Tasted vintage 2001 regularly since 8 years ago as it is clearly one of my all time favorites - every time I have tasted it, it is worth 98 to 98++. This time it was an experiment: Poured from a bottle which I coravined first time 6 years ago. Since then coravined 2 times further before today, last time 1½ years ago with only 1/3 left in the bottle. Despite that the bottle was still outstanding today. That is impressive but of course also influenced by the fact that this is a wine with both high acidity and high sugar level. Not quite at same level as I remember form "fresh bottles", but nevertheless outstanding. It would not be fair rating it officially on cellartracker, but I rated this coravine version 97. I can also reveal that 1½ years ago when I tasted the coaravined bottle last time it was not affected by the coravine (at that time the bottle was 2/3 full)
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Amazing. Nose was slightly less powerful than my last bottle but traded off a tiny bit of power for broad all-encompassing finesse. And the palate... ultra focused finesse (and acidity) with amazing palate-filling fruit, and a backing of caramel. Still at the start of its life. With a couple hours of air, spice and amaretto adding to the bouquet. Added a chemical note to the nose -- petrol like a riesling with another twist I can't pinpoint (but is enticing). Cotton candy finish.
Spectacular yet again. Easily 100 points.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The is our first experience with Sauternes, and it was incredible. It had such a gorgeous nose of pineapple upside down cake and cinnamon spice. Velvety smooth on the palate. A truly perfectly balanced wine. We chilled this wine for an hour on ice, and it was amazing! We enjoyed this with 2 of our closest friends who have tasted many vintages. They agreed this might be the best they’d ever tasted. So happy we finally cracked this OWC of 6 bottles. So happy we have 5 more to enjoy over the years. What a beautiful occasion to try this wine from a 400+ year old vineyard.
I am rating this very conservatively because it presents as very, very young. Linear yellow fruit, high acidity. Botrytis is hidden. From half bottles it is much more demonstrative.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
From 375, stood up for an hour before opening. Best dessert wine I've had to date? The only thing I can compare it to would be a 2002 Dönnhoff Oberhäuser Brücke, which had at least as much tropical fruit and the same balance between sweetness and acidity, but a bit less of the texture and staying power on the palate.
In the glass, a rich shade of amber, leaning to orange (plenty of crystals in the bottle). On the nose, mango, peach, passionfruit are fully present and assertive - just lovely overripe tropical fruit aromatics. On the palate, a flawless melding of rich, almost pungent fruit (passionfruit, mango, orange marmalade, pineapple) with an unctuous, enveloping, enamel-coating silky texture, a liquid creme brulee, with an incredibly long finish. Lick your teeth a minute later, and the fruit and residual sugar are right there. Fantastic.
Is my rating too low? It could well be. But this is so youthful and exuberant now that it's possible to imagine a further step upward when secondary complexity begins to show. Let's just hope I'm still around when it gets there.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
When opening a bottle from a legendary producer, expectations run high. It can feel disappointing if you pop the cork and get anything short of the heavens opening and angels singing. In this case, the angels and the wine sang beautifully. Refined and precise, reserved sweetness, subtle exotic profile of citrus, mango, clove, nutmeg. Acid in perfect balance and begging to the paired with food - we obliged with foie two ways (seared and torchon). Everything I had hoped for. If you are fortunate enough to have any bottles in your cellar, there are many decades of enjoyment ahead.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened 9/23/23 with friends while our kids were at their homecoming dance. Flawless in every way—I’ve never tasted anything like it but could not think of one thing about it I did not like. Tasted monthly thereafter (while being stored at 55 in our wine room) and did not change its flavor profile at 10/23 or 11/23 at all. Head and shoulders above any other young-ish d’Yquem I’ve ever tasted (and we opened a 2015 375 on 11/23, Thanksgiving Day, and had a 2009 375 earlier this year). When re-tasting, and finishing the bottle, this evening, it had taken on the orange flavors consistent with the recent 1967 (750ml) and 1975 (375ml) we have opened, and it’s primary sweetness had faded somewhat. I have yet to try a ‘29, ‘37, ‘45 or ‘59, but this ‘01 has set an awfully high threshold for us!
9 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I took one sniff of this and said “that’s the ’01 Yquem’. Gotta talk yourself up when you nail an option! So complex, with notes of apricot jam, pineapple, coconut ice and candied peel. Rich and honeyed through the mid, so much presence and intensity. The finish drives on for an eternity, and despite its sweetness and concentration it is a fresh wine that glides across the palate and provides so much pleasure without any excess fat or weight.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Carmel color. Citrus, honey and white flowers on nose. Complex palate including honey and apricots with a delightfully creamy texture. So rich and enjoyable. Paired beautifully with the butterscotch pots de crème. Thanks Ann and a Mike for sharing.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Always awesome. Always. Truly a benchmark for Yquem with some age on it. Undoubtedly sweeter and richer than the racier 2020 Yquem served beside it, the 2001 is in a great drinking window now. Every time I have this, it reaffirms my ardor for Yquem (the only dessert wine I even bother with at this stage). Paired awesomely with homemade creme brûlée. (Nice job bsumoba!)
Oh my. This wine is a conversation stopper. When this hits your palate, all other sights and sounds are willingly ignored while your palate is taken over by honeyed citrus and stone fruits, and a length that lasts minutes as the ginger and spices dance. You want to savor every second. I cannot think of anything to improve. Why not 100? I can’t bring myself to think there won’t be further improvement over time.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Duck, duck, abortion!; 11/11/2023-11/17/2023: Deep yet light honey on the nose with melons that provide enough freshness, honeyed white flowers and a dry, pulverized, stony mineral note.
Palate matches the nose with the addition of bitter waxiness, deep golden honey with bitter minerals. Again, similar to the other half bottle I’ve had before but this half bottle is a touch more lively. It’s missing the freshness of the standard sized bottle. Still good, but damn.. it’s like knowing twins and seeing one age noticeably faster than the other.
This was paired with an awesome creme brulee (shouts out to bsumoba) and it was smackin’.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Yup, I know why this is the quintessential benchmark for sauternes. Not much more needs to be said. I might have liked this a bit younger for my palate, but now I'm reaching in terms of finding something to criticize this wine about.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
JD Friday Wine Group - GA Host (City Club FW - Wine Room): Tasted blind - light-ish gold in the glass. Sweet apricot, stone fruit, marmalade. Last wine of the night after a bunch, so not great notes. But delicious and still very primary. Guessed a 10 year old Y’quem.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Un nez classique abricot rôti, de crème brûlée, avec un peu de volatile. Bouche ronde mais en retenue, serrée et puissante, presque tannique (!). Une bête! Encore si jeune, le vin est profond, très long, mais pas encore charmeur. Probablement le plus grand vin de la soirée d'entre tous dans 10-15 ans. 95++
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Aromas of heavy honey drizzled on stone, honeycomb, honeyed white flowers and earth, and the scent of a nearby river.
On the palate was spiced honey wax, shaved old oak, and honeyed earth. Tons of honey character. Acidity seems to be tired or is tiring out, leaving the wine a bit heavy and even a bit cloying.
A bit lacking on the acidity here compared to when I first had this (a 750ml bottle whereas this is from a 375ml). Seems to have aged much faster which is expected coming from a smaller bottle. I know I'm gonna get some heat here but If you have a few of these (the 375ml ones) start popping them to gauge if you should be drinking them sooner or later. I know they supposedly last decades but the tired acidity this showed today worries me a bit. Maybe it's just my bottle unfortunately. 95-96
An Epic Summer Wine Weekend - Year 2; 6/30/2023-7/2/2023 (Muskoka, Ontario, Canada): This really shows why it’s up there as one of the best of all time. Crazy intense on the nose from the first pop, blasting apricot, marmalade, light VA, a touch of pool toy, honey drizzled peaches, high quality vanilla bean, a touch of fresh white mushroom, and river rocks. The palate is immaculately balanced, entering on honey, apricot and peach, turning to lovely bitter marmalade as the lemony acid cuts a precise swath across the palate. The finish closes harmoniously on the array of lovely orchard fruit accented by vanilla bean. Just glorious Sauternes that's aging at a snails pace.
A golden wonder. Powerful nose of tropical fruits and honey. Palate is a masterclass of elegance and equilibrium. Green papaya and pineapple, melon, a whiff of peppery spice. Great acidity and length.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Orange blossom and ether on the nose: It's literally ethereal. On the palate, pineapple, orange, mango, apricot, and notes of honey, yellow apple, and coconut, with powerful acidity on the long finish. Although this is outstanding, I was expecting even more; this may be either too old for my taste or too young. I will wait a few years to open the next bottle.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
KYD #2.3 (Møntnergade): Dried apricots, honey and bruised apples / quince. Amazing intensity and a wonderful balance with a refreshing acidity.. Almost feels weightless! Over time, this seems to have improved back to its original performance when it was originally released. Absolutely wonderful!
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The best of the 4 Sauternes (all from 375) although maybe not as good as it should have been from a 750. Slightly dark, orange marmalade, apricot, buttery and silky smooth with great intensity. Similar palate to the Climens, but with more complexity and depth. Hippo w/EWG 2001 wines Blind 375ml 2001 Sauternes: Rieussec, YQyem, Climens, Guiraud
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Rich for Yquem, complex nose of flowers, citrus tinged green apple, almond-like VA with hints of just ripe pineapple, green pears, caramel. Viscous and rich on the palate, with a touch less acidity than expected and infinite length. From a half. Drink now to 2130. Almost infinite...
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Exotic nose of pineapple tarts and Christmas cake. A layered and textured palate, ripe pineapples, cooked apples, minerals, great length. Technically excellent, and the best Sauternes in my experience (an extra gear from the 4-5 glasses of 2005 Yquem last week), although does not touch the ethereal plane - which is what I was expecting, given the reputation of the wine in this vintage.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A fully-justified legend, it's hard to imagine Sauternes getting better -- except this itself will be better in 10 years and probably better still in 20. So luxurious, exotic, and rich but with this vibrant acidity and spherical in balance. I dare say the price is even reasonable in today's world.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Finally a chance to try this wine. Paired with a fluffy pistachio cake, the marriage was among the finest I’ve ever tasted. And this wine is indeed a superlative Sauternes. The weight and concentration buttressed by searing acids. Already it’s coming into a tertiary space. Dripping with honey, pineapple, tangerine, and a cornucopia of tropical fruit, imagine the best Sauternes you’ve had and make it 10% better. It’s that.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bob's cellar. Yellow brown oily wine, clear and perfect. Nose is rich sweet marmalade, candied lemon rind, incredible honeyed sweetness, brilliant acidity. Awesome. Taste is unctuous sweetness, pinned exactly by a sharpness, framed acidity, baked apples & pears and caramel, developing sweet peaches. Not a note out of place, everything is framed in perfect symmetry, the sweetness balanced by the acidity, the sharp fruit by the sweet fruit, the caramel by the lemon. This is perfection in a glass.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Salon Focofi Paris walkabout and dinner, so no detailed tasting notes. Top drawer, bery intense and youthful. Although it has top acidity, I struggle with this, too rich/intense. Cannot have more than a sip.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Not quit at the same level as the absolute perfect bottle I had a few years back. Not sure this was any different, but mood and environment can make a wine. This is so damn good and polished. I can only think what this will be like in 30 years. Still golden yellow, not browning out at all, this is everything and will last forever, one of the greatest wines ever made...
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Medium golden color. PNP, drank a glass over an hour. The 2001 d'Yquem is nothing short of perfection. Among the superlatives that I wrote in my notes are: "otherworldly" and "I can't even...". The nose is glorious, stunning, high pitched reaching olfactory levels rarely attained, let alone by any other producer. Intense tangerine, Colorado peaches, amazing purity, sublime spice profile, honeysuckle, honeycomb, shaved coconut, mandarin orange cream. The palate is pristine with impeccable balance, featherweight and tingly with intensity and precision. Layer upon layer comes through with clarity and such length. The definition of what Sauternes aspires to be, beyond a benchmark wine. In a beautiful spot, I can't imagine anything better. Thanks Jason for sharing this.
