FSM praise bottle variation! Sometime shortly after release, this Sauternes was part of what my wife and I considered our favorite food/wine paring of all time, Sauternes with fresh peaches. For years we considered the 5-6 bottles we had among the prizes in our cellar. We were crushed a month ago when we opened the first one in at least a dozen years, and it was gone. Dead.
Tonight, we made smoothies with peaches from our front yard tree, and opened another bottle, expecting the worst. No longer golden-yellow, now going to amber. Nose of botrytis and honey. Tasted of honey, peach and botrytis. The peach component was more subdued than when last tasted, but still a spectacular pairing with a smoothie made with peaches, peach frozen yogurt, a banana, frozen pineapple juice, milk, honey and a dash of Penzy's Chinese cinnamon.
Probably past its prime, so drink'em if you got 'em.