Chateau d'Yquem Tutored Tasting

Jean-Phillipe Lemoine from Chateau d'Yquem presented a wonderful selection of Yquem to a small group as a tutored tasting in Brisbane, Australia last Thursday. The wines speak for themselves but Jean-Phillipe was generous with his insights and answers to our questions which lifted the experience of the evening.

• 2016 Y de Yquem 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux

  Very pale green gold colour and the grassy Graves-like nose define this as a very young wine but the added notes of green apple, lemon, gooseberry and fresh spearmint suggest something more exotic. The palate has a nice intensity and there is excellent grip and length that suggest the potential to age and develop into something quite interesting.

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• 2016 Château d'Yquem 94 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  The 2016 Yquem has a pale golden colour and a lovely nose of creme caramel, baked apple, vanilla pears and touches of passionfruit and jasmine. The palate is medium weight and without intense botrytis character but with a lovely purity and gentleness. The length and mouth feel are lovely and suggest a medium range of ageing and development.

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• 2014 Château d'Yquem 96 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  The 2014 Yquem displays a slightly darker gold colour than the 2015 but with the same clarity. The nose is more reserved with a lovely purity of poached pear, lemon drops, pineapple and fresh apricots. The palate has great intensity and elegance with quite grippy acid and tannins on the finish leaving an impression of balance and delicacy despite the richness. A beautiful Yquem with a fascinating evolution ahead.

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• 2006 Château d'Yquem 94 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  The 2006 seemed an aged version of the 2016 with a deep golden colour and a classic nose of peach, apricots, and creme caramel with touches of honey and butter. The palate has those characteristics but is just a little simple on the finish without the drive of a great year. Overall a delicious mid-weight Yquem that was very attractive on the night.

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• 2015 Château d'Yquem 97 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  The 2015 Yquem has a lovely clear pale gold colour with a spectacular nose of baked apricots, cumquat jam, passionfruit and lemon/lime with touches of leatherwood honey and acacia. The palate is beautifully rich and intense with a great viscosity and lovely drive and acidity. A delicious and ultimately top quality Yquem !

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• 2009 Château d'Yquem 99 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  The 2009 Yquem is a stunning wine of rich green golden colour and a 'forever' nose of preserved peaches, apricot and cumquat jam, poached vanilla pears, pineapple tarte tatin, leatherwood honey and creme caramel. The palate is a treat of the same flavours but with a lovely silky elegance framing the richness and giving poise and length to the beautiful finish. This a great Yquem that stands out clearly in tonight's company.

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Ultimately these were all beautiful wines that spoke of their origin and their vintage. The 2009 is a wonderful wine - perhaps it is a 100pt wine but I'd rather relook in several years and compare with the 2001 before taking that step !