7 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Back at the Kenwood with Luis and the team: The highest I've ever scored a wine, and both times now it is Yquem. This was as good (or day I say better?) than a 2009 that blew me away a couple years ago. The benchmark for sauternes with a featherweight palate and all the classic Sauternes descriptors - creme brulee, orange marmalade, baking spice, yellow melon. Stunning.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Luis Rides Again! (The Kenwood, Minneapolis, MN): Same bottle as coravined previously...ethereal, what else can I say about it...my highest score...not sure if there is anything better (hard to imagine!), but left a point on the table just in case (who knows, in 10 years this may be better?!)
Some Special Wines with a New Friend....well, sort of new! (Jason's House): First, this was opened on the evening of the 12th...we just had finished a .375 of the 2009 Yquem, which was my benchmark Sauternes. After everyone left, I coravined this wine for Marvin to compare (I also wanted to compare, especially since it had been a while since I tasted one of these) with the 2009. The 2009 Yquem has never disappointed, and certainly did not disappoint with this showing. I have repeatedly stated I just cannot imagine a better Sauternes....well, that was shattered with this wine, and my first score higher than 98, i.e., the first time a benchmark wine was surpassed!
This wine had everything the 2009 had, impeccable balance, honeyed, but not cloying fruit, a creamy texture and a super-long finish, but more intensity than the 2009....it took Sauternes to new level, and is finally (for me) living up to its hype! An awesome wine that everyone should experience at least once! 99 points, and new benchmark for me!
Wine weekend in the Twin Cities; 11/10/2022-11/12/2022 (Where the frosty air is refreshing.. kind of): N: Elegantly deep honey with an incredible acidity that pierces through the gentle sweetness. Everything is gently honeyed: oak, minerals, stone, fruits, oats and white flowers sprayed with morning honey dew mist (if there was such a thing). If honeycombs were perfectly sweet with its slightly bitter wax, it would smell like this. I got scents as if I am standing next to a pristine waterfall with white flowers at its base, crashing mists of honey and rocks made out of melon rinds (not watermelon).
P: This is the complete opposite of cloying, with acidity coursing through its veins with verve and energy, carrying the fruit on its back. Intense yet subdued acidity that’s integrated but somehow carries the fruit so well, never allowing the flavors to become too sweet. Pleasantly spiced honeycomb wax, intensely bitter minerals coated in light honey and honeydew melon lightly drizzled with, you guessed it, honey - gentle, pure, unrefined honey.
This shatters my reality of what I thought the world of Sauternes could be. The amazing acidity, where it's just the right amount (so not so much a searing one), gives this wine an incredible and awesome life on the palate. I was afraid any extra acidity might break the balance, like the balance of what the ‘09 had, but it doesn’t. Rather, the acidity broke my boundaries and showed me new realms to explore. I used to wonder how does one enjoy a whole 750ml bottle of a Sauternes by themselves, and now I wonder no more. I can totally spend a whole evening with this. Spent 4 hours with this and it kept getting better, showing more speed and swiftness with each passing hour. Holy shit, if the gods had a dessert wine, it would be this. Thank you 'I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine' for treating me with this, I absolutely hate what you have done to me.. every time he asked me do I want more, I felt bad for saying yes every time but man alive did it taste oh so good! Ahh yes, the benefits of a Coravin.
Holy crap. Maybe the best wine I’ve ever had. The nose even before pouring is overwhelming (in a good way). All the fruits and all the caramels and all the great things. The palate is the same plus a powerful acidity and slight wintergreen cooling that keeps it from being overwhelming. And the finish feels like it may go on forever. Head and shoulders above any Yquem I’ve had, which is saying a lot.
Some Weighty Wines on a Wonderful Autumn Eve (Los Angeles, CA): From a 375, the first of six I’ve dared to test, and indeed it is too soon, not that anyone complained. Such complex aromatics I hardly needed a sip. Yellow and white fruit, marzipan, some white tea, citrus, coconut cream and a myriad of spices, for starters. Tremendous depth and cut, with a multi-minute finish. Patience required!
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
From 375ml. Deep and complex nose of apricot, caramel, orange, melon, blossom, honey and vanilla. There's so much going on, but the flavors are clearly delineated. Very well balanced sweetness on the palate with more fresh and dried apricot, melon, honey, lemon, clove, and vanilla on the palate. Very, very long finish. Outstanding wine, just as good as from a 750ml a few years ago.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Out of half-bottle, this shows great depth and purity with a perfect balance between sweetness and mineral cut. It's going to be great but it's not there yet. Hold! Hold! Hold! as it has everything and just needs time to fully develop. 95+
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I mean... It's Yquem. It's 2001. What's left to talk about?
This was from a .375, which showed a bit more honeyed characteristics and viscosity than the .750 bottle I had last year, which exhibited more herbal and floral attributes. A bangin' bottle of wine and certainly a benchmark vintage for this producer.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Popped and poured over about 3 hours, evolved a bit but still seems quite young, nose of tropical fruits, apricot, pineapple, creme brulee, flavors are similar with a nice underlying green tea component, nice acidity, super long finish, sweet but not too much, paired well with a simple cheesecake. This was an amazing wine but I am going to wait at least 10 years before I drink another.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Brilliant++. Drank BTG following a fantastic dinner at Taillevent.
In the 20 years since release, this is my benchmark for perfection, being an enveloping fog of pleasure. Beguiling nose of apricot with layer upon layer of passion fruit, creme and honey.
If a date, this was a 30 year old Goldman Sachs senior banker with a PhD in medieval history. Easily another 10-20 years of vibrant pleasure.
Poured by the glass from a full bottle. Burnished light golden color. Soaring high toned perfume, light oak, and creme brûlée aromas. Very elegant weight and feel, moderate sweetness, and superb acidity. Not monumental by any means but discrete, long, and beautifully balanced. This impressed me much more than it did in 2015 and is evolving very slowly.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Sunday Lunch - Greg & Sayo with friends (The Conservatory, Crown Wine Cellars, 18 Deep Water Bay Drive, Shouson Hill, Hong Kong): From 375ml. Served with lightly pan-fried foie gras. Very deep but bright-sparlkling and fresh honey yellow gold colour. WOW!....nose is immediately an Andy Warhol painting BLAM! Sensations of the purest honey poured into a tin of Dulux white emulsion paint. There are 10 planes of honey here....like a modernist painting. Palate is pure liquid gold...and immediately sends you plunging down Alice's rabbit hole into deep reveries. So many dimensions of dry and sllightly burnt honey and blow-torched apricots. Amazing length. 97 easy....which is an extremely high score for me and I think I was keeping my scores down today.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
From 375 Mein Gott, this was something else. Absolutely flawless, perfectly made. The only reason I am giving a stingy 99 is for personal preference, not my favourite wine category but an absolute privilege to experience. Very much agree with professional reviews, I dont have much to add. Must be tried to be believed..
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Like Cosmo (Vincent Gardenia) said in the movie Moonstruck about the fiancé ( Danny Aiello) of his daughter (cher)…he’s just a baaabbbyyy. So let it be for another 20 years. Better watch the movie. Or take the 1983 cause that one is superb !!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Medium to medium deep gold/orange. Huge creme brulee and toffee nose. Fruit is of the dried mango and lychee variety. The palate is sweet and unctuous, but a razor wire of acidity keeps it focused. Smoky nuances, biscuit. Really saturates the palate, with a 90 second finish. Great wine.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Out of 375….I can’t yet give it the superstar score that others are giving. The bouquet is a little stubborn, and the palate is promising with its depth and dimension, but the complexity is not quite there. I see 3 years ago I called this tight, and it still hasn’t blossomed. If I were buying something to drink today it’s a no brainer to go with something older
Annual Xmas Lunch (incl. Yquem 01): From a half bottle. This legendary vintage of Yquem showed amazing with the perfect sweetness/freshness combo, an already quite complex aroma profile which will only improve with more age and superb precision. This bottle didn’t show as complex as other bottles of this before but maybe we just had too much wine already or it would have needed a proper decant.
TN: Medium+ expressive nose full of saffron, spices, peach and citrus fruits. Intense and very precise and inviting. On the palate this is very impressive with a towering but perfectly round acidity, perfectly-integrated cutting through the rainbow of sweet fruit aromas from tropical to orchard fruit. Additional layers of saffron and minerality and citrus fruit. Perfect balance with the right amount of creaminess. Weightless feel.
Decanting: Not decanted. Needed a bit of air to start to shine. I would decant it for at least 1 hour.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted blind (and nailed it). Tons of saffron, caramel, burned sugar. Amazing intensity with precise, thick layers of nuts, candid fruit (apricot, peach, quince) and aging notes reminding me of leather even. A perfect combo of freshness and creaminess leads into an endless finish. The intensity, aroma profile, texture and sweetness are very consistent with how 2001 Sauternes drinks today (which is amazing). That said this could probabaly do with another 5 years of cellaring before even coming close to its peak. At this point still feels a bit too sticky amd fat.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Charleston VI; 11/3/2021-11/7/2021 (Charleston, SC (various locations)): Not often we get to drink this vintage but there is a reason it has the reputation that it has. It's still a child 20 years later. Very light and bright and the earlier sweetness like orange blossom and honeysuckle. Finish that goes forever. Beautiful wine.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nose The wine exhibits developing medium aromas of honey, dried apricot, dried peach, orange zest, preserved lemon, and brown sugar.
Palate The wine is lusciously sweet with a full body, high acid, medium alcohol, exhibiting pronounced flavors of honey, dried apricot, fig, orange, preserved lemon, and brown sugar with a LONG finish….still tasting it after 4 minutes. Insane.
Conclusion The quality of this wine is exceptional. It is wonderful to drink now along side a cheesecake or crime brûlée and berries, but it certainly has the structure to age and develop well for decades to come. What a treat. Not sure how a wine gets any better. Life and wine are good!
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Honey, flowers, apricots, pineapples and spice might be what you initially notice. But it is the compelling balance between the incredible levels of richness, sweet honey-slathered yellow fruits and blazing acidity that rocks your glass! Still a baby, this is probably going to be a 100-year wine!
7 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Vice Versa weekend and dinner: Honeyed apricot, lemon succulence, the ripest peach you’ve ever had, clementine, wet flowers, lemon verbena, and a mélange of herbs all make for the most impressive of Sauternes known to the free world. Pair it with seared foie and you have the most amazing “traditional” pairing you could ever ask for. “I’ve died and gone to Heaven” was uttered more than once by many a partaker that night. Drink now and feel like a million bucks!
Vice Versa Wine Dinner: What can I say? Best dessert wine ever? Honey and peaches paired with vibrant and energetic lemon pie and stark wet stone. Powerfully concentrated but totally light on its feet, this shows ridiculous freshness that tastes like it was bottled yesterday. Masterfully balanced, with great minerality, the wine stuns and finishes like a locomotive, with layer after layer of satisfaction.
