The nose opens with electric notes of ripe pineapples, green mango, orange blossoms and lemon tart with hints of fungi, lime zest, crushed rocks and jasmine. The freshness on the palate is just astonishing, permeating and lifting layer upon layer of tropical fruits and earthy notions, all encased in a sumptuous texture and culminating in a very, very long, mineral-tinged finish. Truly, this is a legendary vintage for d'Yquem. I've been conservative with my drinking window here, and I would not be at all surprised if our descendants are drinking this vintage well into the next century.
The 2018 d'Yquem is all lime cordial, grapefruit oil and mandarin peel to begin. With a little coaxing, the fireworks really begin, letting off a whole array of honeysuckle, candied ginger, dried pineapple, lemon pastilles, chalk dust and sea spray scents, followed by a savory undercurrent of shaved almonds, allspice and baking bread. The palate is an exercise in polish and poise, featuring the most gorgeously creamy texture and bright, sparkling freshness, framing all the densely laden tropical and citrus fruit layers, finishing with a powerful BANG of profound floral and spice perfume. It is wonderfully sweet, yes, but that—paradoxically for a "sweet wine"—is almost beside the point.
There was no frost at d’Yquem in 2017, and botrytis was very regular and even this vintage. The nose opens with very pure notes of freshly sliced oranges, yuzu and lemon barley water with hints of white pepper, fresh ginger and lime cordial. The incredibly rich, unctuous sweetness (148 grams per liter of residual sugar) is beautifully marbled with bright, vivacious citrus fruit and spice flavors, while lifted by well-knit freshness, and it finishes with epic length and great depth.
Containing 135 grams per liter of residual sugar, the pale lemon-gold colored 2016 d'Yquem leaps from the glass with honeyed apricots, pineapple, green mango, crushed rocks, candied ginger, coriander seed and citrus peel with hints of orange blossom. The palate is very tightly wound, vibrant and refreshing with layer upon layer of minerals and spices, finishing with epic poise and persistence.
The nose opens with electric notes of ripe pineapples, green mango, orange blossoms and lemon tart with hints of fungi, lime zest, crushed rocks and jasmine. The freshness on the palate is just astonishing, permeating and lifting layer upon layer of tropical fruits and earthy notions, all encased in a sumptuous texture and culminating in a very, very long, mineral-tinged finish. Truly, this is a legendary vintage for d'Yquem. I've been conservative with my drinking window here, and I would not be at all surprised if our descendants are drinking this vintage well into the next century.
It has a captivating bouquet. But it entrances with its pure, wild honey notes mixed with almond and white chocolate scents, bestowed with beguiling delineation and focus. The palate is very poised with the acidity nigh on perfect. Occasionally an Yquem only reveals its components parts at this early juncture, necessitates conjecture. However, the 2014 has a sense of harmony and completeness already, as if the élevage is merely there to usher it on to its finished state. There is undeniably great depth here, perhaps less conspicuous than other vintages because of that silver thread of acidity: notes of lemon sherbet, orange zest, shaved ginger and again, a few "flakes' of white chocolate. It is extremely long with tenderness rather than power on the finish.
It has a captivating bouquet. But it entrances with its pure, wild honey notes mixed with almond and white chocolate scents, bestowed with beguiling delineation and focus. The palate is very poised with the acidity nigh on perfect. Occasionally an Yquem only reveals its components parts at this early juncture, necessitates conjecture. However, the 2014 has a sense of harmony and completeness already, as if the élevage is merely there to usher it on to its finished state. There is undeniably great depth here, perhaps less conspicuous than other vintages because of that silver thread of acidity: notes of lemon sherbet, orange zest, shaved ginger and again, a few "flakes' of white chocolate. It is extremely long with tenderness rather than power on the finish.
Tasted blind at the Sauternes 2011 horizontal tasting. The Château Yquem 2011 has a complex bouquet, one that is very well defined with hints of petrol infusing the rich honeyed fruit, later melted wax and fresh peach coming through. The palate is well balanced with a strong viscous entry. There is plenty of residual sugar here and I would have preferred a little more acidic bite to offset that rich, decadent finish (this is despite their correct policy of blending non-botrytized berries in order to increase acidity.) Powerful, burly even, I would give this several years in the cellar to allow this Yquem to mellow and enter its stride.
