Barsac / Sauternes: 2013

For sweet wines, the Château d'Yquem Sauternes 2013 (95-98) and Château Doisy Daëne Barsac L'Extravagant 2013 (95-98) are the early leaders, with the Château Coutet Barsac 2013 (94-97), Château de Fargues Sauternes 2013 (94-97) and Château Guiraud Sauternes 2013 (94-97) helping set the pace. Also of note is the Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey Sauternes 2013 (94-97), which in its debut vintage under new owner Silvio Denz shows compelling potential. All told, half of the 30 Barsac and Sauternes from 2013 I tasted showed outstanding or classic potential. In style, the vintage has the plump fruit of years such as 1999 and 2007, with the freshness of 2011, and there will be a number of excellent sweet wines to choose from. I rate the 2013 vintage for the sweet wines a preliminary 90-93 points.