So fresh and wonderful. This already drinks well and we know it will age forever. Light golden color with explosive nose of apricots, orange, honey etc. Just amazing on the palate and silky finish. Had side by side with an 88 and preferred the 2001.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Burnished gold in colour. Roasted pineapple and coconut oak, the nose first seems advanced as it takes time to uncoil in the glass. The boom! Amazing complexity unfurls over time, and all the flavour descriptors provided on this page by other notes appear in one form or another. The essence of “Power without weight”. Glorious wine, a great d'Yquem and worthy of its reputation. Thank you TY 19.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Chateau d'yquem 2001 tasting note: 97 points. Sex In a bottle. Smells like lemon apricots. Tastes like a perfect mixture of citrus with brown sugar, marzipan with a very long finish. Really good. Perfect ending to a great wine dinner. Thankyou Lloyd!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is the first perfect rating I have ever given. Absolutely perfect wine - perfect balance, immensely long, delicate yet intense. Integrated, balanced and did I mention insanely long? So rich, so fruity. Sweet but not too sweet. Hints of everything - nothing dominating. Seamless.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
From 375ml. Luminous gold. Lifted aromas of citrus, honey, botrytis. In the mouth the feeling is of opulence and luxury. Everything is harmonious, and in such balance. A decadent treat.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Best of the best: Sista vinet under en helt fantastisk kväll. Mörk bärnstensfärgad med en otrolig doft. Det är varm saffran, kryddigt och moget. Enormt expansiv doft som efter ett tag påminner lite om calvados. Den smakar mindre mogen än färgen och doften ger intryck av. Mycket saffran i munnen också, fylligt och kraftigt och samtidigt extremt välbalanserat. Massor av persika, krämigt med mycket honung. Ett nästintill perfekt vin som kan få ytterligare något poäng om något årtionde. 96-97
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Easter afternoon dinner with ex seemed good time to pull this out to start with our soup, salad and turkey casserole, much like the French might do, I’ve read.
A class of it’s own, truly for slow sipping and savoring. Richer and creamier than other Sauternes. Even better the next day.
Still, I enjoyed moving to the red Burgundy as the casserole continued, at one-tenth the price.
Great once in a lifetime taste. Would be nice to try one really aged but this will have to do for me.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
From 375: Very good Sauterne. A wine this highly rated by pundits and Cellartracker contributors is a setup for disappointment. If I had not seen the label, I might have rated it lower. 100 point wine? I don't think so, but still very good, if, perhaps not worth the price. I'm not a real connoisseur of Sauterne, but I find bottles at 1/4 of the price just as good. Highly extracted with great botrytis, and the expected citrus, brown sugar, and honey notes on the palate. Glad I had the opportunity to drink it. Enough acidity to provide balance. Long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A second time with this wine, and this time half a glass.
What a wonderful wine, close to perfection and it stays in the mouth for hours after the glass is empty. This time the bottle was fresh from the cellar, and this was the first glass from the bottle (coravin) so a bit younger this time. I would say wait 3-5 year.
Previously 1997, 1999, 2006, 2007 vintages of this wine.
My third Sauternes 2001 and certainly a great vintage for this district. Previously from 2001: Château Rieussec (97) and Château Suduiraut (97).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Det perfekta vinet? Vi har inte druckit tillräckligt med Sauternes, eller ens söta viner, för att avgöra. Kan dock inte komma på något vi vill förändra. Fantastisk doft och helt balanserat. Sätter det högsta betyget hittills. Det här är bra. Vi håller nog inte med om åsikten att "ett så bra vin alltid är prisvärt". Dock kul att prova hypen såklart.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
perfect, no other way to say it. I have had this before and it is evolving and getting better. Honey, crème Brule, baked apples. Not as much viscosity as years back. Still has decades and this wine in 20 years would have me crying to mama, but last night a tear or two formed as not very often does a perfect wine show up.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wine Group Dinner #179, Harvey's Restaurant, Brisbane. 2005 Right Bank Major Growths. the 2001 Yquem remains a stunning wine of rich golden colour and a 'forever' nose of preserved peaches, apricot and cumquat jam, pineapple tarte tatin, leatherwood honey and creme caramel. The palate is a treat of the same flavours but with afine acid and tannic grip that gives poise and length to the beautiful finish. This a great Yquem that justifies all the praise written and spoken to it.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Superbe liquide jaune dorée pâle, le vin a à l'oeil une longue vie devant lui. Il nous acceuille avec un beau botrytis avec des pêches confites, miel et sirop d'érable. La bouche est parfaitement équilibrée. Une franche acidité vient balancer le sucre et le botrytis. La finale est interminable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
blind not my cup of tea anymore but really impressive and well drinkable. Dried fruts but the fresh elements are dominat. Great acidity. Will survive me for sure. 96+
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A relaxed afternoon with two crazy guys (@Private location, Solingen): Glass: Zalto Universal Popped and poured from half bottle. How do you approach the highest rated wine in CellarTracker? Glowing medium amber color. Warm, balanced, fine and deep nose with some volatile acidity. We should have decanted the bottle. You need to drink Yquem with a certain temperature. If you drink it to cold as we initially did, it is “just” a good Sauternes. If gets the right temperature (around 12 degree Celsius) it starts to open up and develops an unbelievable depth, pressure and length. So fine, elegant, multi-layered and complex. The length is almost NEVER.ENDING. Absolutely fantastic, but IMHO not yet at its full peak. 96-97++
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
bright gold into deep gold early nose of botrytis, leaded gasoline and lemon oil
She darkens noticeably with some swirling and the petrol blows off into beeswax, botrytis infused pineapple, apricot jam, honey, yellow rose and marzipan.
Early palate of mulling-spiced cider, grilled pineapple, botrytis, lemon oil, apricot, white pepper and, indeed, both the flavor and heat sensation of jalapeño jelly! Very, very tasty, and longer than either of us have patience to explore..
"Settling into" a nose of grilled pineapple, honey-roasted almonds, marzipan and fresh golden apple. I think i put my glass down 2 minutes ago, and she isn't finished as a cornucopia (in the main listed above but with other nuts/spices) of fruits including cinnamon, mango ,,, ends in my mouth at 3.5 minutes with the smell of new Pirelli tires crushing wasp-apples...
(end day 1)
..ok, the half sip left in glass (no longer) was a very distinct blend of lemongrass and vanilla bean.
97
June 4, 2020. Day 2 starts with amber-tinged gold, like mildly occluded yellow diamonds.
Nose of Pledge (lemon oil, verbena, furniture polish, propellant) In Toto, canned peaches, and ... wait for it... BOTRYTIS! Actually this is somewhat unusual in my experience. Someone earlier commented that they sensed "finest botrytis." I am forced to echo.
After a swirl, she's just the peaches (in sweet syrup) and the polish on the nose. Ahhh, polish gives way to pineapple and that apricot tart.
Silky mouthfeel odd in a beverage with the consistency of 5W-30, very nice acidity here--and all honey, peach syrup and noble rot on the tongue. A little weaker, relative to her nose, are her gulp flavors, this evening. More yellow rose and honeysuckle on the nose with air..
The flavors work up, but a bland note -- like the flavor of the actual rose petal if chewed, seems to "clip" her finish. (clipped at a minute -ish)
My gosh, hard to not swig this down. Her sediment is actually sugar! A little whiff of brine on the palate this sediment. [Indeed it is nearly pure sugar.]
The last smell into the split is very yellow and woodsy, and boasts the most lifted aromas of canned peaches, lemongrass, and ---- vanilla inflected-----* ---BOTRYTIS.***
97 Hold
(got peach crême brulée clearing my glass.)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark orange gold - the colour of slightly tarnished new copper. On the nose, lots of botrytis, barley sugar, honeycomb and a hint of somthing spirity. Paraffin? So far so good and after a sip, I'm lost for words. I don't know English well enough to describe the mouthfilling unctuousness of this wine that seems to coat every corner of the palate leaving a numbing, tingling sensation. Impossibly sweet and full, but finishing clean and dry. How do they do that?
This is my first d'Yquem and ok, I get it. It's like the refined essence of Sauternes. Take any sweet wine you've ever drunk and ratchet everything up by a factor of ten and you will arrive here. I don't know enough about Sauternes to say whether this is ready or not but as Jeff Leve says, "who cares?" It's delicious now. Will it get better? I have no idea. My one concern is that it may be a little too sweet and unctious for me. It just seems to lack the balancing acidity and definition I look for in a sweet wine.
Day 2. Having finished the 2nd half of a half bottle, I don't think this wine is for me. Yes it's absolutely amazing etc etc but I can't help feeling that it's just too concentrated and too sweet for me - like drinking liquid honey. I'm glad I have tasted it and I'll tick it off my '100 wines to try before you die' list but to be honest I'd rather be drinking a top Tokaji at a third of the price. Sorry.
With a bit of air this Yquem shows unbelievably complex with no cloying sweetness but a lot of freshness and spiciness. A dream to drink today and certainly with a long, long bright future ahead. Clearly one of the best sweet wines I’ve ever had and for me a reminder that I shouldn’t neglect this category that much and only pop a bottle at the end of long dinners when the taste buds are tired and everybody is full. 97-98 points with more upside in the future.
TN: At first some unwanted chemical smells which quickly blew off. Super complexity with a very broad aroma spectrum of the finest boytritis, saffron, apricot, quince, lots of citric fruits, peach, apple, nutty notes and a great spiciness. Every sip revealed a new nuance here. There is sweetness but well kept in balance thanks to perfect acidity, citrus freshness and the spiciness. Very good concentration and length.
Decanting: A short 30 minutes decant should do the job.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted blind - and immediately blown away. The saffron really gave away the Yquem! But there was also nutty, lemon grass, lots of spices, candid spices, honey, bee wax, and initially some chemical notes boosting the complexity. Another testament to Yquem's next to none standing in the sweet wine universe - even before taking a sip! On the palate an incredible combination of honey sweetness and fresh acidity. This is absolutely fabulous, but - yes there is a "but" - the crisp acidity and more detailed profile of the 2015 has been imprinted for eternity in my brain and against that otherworldly benchmark this wasn't a 100% match.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
OK, this is too young. But it is so incredibly good, who cares? The array of roasted nuts with cashews and almonds leading the pack were perfect with the roasted, overripe, sweet, honey-coated pineapple. vanilla, marzipan and apricots. Rich, sweet, intense and unctuous, but due to the bolt of racy acidity, the wine was never cloying or tiring to drink. Two of us managed to polish off a split on a hot afternoon. The only issue was, it was too bad we didn't have a full-bottle, so we could have enjoyed some the next day.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
PnP - This wine wasn't quite up to par with the 2009 Yquem. It certainly seems to have the stuffing to surpass the 2009, but not quite there. As this is the only '01 Yquem I have tasted, I will chalk it up to bottle variation. Still a damn good bottle of wine, and one of the finest Sauternes I have tasted. Better than the "01 Reiussec and '01 Suduiraut, which are both excellent Sauternes, and on par with the excellent '01 Climens. The nose was excellent, with a slight whiff of petrol that blew off quickly, then honeysuckle, stone fruit, including peaches and apricots, dominated the nose, On the palate, complex mixtures of stone fruits, mango, poached pears and allspice, with a super-long finish! Definitely a great Sauternes, but this bottle was not quite up to par with the superb 2009! 96+ today
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Fabulous nose of honey, apricot, cinnamon and vanilla. It is complex, rich, layered and oh so fresh. Everything is perfect and it has length to burn. A great, great Yquem that is still just a pup.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Cult Wines (Jason's House): The night ended with a wine I was definitely looking forward to tasting....the 2001 Yquem. I have had several vintages of Yquem, and I have also had several stellar 2001 Sauternes/Barsacs, including Climens, Rieussec, and Suduiraut. So needless to say, my expectations were sky high for my first 2001 Yquem. Sad to say I was disappointed (I know, disappointed in a 99 point wine, right??). I was expecting a new benchmark for Sauternes....now it could be my extraordinary high expectations, or it could be it wasn't the bottle, or could just be the wine was over-hyped....regardless, it was a damn good wine! Like all Yquems, it strikes that perfect balance sweetness and acidity, and between power and elegance...the perfect blend. On the nose, you get honeysuckle, poached pear, apricot preserves, lemon creme pie, and a whiff of petrol. On the palate you get layers of creamy cheesecake, pot de creme, stone fruits, pear, melon, Meyers lemon, butterscotch, vanilla and sweet oak, and, as other reviewers have stated, a finish that goes on and on! For comparison, I thought this was better than any of the other 2001 mentioned and was probably only bested by a magnificent 2009 Yquem, which I expect may change with another bottle or more time! We will see...for now, it is close, but not quite, perfect, which was a disappointment.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
"Cult Wines" (Jason's House): Keep in mind that this wine was the 10th of the night for the 6 of us, so I may be spitballing here. The expectation was high for this wine, and it had that Yquem quality in spades. I just don't know that it surpassed many of the other experiences I've had with this producer from less heralded vintages. In fact, a 2009 seemed much more compelling a few years ago. I'm going to chaulk this up to a crazy high expectation and already being underserved. (If you're keeping track, I'm explaining why I ONLY scored this a 97).