Château d'Yquem is a French winery located in the Sauternes region of Bordeaux. The winery has a long and rich history dating back to the 18th century when it was owned by the Lur-Saluces family. The estate was later acquired by LVMH in 1999 and has since been managed by Pierre Lurton.
Château d'Yquem is known for producing some of the world's finest sweet wines, particularly its Sauternes. The winery's vineyards are planted with a combination of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc grapes, which are left on the vine until they are affected by noble rot, a fungus that concentrates the sugars in the grapes and gives the wine its characteristic sweetness.
The winemaking process at Château d'Yquem is meticulous and time-consuming. The grapes are hand-picked and sorted before being pressed, and the juice is then fermented in oak barrels. The wine is aged in oak for up to three years before being bottled.
Château d'Yquem's Sauternes is a complex and elegant wine with a rich golden color and aromas of honey, apricot, and vanilla. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied and luscious with flavors of dried fruit, caramel, and spice. The wine has a long and lingering finish with a perfect balance of sweetness and acidity.
In addition to its Sauternes, Château d'Yquem also produces a dry white wine called Y d'Yquem. This wine is made from a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon grapes and is aged in oak for up to 10 months. The wine is crisp and refreshing with aromas of citrus and white flowers and flavors of grapefruit and honey.
Château d'Yquem's wines are highly sought after and are considered some of the finest in the world. The winery's commitment to quality and tradition has earned it a reputation as one of the most prestigious wineries in Bordeaux.
Pale to medium lemon-gold color, the 2010 d'Yquem has retreated into its shell at this youthful stage, offering spritely suggestions of lemon curd, lime cordial and green mango with wafts of honeysuckle, spice cake, sea spray and beeswax plus a hint of gingerbread. The palate really comes through with super intense, tightly wound citrus, savory and mineral layers carried by a laser-precise backbone of freshness, finishing with crazy persistence that lingers a full three minutes and then some. This is going to be a very exotic, opulent Yquem!
Pale to medium gold colored, the 2009 d'Yquem bursts from the glass with gregarious crème caramel, allspice, dried apricots, mandarin peel and pineapple upside down cake scents plus a fragrant undercurrent of fungi, acacia honey, candied ginger, musk perfume and frangipani. Full-bodied and full-on hedonic in the mouth, the rich, tightly wound layers are still amazingly youthful with bags of citrus sparks and an incredibly long, perfumed finish. Possessing a residual sugar of 157 grams per liter and 13.6% alcohol as well as a laser-focused line of freshness, the rock-solid structure and through-the-roof opulence here is simply mind blowing. Pure perfection.
Sporting a medium lemon-gold color, the 2008 d'Yquem is forward, displaying an already complex, compellingly savory/earthy nose of toasted almonds, cloves, damp soil, crushed stones and yeast extract with a core of peach preserves, lemon tart, dried pineapple and allspice. Rich, spicy and decadent in the mouth, with a racy backbone lifting the fruit, it finishes long and multilayered.
Sporting a medium lemon-gold color, the 2008 d'Yquem is forward, displaying an already complex, compellingly savory/earthy nose of toasted almonds, cloves, damp soil, crushed stones and yeast extract with a core of peach preserves, lemon tart, dried pineapple and allspice. Rich, spicy and decadent in the mouth, with a racy backbone lifting the fruit, it finishes long and multilayered.
Pale to medium gold colored, the 2007 d'Yquem delivers powerful scents of tropical fruits—dried mangoes and pineapple paste—accented by acacia honey, toasted almonds and woodsmoke with hints of chalk dust, kettle corn and lime blossom. The palate reveals one of those vintages that shape-shifts into an apparently drier style than it is, largely thanks to its uber-racy backbone of freshness and layered mineral-inspired flavors, finishing with a regal, satin-textured savoriness. Difficult to resist now, this will be one of those Rip Van Winkle vintages that can be predicted to cellar not just for decades but for generations.
