Nairac Esquisse de Nairac Sauternes 2006 Wine Review

Natalie's Score: 91/100

Nairac Esquisse de Nairac Barsac Sauternes is a beautifully aged, lusciously sweet dessert wine glowing in deep amber gold, weaving together honeyed tropical fruit, candied apricot, warm ginger, toasted beeswax, and a bright thread of preserved lemon that keeps the sweetness perfectly in check. It is full-bodied and sumptuously textured, with a beautifully concentrated, velvety mouthfeel underpinned by the racy, nervy acidity that is the hallmark of great Barsac, drawing out a long, fragrant finish. This is the convenient half bottle size (375 ml), which is ideal when you'd like to begin a meal with a glass and half each to toast. Winemaker Nicolas Tari-Heeter, whose family rescued this historic Second Growth Barsac estate from serious decline after American Tom Heeter purchased it in 1971 and invested enormously in its restoration, has crafted a wine that is the second label of the grand Chateau Nairac, sourced from its sandy gravel, clay, and fossil-rich limestone soils in the northern Barsac commune. An intriguing footnote: the chateau itself was designed in 1786 by architect Andre Mollie, the very same collaborator who worked with Victor Louis on the celebrated Grand Theatre de Bordeaux, making it one of the most architecturally distinguished estates in the entire Sauternes appellation. Serve it well chilled alongside a wedge of creamy Roquefort and walnuts on a wooden board, where the wine's honeyed sweetness and lively acidity will cut through the saltiness of the cheese in a classic pairing, or enjoy it with a warm slice of tarte tatin, caramelized apples and buttery pastry meeting every nuance the wine has to offer. Drink now through 2030.

Sauternes food pairings: creamy Roquefort with walnuts, warm tarte tatin with caramelized apples, pan-seared foie gras with a touch of fruit chutney.

Blissful Blue Cheese Wine

This Nairac Esquisse de Nairac Sauternes 2006 was reviewed on May 28, 2026 by Natalie MacLean

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Please note that our reviews are based on a variety of sources: samples sent to our team, those we purchase in store, tasting events, those tasted in restaurants and while traveling domestically and internationally.

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