Onto the good stuff. Elegance on top of elegance, nothing out of place. What a glorious nose, it is singing to you. You have all the usual suspects from a Sauternes, orange peel, stone fruits, baking spice, brulee, burnt sugar, caramel. What is so fascinating about the best Sauternes producers (or those that got lucky in a good year) is how it is all seemlessly integrated that you have to work to hunt down a distinct flavor. Seemless... just not the best Sauternes I've ever had, which was my expectation.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
"Cult Wines" & a Few Others (Jason P's, St. Paul, MN): Medium dark golden color. Drank a glass over 45 minutes. I think galewskj nailed it when he referenced expectations. There's certainly a lot of hype around this wine and I was excited to try one. This does hit the early part of the mid drinking window for me for Sauternes. The wine was too cold when it was served and that dulled things early on. Gentle warming in hand made a big difference as this slowly blossomed in glass. This has such intensity on the palate, it really does. Peach, marmalade, cream, white blossoms, honey, lovely spice on the nose. The palate really stands out, so creamy, elegance galore, peach, orange panna cotta, orange marmalde, wonderful spice, honey, creme brulee, long and wonderfully silky and creamy with excellent lift and acidity. Always the mark of d'Yquem, this is so impeccably balanced. Is it better than the other great '01's I've had, certainly not head and shoulders, but probably just a hair ahead of the other big guns at this point. A great wine and it will be fun to see where this goes. 96+ to 97pts.
Good but not great. I really don't get the fuss about this so-called perfect Yquem. Have had much more pleasure with the amazing 88, 89 and 90, and with the gorgeous 97.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Sauternes study (Chicago, IL): This is another of those wines that is just flirting with perfection and hasn't attained it yet simply on account of youth. This is as kaleidoscopic as it comes, with a mix of both tropical fruits as well as your more typical stone fruits. Layered complexity and a shimmering peacock's tail of a finish that lasts as long as any other wine. Fabulously concentrated, this is one of those wines that has everything and will show it as long as you're willing to put in the effort. At the same time, this is also just a viscerally delicious wine, though the sweetness does make it hard to take down a good glass of it in one sitting. I am extremely excited to see where this goes with time.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Not as good as I remembered it from last year. Great structure and nice fruity notes (peach, cantaloupe, citrus) but it felt a little closed down in the moment. I wouldn’t touch this for the next 10 years it definitely needs more time. (Drank at Noble Rot Wine Bar in London from 0.75 bottle.)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Goodness me - this extraordinary wine is even better than before! Our generous hosts (thanks, Patrick) served a 750 ml bottle with strawberries and vanilla ice cream, which it complemented beautifully - but just trivialised. So compelling was it that It drew one person to say that you could drink it with anything. A powerful yet exquisite and delicious masterpiece, it changed the course of a fantastic lunch for 4, it was such an attention-grabbing tour de force. Even my wife, who normally doesn't drink a lot of stickies, was captivated - arm out-stretched at every reload.
First impressions are of lusciously sweet yet exquisitely complex flavours, of remarkable concentration. Lip-lickingly beautiful; descriptors include dried apricots, honey, mango, pineapple, orange blossom, a beautiful hint of muskiness, and lots more. Nice as they are, however, they simply don't do the combination justice.
Only Yquem has the remarkable and distinctive flavour combination (plus or minus in particular vintages) that brings so much admiration. (It was even obvious in a remarkable bottle of the 1900 that our same host kindly provided last year). And only Yquem has that perfect palate 'attack', characterised here with a nice musky thread, and good palate grip, tying together the rich and luscious sweetness. I'm surprised more people don't comment on this lift, which I assume has come from deft oak handling. It's in every Yquem but in the 01 is in perfect balance, along with the perfect fruit-acid balance of the great 2001 vintage.
As if that weren't enough, then there's the after-taste. (The word 'finish' is inadequate to describe it as it implies something much shorter). You'll find yourself looking for new words of approval many minutes after each taste, such is the persistence of the flavours. Put it all together and you have an experience - rightly revered as one the world's greatest wines and, for me, the greatest dessert wine I have ever drunk.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Extremely luscious sauternes with rich peachy and citrus fruit, bucket loads of marzipan adds complexity and rich, botrysized finish makes for an outstanding wine
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
blind, Gabriel standard, half bottle It started a bit slow, alcoholic and broad. We had it firstly side by side with the Maximin Grünhaus and foie gras but we drank it 3 hours later with the dessert and then it showed his beauty and elgance. dried candied fruits as orange, apricot but the tertiary aromas didn't evolve yet. At the end really precise and more balanced. 96
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
60-års dag og blinsmaking: Bøyer meg i støvet. Latterlig balansert og kompleks, fantastisk intensitet, lag på lag av krydderdominerte smaker, frisk. Har hatt noen ikke så overbevisende flasker de senere årene, fra halvformat, her var den tilbake i storform.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The nose is out of this world! Sweet peach, oranges, and candies emerge from the glass. It was super complex and deep and evolved over the course of an hour. Lovely palate with good acidity and flavors of ripe orange and sweet fruit. Very long finish. This is very close to perfection, what a treat! 99-100
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
New Zealand micro trip; 5/6/2019-5/9/2019 (North Island, New Zealand): Seville orange and lime marmalade with apricot compote, cream, the tiniest smidge of vanilla. On the palate it's sweet but with the purest acid line, ridiculously long, the aromas on the nose are reflected on the palate with some orange peel as well as a little sweet spice. Cripes.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Complex aromatics of apricot, honey, lavender, coconut ice and vanilla. Awesome concentration and sweetness, perfectly balanced by the wines minerally acidity. A powerful, luscious and intense Yquem of superb proportion, length and class.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
From a 375. Decanted for 2 1/2 hours, rebottled & recorked, then opened & drank 4 hours later. Full-bodied, sweet tropical fruits, honey, still powerful and will be long lasting. Amazing & everyone loved it!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Not even close to mature, but who cares? This is so good. Unctuous, fresh, concentrated, sweet and complex, the endless layers of ripe, very ripe, and overripe apricots, pineapples, and assorted tropical fruits all slather with honey is a show stopper! But that would not be possible without all of the wines concentration and the blazing bolt of acidity that gives the wine the fuel it needs to jump up, and keep on going. Drink this now, or leave it for your kids in 50 years, or your grandchildren in 100 years. It's that good!
9 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Fremragende! Lækker, blød, rund og dejlig sødme, der er flot styret af en let syre. Perfekt balance og 100p hos Parker. Honning, ristede nødder, abrikos, citrus i en eftersmag, der bare fortsætter og fortsætter.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is mind blowing stuff. Sweet without being overwhelming this wine is massively concentrated and packed with so much complexity every sip reveals something different. I paired this with some homemade cheesecake but this wine is rich enough to be Served in its own as the desert. I can’t wait to see what this bottle reveals with more age as it is just a baby every at 18 years of age.
Holiday Dinner - Champ, Burg, Piedmont, Rayas and a ringer, Bordeaux and etc. (Officina - Washington D.C.): It has shed opulent primary fruit. Perfectly balanced nose displaying decadent yet pure yellow fruit, apricot tart, peach preserve, dry mango, candied orange peel, ginger candy, crème brulee, strong saffron and honey, vanilla, and spicy spices. There is a hint of red currant. Beautifully integrated energetic palate, layers upon layers of slightly dry concentrated sweet yellow fruit, incredibly intense and oily yet also pure and weightless, bright acidity, good mineral presence and the finish that lasts over a minute with strong saffron and candied ginger at the end. We all agree that this will outlive all of us. A great way to end the perfect evening.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
One of many wines at a post-Thanksgiving dinner. Served with a Torchon of duck foie gras and onion jam, which was a great pairing to start things off. A very complete wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The other notes pretty well say it. Endless descriptors of complexity, length, and depth. Obscenely sweet with the acidic structure to take it next level. No end in sight here (20-30 years...).
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
We wanted to see what all the fuzz is about with this 2001 and it is indeed a great wine. The aromatic complexity is off the charts, the precision and energy is amazing, the finish is endless and the acidity perfectly keeps everything fresh and light. Why not a higher score then? Maybe it was the setting on a cruise ship, with high humidity and a “few” cocktails during the day... Others in the group, however, we‘re completely blown away („best sweet wine I‘ve ever had“).
TN: The nose was without fault but didn’t reveal too much, but then comes the first sip and a rainbow of aromas hit your palate from stone fruits like peach, apricot, nectarines to tropical fruits like pineapple, lychee, citrus, orange, to quince, honey, some hints of creme brûlée and even some floral and smoke aromas. The complexity and precision are amazing and so is the long long finish. Soft texture not too sweet not heavy at all thanks to a perfectly integrated vivid acidity.