Pale to medium gold colored, the 2007 d'Yquem delivers powerful scents of tropical fruits—dried mangoes and pineapple paste—accented by acacia honey, toasted almonds and woodsmoke with hints of chalk dust, kettle corn and lime blossom. The palate reveals one of those vintages that shape-shifts into an apparently drier style than it is, largely thanks to its uber-racy backbone of freshness and layered mineral-inspired flavors, finishing with a regal, satin-textured savoriness. Difficult to resist now, this will be one of those Rip Van Winkle vintages that can be predicted to cellar not just for decades but for generations.
Medium lemon-gold colored, the 2006 d'Yquem is a little reticent at this stage, slowly revealing notes of pineapple pastry, dried apple slices, orange preserves and spice cake plus nuances of crème brûlée, preserved ginger, nutmeg and baking bread. The palate offers mouth-coating tropical fruit and baking spice layers with a seductive oiliness to the texture and loads of citrus sparks, finishing with bold freshness and amazing length. Allow it just a couple more years in bottle to get over this slightly muted hump, then drink it for the next 25+ years.
The pale to medium lemon-gold colored 2005 d'Yquem opens with a provocative, mineral and earth-tinged nose of chalk dust, wet pebbles and dried wild mushrooms over a core of warm apricots, green mango, honeyed toast, ginger and pink grapefruit plus wafts of honeycomb, orange blossoms and saffron. The palate confirms the wine is still a little closed and shut down, offering achingly gorgeous glimpses at the tightly wound, intricate layers structured with a racy acid line and wonderfully creamy texture, finishing incredibly long and perfumed. This decadent flavor bomb still needs a good five to seven years in bottle before it is set to go off, but oh what a spectacle it will give then!
Served from an ex-chateau bottle. This replicated the performance in the Southwold blind tasting. The 2004 Chateau d’Yquem’s bouquet is generous but not as complex as either the 2005 or indeed the 2006. The oak a little pronounced considering the age in bottle, but it does not leap at you shouting “I’m Yquem!” The palate has a viscous tangerine and orange peel opening with fine acidity. There is good weight in the mouth, with touches of spice and cardamom. It finishes just a little abruptly for a Yquem, a pretty note without requisite sustain.
Medium lemon-gold colored, the 2003 d'Yquem seems to be emerging from a slumber, awakening with gloriously expressive notes of ginger ale, pineapple upside-down cake, toasted hazelnuts, star anise, cinnamon stick and preserved mandarin peel plus hints of lemon butter, crushed rocks, musk perfume and chalk dust. Full-bodied, super concentrated and decadently unctuous, the palate exudes waves of preserved tropical fruits and citrus sparks charged with energetic freshness, finishing epically long and wonderfully spicy.
I have had the very good fortune to taste the 2001 d'Yquem perhaps a dozen times since its release and have never been less than absolutely floored by its combination of poise, purity, precision and layer upon intricate, jaw-dropping layer of flavor nuances. It is among a very small clutch of incredible wines that crash through the 100-point ceiling and rocket beyond the stratosphere! A testament to that magic that can be created when an uncommonly great vintage for Sauternes brings out the best of an extraordinary vineyard and is skillfully, sensitively crafted, the 2001 is a true wine rarity that must be tried to be believed.
Pale to medium lemon-gold, the nose is simply WOW—an absolute show-stopper, delivering vibrant, youthful lime cordial, pink grapefruit and lemon meringue pie scents followed up by suggestions of chamomile tea, saffron, cassis and nutmeg plus wafts of marzipan, crushed rocks and beeswax. The palate is beyond-belief intense, offering a myriad of decadent citrus fruit preserves and earthy/mineral-inspired nuances, instilling incredible depth, all punctuated by profound freshness and finishing epically long and exquisitely delicious.
