JC
What has been noted is that the 2005 Sauternes is a very decent vintage (perhaps not 2001 but on the right side of good). Here are two quotes from RP and JR
"I tasted some benchmark Barsac and Sauternes wines such as Yquem, Rieussec, La Tour Blanche... My instincts suggest the 2005's are not far off the mark of the monumental 2001's...." - Robert Parker
"There are some wonderful, wonderful wines here - set to rival the best 2001's. The extraordinary feature of 2005 for sweet white Bordeaux is that yields were not as pitifully low as usual. ...The sheer sweetness may be less than in 2003 but the acidity levels are much better and overall they are much better balanced than the heatwave vintage's sweet whites." - Jancis Robinson
Here is a link to the BBR site and their comments on the 2005 vintage
http://www.bbr.com/GB/shopping/bordeaux ... ternes.lml
If I had to buy without tasting I would buy without tasting, it would always be Rieussec, Suduiraut, Guiraud, then Chateau Raymond Lafond and I'm not sure why.....but between Suduiraut and Guiraud would be La Tour Blanche and Coutet....and when I can it would be topped with Yquem...which I have not bought any since 2001..and even then it was just a few bottles......the prices are just scary now for Yquem....going to back vintages.....