Decanting: Drank from a half bottle. No decant needed, was good from the get-go but probably the nose would have been better with a long decant.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
lovely pale gold colour. rather lighter body than expected. extraordinary delicacy and bright, sparkling highlights in nose with a rush of harmoniously blended delicate creamy, apricot, citrus, almond, and floral notes; less VA than usual. very sweet and a bit low in acidity. very racy, uncharacteristically sprightly, remarkably refined taste redolent of lime-flowers. exquisite balance and enormous length. needs at least 20 years to develop fully.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted blind next to the 01 Suduiraut. While that was defined by its custardy richness, this was all about vivid detail, acidity, and energy. You could list descriptors all day, but I'll just say it was more pineapple than orange, and dynamic enough that you almost don't notice the sweetness until you've experienced everything else that's going on.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A gift of a dinner for Joao's 40th (The Papies, Elizabeth St, London): From half bottle. Where does one begin to discuss this wine... Frankly we discuss a lot over this and there was nowhere we could find a fault with it. The acidity is there, the energy, the ripe rich fruit, honey, light caramel beginning to emerge. Granted there is some stargazing when one drinks this wine and probably a feeling of "is that all" but really its just an effortless display of elegance. Nothing too much nothing too little. A perfect tune and a perfect wine. 100
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Les Deux 2018 (Chez Gill): Gorgeous. Thick and sticky, with beautiful sweetness, but not imo over the top. Got paired with a foie gras macaroon and a bacon ice cream, which worked pretty well together. The texture is amazing, somehow dense and weightless at the same time. A glorious bottle of sweet wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I have had this wine a bunch of times and it is always perfect. A huge nose of botrytis, white peach, lanolin, cotton candy, Earl Grey, orange rind, apricot, and spice. One really could spend hours just sniffing and not even taking a sip. But a sip seals the deal, 01 Yquem is in a league of its own. The palate goes on and on with incredible precision. As with all great Yquem, the intensity is off of the charts. It is simply amazing how well this wine is coming along and it still has many decades to go. From 375, light golden color, and opened 24 hours in advance of service. 100 Pts
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A DC Wino hits Chi-town (RPM Steak): From 375ml, still so young, exciting, and exotic. Aromas of rich creme brulee, soft and silky texture featuring a kaleidoscope of ripe fresh tropical fruits. Dense, creamy, and lush, yet still so vibrant. This will outlive anyone alive today. Clearly, one of the best Yquem vintages ever.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
From 375. Good acidity, but overall a lighter touch to this wine. Higher note tropicals than I expected with a dash of citrus. Will undoubtedly get better with time, I just don't know how much better. 92+
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
(From 375 ml). Deep glden bronzed copper colour. Nose is ten different interpretations of banana - especially the fresh over ripe kind and the baked kind - with subtle hints of getaway car smoking tyres.....you just can't stop sniffing this. Palate is a heavy initial mouthfeel of baklava pastry but it suddenly unfolds into 10+ different layers, each with its own unique character.....so hard to pin down because so much is happening. So rounded and complete....there is an incredible "Alice down the Rabbit Hole" sensation of burnished honey that is almost impossible to put into words. It finishes with a gentle but extremely powerful resonance in the mouth and in the head on the finish. This wine has an incredible copper-ish element that is like liquid gold and liquid honey too. Sensational....a truly iconic wine you feel priviliged to have drank.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Toronto winetasters Decanted 24 hrs before. Deep peach and honey on nose. Huge unctuous palate, rich and no where near ready. Slight bitterness on back, has not developed but will be wonderful in 10 years
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pineapple, apricots and creme brûlée, very promising but also very tight....more so than I remember in the past. I’d wait a few years, or decades if you have that luxury.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
2001 CHATEAU `d`YQUEM SAUTERNES- 750 ml; 80% Semillon, 20% Sauvignon Blanc; our group has been blessed to drink d`Yquem regularly throughout the years as many have bought and stored this for eons; we`ve had this vintage numerous times and all have been spectacular including this one; it had a light yellow gold hue and so inviting aromatics of floral and tropical notes along with a suggestion of some honeyed stone fruit; true to the nose, the taste profile is loaded and layered with pleasurable vanilla and honeyed pineapple, lemon zest, peach and apricot; a hallmark is its bright acidity and creamy rich full bodied texture. Wow!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Burnished old gold; adolescent, lemon pith, burnt toffee, caramelised orange, penetrating; rich, powerful, intense to such an extent almost painful, yet with a relaxed texture providing poise; exquisite, lingering finish. A myriad of complexities making it difficult to pin down. Provides plenty of enjoyment now, but this should deliver over the next half century. Grand vin.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Magnum, Mehrfach getrunken, heute am stärksten. Nahezu perfekte Balance. Die Süße ist eindeutig im Hintergrund. Sie gibt dem Wein den nötigen Schmelz und Harmonie. Aprikosenkompott, minimal getrocknete Früchte wie Dattel und Feige, Honignoten noch ganz weit weg, keine überbordende Cremigkeit. Die messerscharfe Säure läßt ihn wie einen Balletttänzer daherschweben. Flasche zwei Tage offen, 99+, zweitstärkster Wein des Abends
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dinner at the White House (The White House, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong): From 375ml. Popped 'n Poured. Colour is burnished copper. Nose is immediate indecipherable melange of copper metal, crushed rock, red nail varnish, ripe pineapple creme brulee, Palate is so deep and rich - burnished pineapple, sweet honeysuckle, an impossible pureness of over-ripe peach, tons of botrytis, impossibly heady and endlessly long and reverberant inside the head on the finish. Stunning and silence-creating. But still lots of room to improve.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
From 375ml. Perfectly balanced d'Yquem as always, not much complexity but paired perfectly with Trader Joe's chocolate-covered orange slices. Cap to birthday dinner.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
As so often happens with a tasting of a variety of excellent red wines, the Yquem steals the show. What is so amazing about the ‘01 version is how compulsively drinkable it is at this toddler stage. The balance of fruit, sugar, acid and botrytis is perfect and when it fills out in the decades to come, it will clearly take its place in the pantheon of the greatest Yquems. Simply exquisite.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wine Dinner Extravaganza (Mirabelle - Washington, DC): Dried apricot, caramelized pineapple, mango and dried coconut. So dense, so very long. Great now, so very energetic and exciting. This will last a generation or two.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
From a 350cl and the first time to revisit this in 5 years. Our host fell asleep so I got to drink two-thirds contemplatively. Deep orange gold colour. Nose is a blast of almond, apricot stones, confit apricot, warm rubber. Palate is thick, unctuous mouthfeel somewhat sugary marmalade but great lightening acidity and then a rolling sensation of unfolding summer flowers, honeysuckle, Deep burnt orange marmalade. Lovely acidic balance. Gosh, this gets really reverberant inside the head on the finish and is really long. Very contemplative. Lots of that signature Yquem botrytis. This wine departs from the mouth to the central vortex very quickly...like in 45 seconds. Absolutely fabulous and worth the high price of entry for a once-in-a-lifetime bucket list experience if you love wine and don't have wealthy friends. 96+
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
'01 Yquem vs. Fargues; 9/27/2017-9/30/2017: From a 375. Color is light golden, as expected for the 2001 Yquem but lighter than other '01s; nose is highly aromatic, plenty of botrytis spice, honey, some vanilla, some cinnamon, complex even beyond fruit and spice with some sandalwood coming out with air; palate is explosive, full bodied, sweet but balanced by high tingly acidity throughout, certainly has a presence, plenty of white fruit, apricot, and orange marmalade throughout the midpalate, honeyed complexity; finish is long, both palate coating and fresh, persists for minutes. I bought this to replace a corked half I tried in an '01 Sauternes horizontal, and I was really looking forward to this data point. Since my last taste in 2012, the nose has really opened up and is much more aromatic, complex but not pure youthful tropical fruit any longer. The palate is still vibrant and intense, but still so well balanced that it's almost hard to isolate each individual flavor... rather just to absorb them all together. Superb sauternes and superb Yquem; I would place this at just beyond youthful immaturity to early adolescence but not anywhere near maturity... this still needs a decade or two to get anywhere close to its potential. For now it is excellent, but the 01 Fargues (well stored) and the 01 Suduiraut (especially the Suduiraut...) get 95+% of the way there for a small fraction of the price. 97-99+ Of note, compared to recent top vintages like the 2011, the style of Yquem has changed to a lighter bodied wine. This just seems more substantial (still fresh due to its high acidity) than the recent vintages which seem more elegant and Barsac-like. Update: I'm always struck by how similar Yquem and Fargues are. This 01 Yquem has just a faint hint of bitterness on the palate that I call a citrus pith or a grapefruit bitterness. Fargues generally has much more and I think it's their trademark. It's much more subtle in Yquem, but it's there. Day 2: Largely the same as yesterday. Nose has subtle complexity, and the palate still has explosion of flavor including most prominently orange marmalade, and plenty of acidity. A landmark wine, but for most casual drinkers of Sauternes this is probably overkill. I let this sit out in a glass for 4 hours and it was completely unchanged. Day 4: Overall unchanged, but I paired this with a simple sugar snap pea dish, and it came alive even more. Every sip just a melange of complexity, balanced with the crispness of the sauteed sugar snap peas. I rarely pair Yquem with food, but I have to say with this pairing, it tastes like a perfect wine. Perfect balance, perfect complexity, perfect richness and acidity. Still expensive, but worth trying once (or a few times...) in your life. 100 Compared to 01 Fargues (From half, opened fresh today): On the nose, the Fargues is actually more aromatic and more advanced. By comparison, the Yquem has more complexity but is more reserved, and far younger. On the palate, the Yquem is far younger, and in comparison seems almost too young (whereas by itself it seemed approachable). The Yquem has more youthful pure fruit on the palate, even a bit of melon and tropical fruit that I didn't get by itself, whereas the Fargues is a bit less sweet, a bit more citrus pith, and a bit less complex (only in comparison to the Yquem, it's still a super-complex Sauternes). Overall, the style is very similar with superb balance and lovely citrus notes (and actually the '01 Fargues reminds me of the '88 Yquem now), so I expect that the '01 Yquem will develop in that direction over 2 decades. For drinking now, the Fargues pairs better with a broader array of foods (because the sweetness is more integrated), and it will take at least a decade or two for the Yquem to enter the same window. Pricing was $60-70/half for the Fargues and $350-400/half for the Yquem. Day 5: Similar to my comparison yesterday to the Fargues. A tad more reticent on the nose right now, but makes up for it in additional complexity. With age, this will be even more spectacular.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
From a 750. Interesting to compare this with previous tasting experiences with half bottles. This one appeared younger, with more viscosity and lower acidity. There's still the beautiful tropical fruits and honey. The mouthfeel and finish are just incredible. This will only continue to improve over the coming decades. I look forward to trying this numerous times over the upcoming decades.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Supper with Futronic (Osteria Langhe, Chicago): From 375ml. Apricot, honey, violets and lifted floral notes giving way to pear liqueur, quince and spice. Gorgeous honeyed fruit on the palate. Amazing concentration but with good acidity, this remains bright and focused. Wonderful lingering finish.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Monthly Men's Wine Dinner (Steve and Martha's house): I've enjoyed every d'Yquem I've tried and this 100-point vintage is the best in my memory. Perfect sweetness, flavor, everything. I'm not a dessert wine fan but the hype is real.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The Yquem dinner (Chicago, IL): This was the most different of the Yquem that we opened tonight, largely because it was so damn young. Very, very sweet, but the amount of stuffing here is next-level. This is simply a massive wine that won't let up. The finish goes on for minutes. However, this doesn't have as much of those classic orange peel, brown sugar and spice notes that you might expect from Sauternes. I think it's just not old enough yet. This is still fully primary. Decant, if this is to be opened now, for a very, very long time.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Big Boy Bordeaux Spring Dinner (Morton's Northbrook): A perfect wine, aging at a glacial pace even from this 375 ml. Rich sweet profile of apples, peach, banana, and pineapple in the center of the best creme brulee on earth, yet amazingly bright and fresh with a finish that I can nearly still taste a day later. Wow, what a treat! Thanks Jeff!
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dinner at Trelio (Clovis Ca.): SO exited to try this, since I've owned it from release, but never had it yet! Crazy freshness with the citrus acidity...vibrant, perfectly ripe tropical fruits, apricot marmalade, saffron threads, dried honey, vineyard smoke, salty minerals...layer after layer of perfect balanced sweet perfection. A legend for sure!
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Luscious unending nose of glycerin white chocolates truffle oil candies pear, and perfect prefect gourmand of crushed pear, green apples, pink fruit, rose petals, mineral stone and malty brown sugar reduction. Long and satisfying finish of distinction. Incredible.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tremendous viscosity, plenty of acid and structure balancing this exceptional Sauternes. Still young, but as ever, delicious at every stage of its evolution.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
First growth dinner (Cafe Maxx, Pompano Beach, Florida): From a half bottle. Drinking incredibly well right now. Deep golden color. This is packed with aromatics, ranging from tropical fruits, apricot, honey, and vanilla. Seemingly perfect viscosity and weight. The finish is long, fresh, and memorable. This is already a fantastic wine, but I am certain it will improve with more evolution. Regardless, you can definitely start popping your half bottles of this.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
At the end of a 7 bottle vertical tasting of Chateau de Beaucastel, what better way to polish off the night. This stuff is the real deal. Syrup-like viscosity, full bodied, sweet apricots, dusty nose, dark golden hue, not overly sweet, perfect LLLLOOOOONNNNNGGGGGG finish. This finish lingers beyond 5 minutes. Hard to belief, but many commented similarly. Terrific night cap!