Château d'Yquem is a French winery located in the Sauternes region of Bordeaux. The winery has a long and rich history dating back to the 18th century when it was owned by the Lur-Saluces family. The estate was later acquired by LVMH in 1999 and has since been managed by Pierre Lurton.
Château d'Yquem is known for producing some of the world's finest sweet wines, particularly its Sauternes. The winery's vineyards are planted with a combination of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc grapes, which are left on the vine until they are affected by noble rot, a fungus that concentrates the sugars in the grapes and gives the wine its characteristic sweetness.
The winemaking process at Château d'Yquem is meticulous and time-consuming. The grapes are hand-picked and sorted before being pressed, and the juice is then fermented in oak barrels. The wine is aged in oak for up to three years before being bottled.
Château d'Yquem's Sauternes is a complex and elegant wine with a rich golden color and aromas of honey, apricot, and vanilla. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied and luscious with flavors of dried fruit, caramel, and spice. The wine has a long and lingering finish with a perfect balance of sweetness and acidity.
In addition to its Sauternes, Château d'Yquem also produces a dry white wine called Y d'Yquem. This wine is made from a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon grapes and is aged in oak for up to 10 months. The wine is crisp and refreshing with aromas of citrus and white flowers and flavors of grapefruit and honey.
Château d'Yquem's wines are highly sought after and are considered some of the finest in the world. The winery's commitment to quality and tradition has earned it a reputation as one of the most prestigious wineries in Bordeaux.
Served from an ex-chateau bottle. The millennial 2000 Chateau d’Yquem is a valiant effort in one of the most challenging Sauternes vintages in recent memory. The 2000 is quite deep in color. The nose is crisp and well-defined but not the most complex, as you would expect from a truly challenging growing season in Sauternes. It is pleasant in its own way with delicate scents of tangerine, yellow flowers and Mirabelle. The palate is well-balanced with marmalade tinged opening. I like the acidity here, an Yquem with good race, although it does feel a little tapered toward the finish.
Château d'Yquem is a French winery located in the Sauternes region of Bordeaux. The winery has a long and rich history dating back to the 18th century when it was owned by the Lur-Saluces family. The estate was later acquired by LVMH in 1999 and has since been managed by Pierre Lurton.
Château d'Yquem is known for producing some of the world's finest sweet wines, particularly its Sauternes. The winery's vineyards are planted with a combination of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc grapes, which are left on the vine until they are affected by noble rot, a fungus that concentrates the sugars in the grapes and gives the wine its characteristic sweetness.
The winemaking process at Château d'Yquem is meticulous and time-consuming. The grapes are hand-picked and sorted before being pressed, and the juice is then fermented in oak barrels. The wine is aged in oak for up to three years before being bottled.
Château d'Yquem's Sauternes is a complex and elegant wine with a rich golden color and aromas of honey, apricot, and vanilla. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied and luscious with flavors of dried fruit, caramel, and spice. The wine has a long and lingering finish with a perfect balance of sweetness and acidity.
In addition to its Sauternes, Château d'Yquem also produces a dry white wine called Y d'Yquem. This wine is made from a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon grapes and is aged in oak for up to 10 months. The wine is crisp and refreshing with aromas of citrus and white flowers and flavors of grapefruit and honey.
Château d'Yquem's wines are highly sought after and are considered some of the finest in the world. The winery's commitment to quality and tradition has earned it a reputation as one of the most prestigious wineries in Bordeaux.
Pale gold coloured, the 1998 d'Yquem features a flamboyant, rock-star nose of allspice, candied ginger, honeycomb, and crème brûlée with a core of preserved lemons, mandarin peel, and musk perfume plus a waft of potpourri. Beautifully balanced in the mouth, with seamless freshness lifting the decadent sweetness, it culminates with fantastically persistent layers of exotic spices.
Medium gold coloured, the 1997 d'Yquem rolls effortlessly out of the glass with super spicy gingersnap, coriander seed, cinnamon stick, and cloves scents over a core of toffee, preserved kumquats, praline, lemon curd and crème brûlée. Silken textured, rich, opulent, and stacked with flavour layers, it has an understated, beautifully knit backbone of freshness and a very long toasted-nut finish.
