Wine Advocate 96 byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe12/14/2023 Pale gold colored, the 2009 la Tour Blanche gives up bold, youthful tropical fruit notes of green mango and passion fruit with touches of candied citrus and honeysuckle plus savory wafts of toasted almonds and baking bread. The palate is an exercise in poise and elegance with beguiling vibrancy and freshness, finishing long and mineral laced.
Vinous 91 byNeal Martinthe2/1/2019 The 2009 La Tour Blanche is showing some flatness on the nose that comes as some surprise - completely overshadowed by the fabulous 2009 Guiraud. The palate is viscous on the entry with what feels like a lot of residual sugar, smooth in texture but lacking some tension on the finish compared to its peers. This can be better. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners’ 2009 Bordeaux tasting.
Decanter Magazine 17 bySteven Spurrierthe1/1/2014 Apricot and apple compote bouquet with a touch of orange peel. The medium body, which is supple, silky and quite concentrated, is refreshed by good acidity. This is a wine for the long term.Drink: 2014-2040
Jamessuckling.com 96 byJames Sucklingthe9/23/2013 Impressive density of fruity here with caramel, dried lemons, apricots and honey. Full yet reserved and beautiful. Wonderful length. One of the Sauternes of the vintage. Better in 2016.
Wine Advocate 93 byNeal Martinthe2/28/2013 The 2009 La Tour Blanche has a gorgeous, botrytis-rich bouquet with lemon thyme, honey and spice, with just a touch of alcoholic warmth denying it the clarity it deserves. The palate is crisp and taut on the entry with notes of apricot and white peach emerging with a few swirls of the glass. It offers a pleasing viscosity and volume in the mouth, although compared to its barrel showing, it appears to have tightened up more than I expected, possibly a sign that it is a wine in for the long haul. Drink 2017-2035.
Wine Spectator 92 byJames Molesworththe1/4/2012 Ripe and broad, with lush buttered pecan and almond notes followed by rich apricot, orange, and date flavours that glide through the finish, with a glazed pear note sits in reserve. This should cruise nicely through mid-term cellaring. Best from 2013 through 2024. -J.M
Le Figaro 94-96 byBernard Burtschythe6/30/2010 Robe pâle. Nez très réduit. En bouche, attaque avec une belle liqueur, équilibre sur le sucre, charmant, bien trié.
timatkin.com 95 byTim Atkin MWthe6/30/2010 14% alcohol. 80S, 15SB, 5Mus There’s a delightful freshness to this wine, with its 142 grams of residual sugar balanced by acidity. Lovely, hauntingly elegant Sauternes, with flavours of apple, pear and quince, well-handled oak integration and a hint of orange zest. The wine is almost drinkable now, but is well worth buying for the long run. 10+ years.
WeinWisser 19 byRené Gabrielthe6/28/2010 Mitteldunkles Gelb, leuchtender Rand. Geniales Bouquet, duftet wie ein mit Honig getränkter Meursault, zarte Röstnoten, getrocknete Kamille. Am Gaumen schon jetzt völlig harmonisch, mit sublimer, cremiger Fülle, frisch gekochter Aprikosenmarmelade und dieses schwere Paket mit einer feinen, pfeffrigen Säure verschnürend. Ein genialer Balanceakt! 2015-2055
Le Point 16,5-17 byJacques Dupontthe5/6/2010 Ananas, fruits blancs, bouche vive, fraîche, longue, élégant, belle acidité, puissant mais équilibré, long, frais, assez technique. O=2015 G=30 ans
TAST 19 by Bettane & Desseauvethe4/30/2010 Peut-être notre préféré ce jour-là car au-delà de sa prodigieuse richesse en sucre et de son formidable équilibre général, il développe une finesse aromatique et un charme qui n’ont pas d’équivalent dans les autres échantillons. C’est pratiquement au même niveau de pureté et d’éclat qu’Yquem !
Wine Enthusiast 96-98 byRoger Vossthe4/30/2010 A powerful, complex wine, its layers of sweetness mixed with a total dryness from botrytis. The wine is impressively rich, considerably inspired by dried fruits and spice. Certainly for aging over decades.
Wine Advocate 94-96 byNeal Martinthe4/28/2010 The 2009 La Tour Blanche is very primal on the nose with grapefruit, nectarine and apricot aromas. The palate is very well balanced, just a little oaky at the moment but with a very fine thread of acidity. Touches of fresh apricot, a hint of nougat, lime zest and white peach. Well balanced, linear at the front palate but voluminous and expanding across the mouth in every direction on the viscous, mineral-rich finish. There is so much potential here. Superb.
Jean-Marc QUARIN 15,75 byJean-Marc Quarinthe4/27/2010 Couleur jaune vert. Nez botrytisé, boisé. Bouche un peu épaisse à l'attaque, même si le vin se développe plus fondant et aromatique. Caractère un peu mou en milieu de bouche. Ensemble paraissant assez brut. Finale moyennement savoureuse. Ce vin a besoin d'élevage. Assemblage : 85 % sémillon, 20 % sauvignon et muscadelle - Degré d'alcool : 13°8 - Sucre résiduel : 140 gr - pH : 3,7 - Acidité totale : 3,9.
Wine Spectator 91-94 byJames Sucklingthe4/12/2010 Dense and very rich on the palate. Medium sweet, with lemon pie and meringue notes and a textured finish.
Jancis Robinson 18 byJancis Robinsonthe4/9/2010 Tang and interest on the nose. Big, weighty. But with good acidity and definition and it's awfully difficult to spit! Long and rich, a bit hot on the end? Still a bit chewy. Drink 2018-2040