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Greatest red Burgundy - Wine tasting dinner (Rest FB (kg arr.)): 4 flights tasted: 1. Chambolle Musigny: Denis Mortet 1. cru Aux Beaux Bruns '10 (classical Chambolle, light, elegant, perfect aromas and balance 93-94/100) against Vogué Le Musigny vielles vignes '06 (much more intensity, liquorice and too many tannins - in other words much too young, 91/100) 2. Gevrey-Chambertin: Philippe Pacalet Ruchotte-Chambertin '11 (close to natural wine, a lot of fruit, liquorice, definitely not a typical Bourgogne, 93/100) against Armand Rousseau Le Chambertin '11 (develops positively in the glass, high acidity, fantastic flavours, still very young, never the less I rated i 95/100 based on performance right now, which means it is the winner of this tasting) 3. Vosne Romanee: DRC Richebourg '09 (way too young, very closed and too many tannins, however still a good glass of wine 93/100) against DRC La Täche '09 (deeper colour, even mores closed, more tannin and higher intensity both on the nose and palate - should have waited another 10 years or more, 93/100) 4. Sauternes: Yquem '01 (unbelievable good wine on the nose and palate, extremely good balance - so far the best Sauternes I have ever tasted, It It is not getting better than it is now, just changing towards too many tertiary notes like the 1990. I certainly disagree with Wine Advocate which states drinking window to begin 2030, 98-99/100) against Yquem '90 (Rated 99 by RP - because of the age it is much too oxidative for me (sherry like), almost amber colour, the '01 is so much better 88/100)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Just a potentially perfect wine that every wine lover must have in their cellar. I have had 100yr old sauturnes that taste of grapefruit and young one prodigious ones, but none that have this substance - a typical Yquem nose of pineapple and gingerbread but where it excels is the sheer power and length in the mouth with a noticeably higher than usual level of acidity providing freshness and ageability. This will age tremendously. Tried it also alongside the 97 Yquem (imho the best value in the market) and it blew it away. Nowhere near ready though - hold for at least 10yrs.
Fit for a wine loving Groundhog: Bordeaux back to 1970, by way of a 1982 trio (Ripple Restaurant in Washington D.C.): Certainly longer and more full bodied than the Tour Blanche of the same vintage and yet somewhat of a let-down, not fully matching expectations, as I have had better bottles of the Yquem 2001, even if it was a while ago. I was somewhat struck by the dark color, darker than the Climens - both coming from halves. It certainly conveyed opulence, verve, and botrytis spice like clove and nutmeg, with citrus like freshness, as in orange rind.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
So young, but already so close to perfection. Wonderfully balanced, fresh, but intense and rich. Cannot wait to revisit over what will be an eternal life.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This rockstar wine never fails to please the palate and the senses in every way. Incredibly concentrated, yet light on its feet. Sweetness galore, but with the racy acidity needed to give it lift. The fruit has the beautiful, sense of purity and everything is slathered in honey. I need more!
Reportedly well stored bottle. Vast disappointment. Colour is deep, tea-like. The wine has certainly an age, a bit of oxidation, cold tea notes, a bit of volatile and a very very strong medicinal character that renders it undrinkable. Cork was healthy, no TCA taint or other problem.
Purchased on release. Perfect cork and fill. Very light gold color. Intense nose of honey, lemon, pineapple, great intensity and concentration, beautiful sweetness/acidity balance, never-ending finish. Killer from the start, the more air it had the better it got. Outstanding!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Holiday Dinner - Champ, Burg, Bordeaux, Rhone and etc. (The Grill Room at Rosewood DC): Everything about this wine is insane, i.e. balance, purity, airiness, intensity, spiciness, concentration, complexity and finish. There is no doubt that this is the most concentrated and intense Yquem since the 67. Absolutely stunning showing which by now I fully expect.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted 2001 and 1990 together. While I thought the nose on the 01 was superior to the 90, the 90 is a richer, more developed wine at this time - as one would expect. Light to medium yellow color with a delightful balance of acidity and sweetness. Hold another 10 years to taste next bottle. 96 now with upside
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Annual Chicago winos visit - Pearl Clutcher, coche, drc, rousseau, D'Yquem and etc. (The Grill Room at Rosewood DC): For my palate, this is the best D’Yquem since the 75. Another perfect showing. Incredibly complex yet perfectly harmonious nose displaying energetic decadent yellow fruits, apricot preserve, a hint of fresh squeezed orange juicy, vanilla, a lot of ginger, sweet and spicy spices, honey and botrytis. As usual airy and weightless despite unbelievable concentration. I dare say one of the greatest wines and the cheapest price! Just incredible and for my palate, always a step or two above the 01 Climens which is the great modern era Climens.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
66x Parker 100-Pointers from Bordeaux 1947-2010 tasted blind (Switzerland): Served with the Cheese and charcutery buffet at the end of the tasting. Golden yellow with amber hue. Nose of smoke, botrytis, honey, flowers, bakery, stone fruit. Much richer and denser than the 2009 which is more elegant and airy. Both fantastic but very different siblings. I rarely drink sweet wine and don’t like it very much but I can attest that we have high quality, complex material in the glass here. Worked extraordinarily well with the Cheese - Vacherin Fribourgois and Gruyere of course.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
From 375ml with friends over afternoon snacks. Medium gold color with beautiful nose of honey, peaches & pineapple, there's just enough acid to keep the sweetness at bay. Finis sails on forever.
If a date, this was a 25 year old lingire model who enjoys cooking 3 star dinners for her band of sexy merry maidens. Brilliant juice and highly recommended for another 2 decades of drinking pleasure.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A lovely wine, although I personaly find it a little overated in comparison with the stunning 88, 89 and 90. It is rich and balanced, with aromas of apricot and vanilla. The texture is gorgeous, it has a good level of sugar and acidity, and is truly delicious to drink, although I suspect it will benefit from a long aging.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
2001 CHATEAU d`YQUEM SAUTERNES- 750 ml; I`ve had many a bottle of this gem, mostly from 375 ml; all of the best expressions of the famous Botrytised Semilion and Sauvignon Blanc are showcased here; it had a mild yellow gold color; served in 2 glasses for comparison, a Bordeaux and Burgundy stem, we found the aromatics of the Burgundy stem were significantly brighter and the taste profile was more concentrated and therefore more pronounced in the Bordeaux stem, interesting; regardless, the wine shined with tastes of spicy honeyed orange blossoms, ripe apricot, citrus and baked cinnamon apple; this is full on, big, sweet and creamy rich with thick texture to carry all of the joys all the way to the back end; a major life changing sensory experience.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bill Parcells has his five Ps (Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance.) If he had an 01 Yquem with 24 hours of air, he would have another P (Perfection.) Instantly upon cork extraction the perfume of this great wine wafted...and then I poured a small glass and put the rest in the fridge to visit a day later. I cannot encourage this protocol strongly enough. This was my darkest (in color) 375 from a case, so I pulled it. Medium gold/copper, the flavor profile mimicked the color. This particular bottle was just entering a young phase, moving up from infancy. On the nose, defined notes of caramel and butterscotch, but you are still slayed by the orange rind, botrytis, apricot, Earl Grey, and lanolin. The palate is the show stopper - read my notes from earlier years regarding this wine. Searing intensity on the tongue and palate with a velvet lift. Layer after layer and then a 60 second gravity defying finish. As I have said before, this wine is not light years better than the others, but it does everything that a legend is supposed to, and that makes it perfect. 100 Pts.
Delicious Yquem; still so young but a very nice phase to catch. Broad, open, apricot, stone fruits, honeyed, white flower; expands wonderfully. Like all yquems, the acidity and body are well enough suited to the sugar that the wine never really seems too sweet. A long life ahead to say the least.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Great sweet wine makes the brain go giddy. It brings a cheeky grin to the face. It makes you want more. None of these traits apply to this wine. This was bottle Nr 2, opened for my 50th birthday. The 1st was drunk at my 40th and I remember the layered texture, the weightlessness and the balance. I wrote then 'drink up this year' and I think I was correct. This is perfectly correct, is very rounded and is s lovely Sauterne. It's also dull and misses personality. I drank this with 3 novices, who like wine with a sweetness, but none of them had that 'wow' moment. Still young though and I'm sure this will evolve. 10 years to go for bottle Nr 3....
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
RJ's birthday gathering - perfect 09 VCC and 01 Yquem (Eddie V's - Tysons Corner): Absolutely perfect showing. Expressive yet perfectly harmonious nose displaying ripe but pure yellow fruits, honey, ginger, nutmeg, crème brulee, vanilla, botrytis and sweet spices. Incredibly concentrated yet airy and weightless, bright acidity and strong presence of mineral, ginger and sweet spices driven palate impression and seamless infinite finish. This particular bottle is incredibly expressive. No longer primary but still with ample youthful fruits backed by ginger and crème brulee. Absolute perfection!
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is actually the first one of these I opened. I didn't sacrifice any on release because I was fairly confident that the string of 100-pointgasms was just a feedback loop - that's just too young for any Sauternes to be so transcendent. It is still super-young and could have passed for a current release. If not quite at the level of transcendence, it is still superb and I'm glad I finally took the opportunity to see what the fuss was about. If you are coming into it thinking it is going to be a heavy, ultra-concentrated Sauternes, it is not that. To the contrary, the most remarkable thing about it is an almost uncharacteristic sense of buoyancy and a figure that's positively svelte. The fruit flavors are more peachy than apricot, or at the very least more fresh apricot than dried. I don't know how long it will be before anything suggesting maturity arrives, but it'll be awhile.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Just another evening between work in Leiden: Very impressive Sauternes. Liquid beauty. The moment you get this in your mouth you know everything is in the right place. Impressive balance of sweetness, acidity, minerals, saffran, crème brulee, stone fruit. Rich, fresh, mouthfilling, finish goes on and on. Wow wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
[IWFS-Vic DRC Montrachet, Various RSV & d'Yquem Dinner at Vue de Monde] Deep rich golden color, excellent limpidity. Honeysuckle bouquet with intense honeyed botrytis notes and suggestions of white flowers, glaced apricot, orange peel, cumquat marmalade, crème brûlée, crème caramel, beeswax, spice & buttered toast. Full, super-intense, profound & dense stone & citrus fruit flavors with lots of developed nuances; opulently rich, lubriciously smooth with remarkable lively acidity imparting exquisite balance & high-pixeled definition. An extraordinary wine of incredible intensity & lascivious richness, staggering concentration & serious density while retaining ineluctable finesse & invigorating freshness. Very long, lingering finish.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
From half bottle. This is a 95-100 range wine depending on the palate (likes young or old Sauternes?) of the beholder and mood. It is a masterclass of balance between ripe, sweet and sticky fruit vs polished/elegant acidity. The presence of this wine is beyond and we cannot praise it enough. No need to say more but a milestone in any wine lovers drinking life.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A half bottle from the cellar. Still very fine indeed, but not quite as ultramundane as when last opened 4 years ago. Wonderful complex fruits, acidity and texture as before, but it seemed a little too sweet this time, and lacking a bit of fruit/acidity balance, it did not command that total attention/reverence which previous half bottles did in 2010 and 2012. Is it in transition? It followed a bottle of Haut Brion 1989 in superb condition, unquestionably a very hard act to follow. Nevertheless, at the moment this wine is not quite performing as it did in its youth, and as it may very well do again with a few more years' maturity.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
From a 375. Beautiful nose of marmalade, orange peel, dried apricot, honey, flowers, perhaps some oaky vanilla, botrytis smoke and a certain steeliness. Palate is rich and concentrated with a pleasing amount of glycerin/viscosity. Balancing acids are present but in an elegant and understated way: there is no assault on the tongue. Finishes long, oaky and resinous with a touch of astringency. A lovely, balanced sweet wine...but it doesn't have me reaching for the hyperbole.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Served blind as the last wine of a fantastic lunch. Nose is creme brulee, saffron. What surprised me in this blind tasting is the strong acidity of the wine, that made it extremely fresh. So acid in fact I guessed it was a high-end Jurançon.
To hold for at least 5 additional years before revisiting, but this wine is probably immortal.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
My 1000 TN on CT. A good wine to describe. From Magnum. Thanks Ingo!!