Compared with the flamboyant aromatics of the 1997, Yquem's 1996 plays it closer to the vest, although there is a lot going on. Light gold with a tight but promising nose of roasted hazelnuts intermixed with creme brulee, vanilla beans, honey, orange marmalade, and peaches, this medium to full-bodied offering reveals loads of power in its restrained, measured personality. There is admirable acidity, weight, texture, and purity in this impeccably made Yquem. However, patience will be a virtue.
Château d'Yquem is a French winery located in the Sauternes region of Bordeaux. The winery has a long and rich history dating back to the 18th century when it was owned by the Lur-Saluces family. The estate was later acquired by LVMH in 1999 and has since been managed by Pierre Lurton.
Château d'Yquem is known for producing some of the world's finest sweet wines, particularly its Sauternes. The winery's vineyards are planted with a combination of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc grapes, which are left on the vine until they are affected by noble rot, a fungus that concentrates the sugars in the grapes and gives the wine its characteristic sweetness.
The winemaking process at Château d'Yquem is meticulous and time-consuming. The grapes are hand-picked and sorted before being pressed, and the juice is then fermented in oak barrels. The wine is aged in oak for up to three years before being bottled.
Château d'Yquem's Sauternes is a complex and elegant wine with a rich golden color and aromas of honey, apricot, and vanilla. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied and luscious with flavors of dried fruit, caramel, and spice. The wine has a long and lingering finish with a perfect balance of sweetness and acidity.
In addition to its Sauternes, Château d'Yquem also produces a dry white wine called Y d'Yquem. This wine is made from a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon grapes and is aged in oak for up to 10 months. The wine is crisp and refreshing with aromas of citrus and white flowers and flavors of grapefruit and honey.
Château d'Yquem's wines are highly sought after and are considered some of the finest in the world. The winery's commitment to quality and tradition has earned it a reputation as one of the most prestigious wineries in Bordeaux.
Château d'Yquem is a French winery located in the Sauternes region of Bordeaux. The winery has a long and rich history dating back to the 18th century when it was owned by the Lur-Saluces family. The estate was later acquired by LVMH in 1999 and has since been managed by Pierre Lurton.
Château d'Yquem is known for producing some of the world's finest sweet wines, particularly its Sauternes. The winery's vineyards are planted with a combination of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc grapes, which are left on the vine until they are affected by noble rot, a fungus that concentrates the sugars in the grapes and gives the wine its characteristic sweetness.
The winemaking process at Château d'Yquem is meticulous and time-consuming. The grapes are hand-picked and sorted before being pressed, and the juice is then fermented in oak barrels. The wine is aged in oak for up to three years before being bottled.
Château d'Yquem's Sauternes is a complex and elegant wine with a rich golden color and aromas of honey, apricot, and vanilla. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied and luscious with flavors of dried fruit, caramel, and spice. The wine has a long and lingering finish with a perfect balance of sweetness and acidity.
In addition to its Sauternes, Château d'Yquem also produces a dry white wine called Y d'Yquem. This wine is made from a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon grapes and is aged in oak for up to 10 months. The wine is crisp and refreshing with aromas of citrus and white flowers and flavors of grapefruit and honey.
Château d'Yquem's wines are highly sought after and are considered some of the finest in the world. The winery's commitment to quality and tradition has earned it a reputation as one of the most prestigious wineries in Bordeaux.
A warm to hot vintage ideal for producing outstanding reds does not necessarily make for a great Sauternes vintage, but in the case of 1990 it did. Dry, warm winds in the autumn contributed to the level of concentration that this wine exhibits. Fortunately, a little rain in late September and early October ensured that botrytis flourished well in the end, the final factor necessary to achieve this extraordinary expression.
Medium to deep golden coloured, the 1990 d'Yquem opens with unabashed opulence, giving expressive notes of dried apricots, toffee, candied walnut, tree bark and sandalwood with nuances of preserved mandarin peel, lemongrass and fallen leaves. The palate is entering that stage where it still has bags of fruit and yet appears quite dry, with a lively line contributing jaw-dropping tension and finishing with epically long-lingering honey nut and earth-inspired notes. Pure. Hedonism.
