Soft amber in colour, with tawny reflections. This has a caressing silk texture, at the crossover stage of Sauternes where the texture makes you expect an unctuous rich wine, but the flavours instead barely betray a hint of sweetness, focusing on bitter orange, lemon peel, lime, saffron, oyster shell, performing the trick of starting sweet and finishing dry. Noble bitterness is clear, almost closer to a vin santo than a young Sauternes. A quick cut of a knife on the finish and this ends clean, softened by waves of cold ash and campfire smoke. Exceptional. Harvest September 30 to October 24. 11hl/h yield. François Amirault winemaker.

Looking and tasting much older than its true age, the wine has taken on more of a copper coloring. Losing some of its sweetness, you find more creme brulee, orange and caramel, than sweet, tropical, honeyed fruits. This is a wine for current consuption, as my instincts say, it's only going to get worse. Read more at:https://www.thewinecellarinsider.com/wine-tasting-note/?vintage=1996&wine=Chateau%20de%20Fargues