The last three wines of an unforgettable evening with a complete Clos du Mesnil tasting are worthy to close the night. Yquem 88, 75, 01 from Magnum.
The bottle was one week open, still fantastic, what a fruit, great acidity structure. you can imagine howthis wine could be in 50 or 70 years. I'M happy to drink this wine again. Next time I will open the bottle 2 days ago and decant it for 10 hours.98-100
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Intriguing and enticing nose of lemon lime and intermittent varnish. Still young with an almost lemon pledge sort of aroma. Gorgeous palate of slate, clay, and tremendous stoniness. Sweet honey present throughout. Fresh acidity. Lovely to drink young.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
From 375ml. Surprisingly green note to start and some tropical fruit; Crème brulee in a glass! This has plenty of acidity and a wonderful mid-palate crescendo. 100 pts? I really don't think so but this is very good.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A private dinner (Restaurant Behrens Am Kai *, Düsseldorf, Germany): From a magnum that was opened a few days ago and was still about one-third full. Just a sip - I did not have the time to really concentrate, but I was once again amazed by the magical combination of richness, concentration and elegant freshness of Yquem in this vintage. I am not scoring it tonight, but I suspect this is still (close to) perfection.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Sauternes tasting: The light lemon colour gave this wine's identity away to everyone in the room. A touch of sulphur on the nose. A more restrained, refined bouquet than the others. Still fine and complex with floral, gentle spice and citric notes interwoven. Orange peel, apricot and pear with marmalade on buttered toast. 'The least VA of all of the wines', said one of the tasters. On palate, a great young wine. Delicate and elegant with great concentration. Pinpoint precise with excellent acids. Detailed with flavours of peach and other ripe stone fruit, pear and pineapple. Showing a little evolution actually, but, obviously the least of any wine on the table. There's a little vanillin oak yet to integrate. Great length. 'Dances across the palate. Superb.' said JC. That was also confirmed on the second evening. This is a wine of great purity, complexity, balance and length. N/A = 0 Bronze = 0 Silver = 0 Gold = 22 WOTN = 13
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Gorgeous, even in this young stage. Now on the "fruity" side. Raisin, honey, innocent apricot jam, coconut syrup, vanilla, creme brulee, some figs and dates, concentrated but not overwhelming, Fine razorsharp finish because of the killing acidity, amazing long, not the beauty of 67 and 75 (because of mising typical Yquem aging notes) but this will reach the maximum points in 20 or 30 years. A Giant! 99+
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
BYO European Wine (Restaurant Kul): What an impressive wine and I don't believe that Sauternes gets any better than this. Different and equally good but not better. It is just packed with botrytis, tropical fruits, coconut and honey with an insanely long aftertaste. Everything is just perfectly integrated. Simply an extraordinary wine where the hype for once merits the wine!! When tasting this wine it is difficult to find the right words. The most fitting word is perfection :-)
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The 2001 Chateau d’Yquem is one of Mark’s all-time favourite wines so when you get a shit hot glass of youngish Yquem served blind by him you rarely are wrong if you go 2001 with your option. This wine was up to its usual brilliant standard. It had an exotic and concentrated nose of pineapple and coconut ice with some honey and apricot. It was so sweet and luscious but so balanced and long. It is a wine of great drive and energy.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bright, deep golden colour and powerful and almost liquerish nose gave no indication of the vivacity and elegance of the stunning palate - but I remembered well from before. OK, so let’s try this baby again …
Holy Hannah; a lip-licking tour de force, the incredibly intense flavours of dried apricots, burnt orange-marmalade and musky honeyed nectar hit you straight away - then build up from there! This is all happening in a luscious and voluptuous - almost syruppy - palate, with that incredible complexity that only Yquem can produce, all counterbalanced by perfect acidity and tannins. Make no mistake, there’s stacks of acid here; it’s powerful and completely pervasive, yet it has “soft edges” from start to finish, and not a hint of harshness. Consequently, this intensely luscious tour de force feels light in the mouth despite its emphatic and lingering palate.
It’s impossible to even sip this masterpiece without licking your lips again and again, and rolling your tongue around to savour every last drop. BTW, “lingering” doesn’t do justice to the finish. It goes on easily for minutes and is still really present when you take the next sip. After several sips, it builds up to almost become an assault on the palate – in the nicest possible way!
I can’t remember ever enjoying so much how acid can perfectly complement the fruit in a wine, although I do recall how the magnificent 1975 Yquem probably bettered the also magnificent and more full-on 1976 - because of better balance (and acid) in the 1975. The 2001 seems to be even better balanced than the 1975, and more intense, too. It may seem an odd metric in a wine that will be legendary for its exquisite flavours and complexity but the 2001 Yquem also is my reference standard for fruit-acid balance. Plus, it has perfect astringency (some Yquems can be a bit grippy on the finish, even at this age from a 375ml).
I’m a complete sucker for Yquem in any year, let alone a top one, but the 2001 truly is extraordinary.
PS. Make sure you serve it at just the right temperature ie. cool enough to appreciate its elegance and balance but not so cool as to diminish its emphatic power. This is even more important than breathing time with Yquem.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
From 375, absolutely beautiful golden color. Where do I begin? For me, this is the best wine that I have ever had (and I am not a fan of the word "best" in this context, but I have no choice.) This wine is not light years ahead of everything else, but just an incredible package with virtually no fault. The nose radiates from the glass and fills the room. Honeycomb, lemon curd, lanolin, Earl Grey, fresh orange peel, botrytis, grapefruit, beeswax, and on and on it goes. The palate gives you even more, but with this razor searing intensity that almost burns the tongue and beyond. Simply emblazoned on your taste buds, but with a lightness that is completely majestic. Still a pup, this has ages to go. You are fooling yourself (and friends?) if you do not open this at least 24 hours in advance. This wine is a singular experience and worth every penny. 100 Pts
Viking dinner at RJs - 96 Salon, 09 Coche CC, 01 Rousseau, 06 CSS, 06 Masseto, 01 D'Yquem and etc. (Reston, Va): How such a big and intense wine be so balanced is mind boggling. Intense nose displaying apricot, mango, pineapple, yellow peach, honey, ginger, nutmeg and sweet spices. Incredibly concentration yet weightless, incredibly layered fruits, intense sweet yellow pit fruit driven palate impression, bright acidity and lovely long finish. IMO, one of the greatest Yquems. Drinking incredibly well. We had this with a warm Lobster course with grapefruit reduction, the perfect marriage.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is a perfect wine in every way. Light and airy on the palate while demonstrating deeply pitched flavors of honey, coconut, and tropical fruit. Still showing incredible youth with many, many, great years of drinking ahead.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Light whiskey color. Intense nose. This is just one of those perfect wines where everything comes together and you find it hard to put words to the notes. All about balance and complexity. Creamy, fresh honey, coconut, acidity, perfect tannin and a looooong taste. Extraordinary. Believe the hype.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Light gold. Nose was shy compared to previously. But with swirling and time all glories awoke. Flowers, apricots, caramel, honey. Taste never quit and overwhelmed the mouth, in a good way. Stopped conversation. Wow.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
An Amazing Birthday Meal (San Francisco): Half bottle. Deep yellow. Relatively primary aromatics of creme brûlée and pineapple. Lighter weight. Young, relatively reticent and straightforward. Try as I might, I could not find a lot of excitement in this legendary vintage of Yquem. It was proper and perfectly fine but clearly outshone by the Fargues.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Color ambarino con tonalidad yodada bien brillante y cristalina y ribete acerado ligeramente amarillo. Notable intensidad en nariz con una elegancia desbordante de aromas de fruta blanca bien madura, orejones, pan de higos secos, miel de naranjo, bizcocho cremoso con un toque de nata y avellanas ralladas, una delicia en nariz con una complejidad real. En boca es otro mundo con una gran cremosidad y un toque de naranja amarga que le confiere textura, cuerpo y frescura, excelente acidez, elegante y sedoso, equilibrado, elegante, inmenso volumen y con una amplitud que llena toda la boca y no deja indiferente, magnífica persistencia. Final bien largo, postgusto de miel y naranja amarga y retronasal
More information: www.elvi.net/2015/02/15/chateau-d-yquem-2001/
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
What can I say that hasn't already been said? Purity, intensity, freshness, density and complexity in spades. This is as good as a sweet wine gets. The scary thing is, it has not even budged towards maturity. Having tasted Yquem at 80 years of age, current owners will never see it. But who cares as this is damn delicious today?
Perfect half bottle. Golden colour. Saffron, saffron, saffron, pineapple, qumquat, honey and saffron. What can I say ... this wine is pure magic! Maybe it is in a fase ... because it does not deliver 100p today ... only 98 ... but what can I say. It is still pretty damn close to perfection! Lovely texture, nice acidity that gives this sweet wine a freshness, long long elegant finish!
As my good friend says: "Chateau d'Yquem is the best wine in the world! It is fantastic, always deliver and you can still get it to a reasonable price?" - soo true!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Another perfect bottle. Rich creamy sweet tropical Flavors with unctuous mouth feel and great underlying depth of flavors. Concnetrated white fruits with wonderful acidic support that is just so well intergrated. Decades of live and love ahead as still so fresh and young. Totally decadent. Went amazing well with bannana cotton candy Beleive it or not.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
What else can you say about this wine? Perfection in a glass. Nose is soaring, huge with tropical and honey notes. Palate has power and finesse. Fruit gives a sense of weightlessness and somehow delivers power, richness and incredible juicy acid. Long, lingering finish. Out of 375 - pop n'pour.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted this along side the 1989. At present, the '89 was more complete and mature (as one would expect). The nose of the 2001 came through with nutty marzipan notes and a prominence of grapefruit. The texture was even and balanced, but not as viscous as it will become. The beginnings of toasted caramel and perfumed orange liqueur fought through the expressive (but still primary) honey suckle and vanilla notes. The finish is not quite as along and it will become with more age. These somewhat critical words are splitting hairs in pointing out the things that are keeping this bottle from being rated as a perfect 100 (which it will undoubtedly achieve in five short years). Even in its youth, I can not imaging a more balanced Sauternes. This has the makings of a powerfully extracted, ultra expressive dessert wine with the perfect level of acidity to keep it light on its feel and able to take the shape of what ever it needs to in the environment it is consumed. It will be the star of any meal, but will allow the other players to be appreciated to the fullest potential. Incredible! 9-19-9-10
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, DECANT IF YOU MUST DRINK THIS NOW. From half-bottle. (1: pop and pour) The initial nose was underwhelming, as it was completely overrun by a strong note of Sharpie marker (think organic solvents). However, at the same time, there is a fantastic amount of orange peel, marzipan, and ripe apricot on the nose. You can almost even smell the sweetness too. Very, very thick texture, like warm honey. On the palate, the flavours hit you in waves. Initially, it's a bit of bitter almond, then the breadth expands as it coats your palate, where you get some sweet orange marmalade, brown sugar, nutmeg... the intensity leaves you gasping for breath. And this is all on the pop and pour. Strangely, though this is a very, very sweet wine, the sensation of sweetness is nowhere to be found, perhaps buried under the mountains of extract and acidity. The marmalade-scented finish lasts for minutes. Needless to say, this wine will be able to last many, many decades. (2: 8 hours of decanting) This implacable monument of a Sauternes has not budged a single bit. (3: next day, the third quarter of the half bottle) Stupid thing still hasn't moved, though those high-toned chemical solvent aromas have definitely blown off. (4: third day, a small pour) It's on this day where the famous Yquem coconut really begins to show itself on the nose. On the other hand, absolutely nothing else about this has faded. We'll see how far I can push this bottle along. (5: seventh day, another small pour) This is really still going strong, and if anything, it's even better than the first pour. Perhaps still a bit high-toned, there's definitely even more of the coconut going on now, and even a slight hint of butterscotch. None of the richness has faded, but if anything, this has gotten racier too. I'm wholly convinced about this wine -- ticking the score up a notch. We'll leave a little bit for even further down the line to see what happens. I'm seriously in no worry of this last two ounces going downhill anytime soon. (6: tenth day, last pour) Finally showing slight signs of breaking down, with most of the aromatics starting to fade out; the same goes for the palate.