Medium to deep gold colored, the 1989 d'Yquem is little closed to begin, slowly unfurling to give gorgeous dried mango, pineapple paste and candied peel scents with hints of praline, nutmeg, lemon butter and crème caramel plus a waft of crushed stones. The palate delivers powerful, wonderfully concentrated notes of dried stone fruits with provocative nutty nuances and a seamless acid backbone, packaged within a satiny texture and finishing on a lingering lemon tea and minerals note.
The 1988 Chateau d'Yquem has long been an insider's favorite over the 1989 and 1990, although at the end of the day, all three form a brilliant triumvirate at the end of the decade. Tasted from a half bottle, it shone with a slightly burnished amber hue. The bouquet is just as I have encountered with previous bottles with scents of marmalade, mandarin, burnt honey and citrus fruit, perhaps a little waxier and resinous than I recall. The palate is medium-bodied with impressive weight, viscous as you would expect, though not as flamboyant as the 1989 or as unctuous as the 1990. It is beautifully balanced with notes of apricot, white chocolate and orange peel towards the harmonious and tensile finish. You can see this cruising along for two or three decades and maybe it will turn more Barsac-like in style? Time will tell - a glorious Yquem however you look at it.
There is no other wine in the world like it, and there is no other luxury wine that can possibly justify its price as much as Yquem. The remarkable amount of painstaking labor necessary to produce the nectar known as Yquem is almost impossible to comprehend. This is a fascinating effort. With greater evidence of botrytis than the colossal 1983, but less power and alcohol, the 1986 Yquem tastes reminiscent of the 1975, only more precocious, as well as more concentrated. Several highly respected Bordeaux negociants who are Yquem enthusiasts claim the 1986 Yquem is the greatest wine produced at the property since the legendary 1937. Its enthralling bouquet of pineapples, sauteed hazelnuts, vanillin, and ripe apricots is breathtaking. Compellingly concentrated, the breadth as well as depth of flavor seemingly know no limits. This full-bodied, powerful, yet impeccably balanced Yquem should provide memorable drinking for 40-55 more years.
Château d'Yquem is a French winery located in the Sauternes region of Bordeaux. The winery has a long and rich history dating back to the 18th century when it was owned by the Lur-Saluces family. The estate was later acquired by LVMH in 1999 and has since been managed by Pierre Lurton.
Château d'Yquem is known for producing some of the world's finest sweet wines, particularly its Sauternes. The winery's vineyards are planted with a combination of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc grapes, which are left on the vine until they are affected by noble rot, a fungus that concentrates the sugars in the grapes and gives the wine its characteristic sweetness.
The winemaking process at Château d'Yquem is meticulous and time-consuming. The grapes are hand-picked and sorted before being pressed, and the juice is then fermented in oak barrels. The wine is aged in oak for up to three years before being bottled.
Château d'Yquem's Sauternes is a complex and elegant wine with a rich golden color and aromas of honey, apricot, and vanilla. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied and luscious with flavors of dried fruit, caramel, and spice. The wine has a long and lingering finish with a perfect balance of sweetness and acidity.
In addition to its Sauternes, Château d'Yquem also produces a dry white wine called Y d'Yquem. This wine is made from a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon grapes and is aged in oak for up to 10 months. The wine is crisp and refreshing with aromas of citrus and white flowers and flavors of grapefruit and honey.
Château d'Yquem's wines are highly sought after and are considered some of the finest in the world. The winery's commitment to quality and tradition has earned it a reputation as one of the most prestigious wineries in Bordeaux.
The 1947 d'Yquem is a beautiful wine, soaring from the glass with scents of marmalade, vanilla pod, crème brûlée, apricot preserve and honeycomb. Full-bodied, rich and powerful while remaining lively and defined for the vintage, it's a seamless, layered wine that concludes with a long, penetrating finish.
