSauternes
Château Bastor-Lamontagne, Sauternes, Bordeaux, France, 2023
One of the best en primeur wines I have had from this often over-performing estate, exuding ginger, clove, black tea, orange rind confit, pear and...
2023
Château Bastor-LamontagneSauternes
Château La Tour Blanche, Sauternes, 1er Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, 2023
Despite very low yields, this estate managed to craft a lovely Sauternes, with plenty of rich pineapple and mango and some subtle botrytis spice, with...
2023
Château La Tour BlancheSauternes
Château Doisy-Védrines, Barsac, 2ème Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, 2023
While sample variations give pause, one thing is certain: the palate explodes with cinnamon, apricot and honey for a rather thick yet vibrant texture, echoing...
2023
Château Doisy-VédrinesBarsac
Château Climens, Barsac, 1er Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, 2023
A question mark for this venerable Barsac Premier Cru: Despite their best efforts, respecting biodynamic practices, the château team lost about 75% of the harvest...
2023
Château ClimensBarsac
Château d'Arche, Sauternes, 2ème Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, 2023
Another excellent Sauternes that would fall into the freshness category, which works better for most people these days, along with botrytis derived black tea and...
2023
Château d'ArcheSauternes
Château Doisy-Daëne, Barsac, 2ème Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, 2023
With some variation among the three samples I tried, this Barsac is lighter on its feet aromatically and on the palate than usual, with candied...
2023
Château Doisy-DaëneBarsac
Château Rieussec, Sauternes, 1er Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, 2023
For the pedigree, a disappointing sample that conveys richness to be sure - with delectable apricot and other white stone fruit aromas and flavours, along...
2023
Château RieussecSauternes
Château de Rayne Vigneau, Sauternes, 1er Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, 2023
A lovely Sauternes with acacia, honeysuckle, lemon cake and sweet pepper and ginger, very expressive and with vivacity and richness, although I get more of...
2023
Château de Rayne VigneauSauternes
Château Caillou, Barsac, 2ème Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, 2023
I love the energy and spearmint like freshness, despite a rather high pH of 3.8. A nuanced wine with enough opulence but can be easily...
2023
Château CaillouBarsac
Château Sigalas Rabaud, Sauternes, 1er Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, 2023
I like the energy and poise in this Sauternes, with vivid aromas and flavours of honeyed white peach, tropical fruit and pineapple. But it lacks...
2023
Château Sigalas RabaudSauternes
Château Broustet, Barsac, 2ème Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, 2023
This gets a rather conservative score, as I tasted three separate samples on three separate occasions, with three different experiences! The best displayed lovely salinity...
2023
Château BroustetBarsac
