Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey 1er Grand Cru de Sauternes 1961

Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey 1er Grand Cru de Sauternes 1961

Region: Sauternes, Bordeaux, France
Classification: 1er Grand Cru Classé (1855)
Grape varieties: Sémillon (dominant), Sauvignon Blanc, Muscadelle
Predicate: Liquoreux (botrytis-influenced)
Alcohol content: Approx. 13-14%
Residual sugar: Extremely high (approx. 150-200 g/l), but balanced by lively acidity

Sensory description

Colour:
Deep amber gold with copper reflections and an opalescent rim brightening - signs of advanced, healthy oxidation.

Nose:
An orchestral bouquet: honeycomb, baked pineapple and chestnut cream dominate, surrounded by petrol, forest honey and dried herbs (thyme, sage). Notes of caramelised orange, truffle and a mineral character (damp flint) unfold in the background. The alcoholic sharpness is fully integrated.

Palate:
Opulent yet structured. The sweetness explodes in flavours of date jam, candied mango slices and sultanas, carried by a razor-sharp acidity that gives the wine youthful freshness despite its age. The texture is silky and oily, with a noble bitterness (walnut, cocoa) and a hint of roasted saffron. The botrytis reveals itself in notes of noble mushroom and ginger tea.

Finish:
Eternally long and meditative. The sweetness dissolves in an interplay of salty caramel, graphite minerality and a smoky spiciness reminiscent of old oak barrels.

Vintage 1961 in Sauternes

• Climate:A "vintage of the century" - warm, dry summer with perfect autumn fog for noble rot. The grapes reached extreme concentration.

• Terroir: The clayey, iron-rich soils of Bommes (home of the château) gave the wine additional depth and structure.

• Vinification: Traditional ageing in French oak barrels, at that time without temperature control - a reflection of artisanal perfection.

Ageing potential & storage

• Current state: At the peak of its development - the acidity is slightly diminishing, but the sweetness preserves the complexity.

• Optimal drinking window: 1980-2010, still fascinating when stored ideally (12-14 °C, 75 % humidity), but should be considered a contemporary document.

• Bottle mail: Typical of the era: heavy Bordeaux bottles with simple labels and short, often fragile corks.

Rating & rarity

• Quality: ★★★★★ (5/5 - a monument to sweet wine, outstanding even among 1961s).

• Collector's market: Extremely rare.
  

• Historical significance: A wine that epitomises the golden era of Sauternes - almost mythically revered today.

Recommendations

• Serving temperature: 10-12 °C (too cool suppresses the flavour pyramid).

• Decant: Not necessary, but allow 1-2 hours to develop in the glass.

• Food pairing: Foie gras with fig chutney, Roquefort or a dessert creation with Gorgonzola dolce and honey nuts.

Notes on authenticity

• Label: Simple 1960s design: black lettering on a cream-coloured background, without any modern ostentatious elements.

• Cork risk: Historic corks often porous - professional opening recommended.

• Provenance: Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey was owned by the Cordier family at the time - certificates of authenticity are rare, but possible.

Conclusion

The 1961 Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey is a liquid museum piece- a wine that captures the essence of a perfect Sauternes vintage. Its power and elegance bear witness to a time when nature and craftsmanship were still inseparable allies. A sip of this wine is not a pleasure, but a pilgrimage to the past.