Geoffrey Binder, JJ Buckley, April 2012

80% semillon, 20% sauvignon blanc. Vines are planted on deep gravel soils. Aged in 100% new oak. Notes of apricot and baking spices on the nose. The palate shows clove and plentiful spice as well as ripe apricot and stone fruit flavors. Moderate in complexity and full-bodied, this has a long almost feathery finish with lots of ripe yellow stone fruit. Moderately sweet, with just enough acidity to stay fresh. Enjoy over the next 15-20 years.

91 points,

Jancis Robinson, April 2012

RS 149 g/l, TA 4.05 g/l, pH 3.83. Intense apricot and apricot kernel on the nose and bitter orange marmalade. Oily mineral spiciness too. Quite savoury and spiced on the palate too. So you almost miss the acidity which runs through its core. Very long finish. Lovely sour freshness at the end with some grapefruit pith to stir it all up. 17.5/20 (JH)

90 -92 points,

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, April 2012

The 2011 Raymond Lafon was picked from three tries representing six lots (the first and last de-selected for the second label) between September 19 and October 5, the earliest harvest since 1893. It has 149 grams per liter residual sugar and a pH of 3.83. It has an understated bouquet of honey, grilled almond, pineapple and quince aromas. It comes across as tight and not expressive at this early stage, but that will certainly change. The palate offers a light, almond and quince-tinged entry and it represents a lighter, feminine take on the vintage. It is a Raymond Lafon that will be beautifully balanced and endowed with a precise finish that neatly offsets sweetness against acidity. Drink 2013-2028.

94 -97 points,

Stephen Tanzer's IWC, August 2012

Bright golden yellow. Captivating aromas of fresh white flowers, acacia honey, guava and marmaladey botrytis. Smooth and seamless in the mouth, displaying knockout flavors of pineapple, pomelo (rather than grapefruit, which has an element of bitterness that is absent in this wine), English custard and honeyed mango. The finish is extremely long, very sweet and dense, but this come across as a politely styled, very refined version of Raymond-Lafon owing to its harmonious acidity. This outstanding wine is the result of six different tries occurring between September 19 and October 5, but only the middle four went into the grand vin, with the first and last pickings used for the estate's second wine.

92 -95 points,

Wine Spectator, April 2012

Quite ripe, offering a large core of orange peel, date and almond notes, with a toasted hazelnut-filled finish. There's plenty of dried mango and apricot in reserve, with a toasty piecrust note. Powerfully rendered. Needs some time. -J.M.

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