8 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I don't usually score on the 100 point scale but this is probably a 100 point Sauternes. Apricot, pineapple, creme brûlée, but with fine lemon acidic lift. So balanced and elegant. Like a ballerina. Another class above the the 2001 Rieussec which is heavier and the 2001 Suduiraut which is lacking the length. Thanks to Jay for your generosity.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Finally got to taste the epic 2001. Lived up to all expectation - would not say it was a perfect wine as I'm not sure there is such a thing (Parker) but still pretty damned good. 97
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Lovely colour, dark yellow, old gold, glowing. Very very complex nose - with caramel, white flowers, honey, tropical fruit and very ripe yellow stone fruit, quince compote, marzipan, crème brûlée... The mouthfeel is equally amazing: Rich, concentrated and intense but great balance, no heaviness at all. Merely cruising across the palate. Notes of nuts, dried figs, marzipan, spicy. No rough edges whatsoever, fresh, complete. The finish is beyond comparison - incredibly long and persistent. This surely has a long life ahead of it. Perfection.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This was drunk at a big family celebration. It was a massive hit. Both from people who had never had d'Yquem before and found out what all the noise is about, to people who did know d'Yquem but had never had a 2001. No hint of globby sugar. Just great fruit with a wonderful masked acidity. Massive notes of grapefruit, melon and lychee. Massive after finish. Sublime wine (and family) moment.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drank from a half bottle. Golden color, lovely floral nose. Sweet but balanced to the acidity. Surprisingly (for this first time with this producer) light in the mouth. White fruits and a very long finish. Paired well with a light cheese cake.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Take the ripest, juiciest pineapple you have ever seen, meaning today, just touching brings the juice out, tomorrow, it will begin falling apart. Place it in a hot pan filled with butter, brown sugar, honey and apricots for the aromas. Drizzle in the juice of a Meyer lemon to give it all the acidity it needs and sip slowly, to experience the full essence of its stunning, unctuous personality. The wine does not go softly into the good night as the finish remains for more than 60 seconds!
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Without being all too familiar with Ch d'Yquem or even a fan of sweet wine, I have to admit this effort was quite mind boggling. The first impression is full of rich lychee, apricot, dried flowers and sun warm Acacia honey, but then the most impressive array of complex layers are rolled out. Sweet brioche, nutmeg, roasted walnuts, tarte tatin - the list of what is possible to identify is so long the above are just a few examples. I am totally impressed. The structure and texture tell me this wine is in it for the long haul. It will most likely continue to develop for many many more years. The palate adds to the overall integration and elegance with perfect balance and a creamy lovely overall impression. With a length on the finish lasting some 2+ minutes, I am fully convinced this is a profound effort worth all the merit it can get. (score is 99+)
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Again outstanding. Ethereal nose and out of this world mouthfeel. Last two bottles seemed a bit less expressive, but that really is finding defects which are not there. A treat every time.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Got to admit, I entered into this one pretty hesitant given the hype, the scores and the age of the wine. Then we opened it. Unreal on the nose, but that's actually not even doing it justice. It literally is an explosion of flavors - creaminess, apricot, honey and some citrus, and it lingers seemingly forever, just taunting you to go back to the glass of liquid gold. I've never given a 99 on a wine, and wine perfection to me is a moving target, but I'm not sure how you get a better wine. I would tell you that this could get better, but I don't think that's a correct statement - I think it will just continue to change and be one of those wines that can be enjoyed at different ages to reveal different character, but it's REALLY hard to lay off of now.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drank at Bob Bob Richards Nose of honey, burnt sugar, mellon, spice, citrus, candy floss and orange. Wonderful complex palate that kept changing in the mouth. It is amazing to see how good the '01 vintage is. In recent vintages the '03 comes close but you have to go back a couple of decades to beat this.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Judgement of Chicago (Nomi): Tasted blind alongside an Inniskilin Ice wine. Everything about them was different. While I loved the Ice Wine, the D'Yquem was on a different level. Much more subtle and balanced. Elegant, supple. Pure liquid gold.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Apricot, honey and a nice touch of citrus that gives this wine its freshness. Very elegant, and not overpowering. Whereas I usually stop after 1 glass, I could take a second and third one of this.... Blew away the 2001 Rieussec served next to it. Best young Sauternes ever tasted.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Apricot, lemon and vanilla bean strike first. As one savors, loquat, honey and yuzu marmalade fill out the layers with fleeting hits of mango, kumquat and kaffir lime leaf. Flawless concentration and elegance--stunning beyond belief. Thank you, Frank Deis, thank you.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Far better than a bottle we had last month, in fact this was stunning. The nose is super complex with notes of vanilla, preserved fruits, apricot, lavender and candied citrus. It is luscious and incredibly rich, filling every crevice of the mouth with golden nectar but is by no means heavy. It finishes with great energy and you can taste the wine for a very long time after swallowing.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is the second bottle of this that I've had, but unfortunately this fell short. I hesitate to rate it because my first experience with this was life changing. There was nothing wrong with the bottle, ie it was not corked, but the authenticity of this is definitely in question. There was definitely Sauternes in the bottle, but the lightening quick finish makes me question whether this was really a d'Yquem.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The aroma has plenty going on with some marmalade, honey, apricots and a hint of volatility. It is sweet, rich and textured in the mouth and finishes with some savoury elements. This was a good but not great bottle, perhaps again not showing the detail that you would expect from it.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
100 RP Points plus some extra's (@ Bottles): This will be one note for the Yquem and Rieussec 2001 tasted beside each other. I did not make so many notes. It was in fact for all tasters, including myself, not so easy to decide which was the Yquem and which the Rieussec. Both wines are really beautiful with orange peel and apricots, really concentrated and complex with a beautiful balance between sweetness and acidity. The Yquem had some more creaminess and maybe even some more concentration. The Rieussec was maybe just a little more elegant. No mistake about it; both wines are superb, but I scored the Yquem one point more, because of just a little more concentration and the creaminess. And I can perfectly understand that if you prefer elegance above a little more concentration and complexity, the scores can be the other way round or the same. For tonight Yquem 98 and Rieussec 97.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasting of 100PP wines (Restaurant Bottles, Sas van Gent): More elegant, more finesse. Fruit has a wonderful candied lemon-and-lime touch. Palate is very creamy and mouthfilling. More crystalline and feminine, probably more complex, but my palate is almost shot by now...
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drank at Bob Bob Richards Nose of honey, burnt sugar, mellon, spice, citrus, candy floss and orange. Wonderful complex palate that kept changing in the mouth. This is a real beauty and still very young. Will be back.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is the best Yquem I've ever tasted. Period. The massive size, the precision of this wine, the insanely long finish. This is a legend now, and a legend in the making.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Georgeous concentration and balance, complexity emerging. However, more mature than previous bottles. Actually all bottles, from different cellars, during the past year have been less fresh than before, in an increasing rate. Is it going through a difficult phase?
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opening this wine is like fishing with dynamite, it's not much of a contest. That said, I've had this wine several times over the years and I feel somewhat guilty about it. It's so young, so much potential ahead of it. What a glorious wine to follow along its evolution, but I most envy the people who will be drinking this in another 30 years. If you're drinking this in 2044, please be sure to write a note here ;)
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Some great wine for the end of 2013 (Our home): What more could be said about this wine. It may be the single best wine I have had in my lifetime. Only my third time trying it, this bottle was slow-oxed for 24 hours. The nose is ethereal with honey, tropical fruit, Crème Brule. It gets better on the palate with layered complexity and richness. The finish is amazing. I can still taste it. One of the great wines and still decades from peak. Wow.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is a thrill a sip wine. It's so young and so beautiful in all its fresh, ripe, pineapple, floral, vanilla, creme custard, honey nut glory. The sweetness is perfect and the racy acidity takes it to another level from there. If you're over 50, start drinking it now for the pleasure. If you're under 30, save it for 30 years.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I had a small sample of this wine at Hedonism Wines in London. To this point, it stands alone as the single best wine I have ever tried. It possessed such balance, concentration and intensity, that I literally chuckled out-loud after the first sip. It was really awe-inspiring. The palate is loaded with apricot, pear, apple, whiffs of clean laundry and vanilla that are so integrated with perfect acidity, its unbelievable. This wine is focused like a laser. The finish is amazingly long and it seems to just kind of fade away, leaving only a memory. Too bad i'll likely never have it again! It was one for the memory bank.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Love it very very much. Absolutely the best Sauternes I ever tried. Opened 30 hours before and then 2 hours in decanter before dinner. Pure, elegant, complex, aromatic,... it just lacks of ample acidity to balance it. It's such a blessing to have a glass of it. The only regret is I won't live long enough to see its' true potential. Will save another bottle for my retirement.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Had a half bottle two years ago and was worried because it had a slight bitter edge. Had a half bottle today, and all concerns are gone. Wonderful. People say it will improve, and I am sure that is true. But life is short. Perfect. Drink now and for as long as you live. Nothing else to say.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Honey, apricots, figs, peach and other fruits break open. Very complex nose and taste. Extremely long taste. Shows very well already and i'm sure theres a whole range of other tones as it matures. Wonderful wine, one of the best I have ever tasted.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
More robust , sweeter dried and fresh apricots. More body more length and presence. Interesting sweet Indian spices with zippy fresh zippy citrus. A powerful pinnacle of dessert wines. Sweet yet not , serious yet enjoyable by the masses. A delicate yet impactful interpretation of Sauternes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
TMM Dinner (aka d'Yquem and extras) (Absinthe, Boat Quay): A stupendous wine. Some wines buckle under the pressure of the early hype that surrounds their youth, but this was not only one of the top sweet wines I have ever had, but is indeed amongst the few best wines of any style, varietal or age I have tasted to date. It had a wonderful nose, maybe a bit less expressive than the 2002 d’Yquem that we had alongside, but this seemed to have lots more subtly complex nuances, from lovely scents of boiled coconut and Gula Melaka, to sweet spicy notes of fennel, cinnamon and hints of cumin, all floating around a lightly honeyed dried fruit aromas. However, as good as that was, it was the palate that really took my breath away. This was Sauternes par excellence – it was rich and treacly, with tons of botrytised depth, yet such was the balance and precision on the wine that it seemed light and lithe at the same time, showing so much more effortless grace that it almost seemed to be from a different planet entirely from the lovely 2002 - even with the other wine already impressing with all its lush goodness and fresh balance. The 2001 was truly a great marriage of power and grace. And then there were those beautiful flavours – a layered dance of ripe red apples, sweet apricots and crunchy peaches, lined with citrussy lemon and tangerine notes on the midpalate, and then sprinkled with lovely spicy nuances as the wine glided into a beautifully long, lingering finish. Wonderfully luscious, yet so well integrated that you could barely pick out the flavours flowing one over another – this was as complete a wine as I have ever had. Breathtaking stuff now, and I can already imagine how incredible it will be in a couple of decades. On the night, it was an exquisite pairing with a carpaccio of Petunia Ocean Trout with Ikura and citrus dressing that the chef had specially prepared to match the wine.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Until drinking this bottle I thought the 2001 was way too sugarry-sweet and lacking acid. I have changed my mind 100%. This is as good an Yquem I have ever tasted and I believe it is going to do nothing but get better for at least the next 20 years+. Tasting note: Yes! Pairing: Shake a little salt on Torchon of fxxx Gxxx and in the imortal words of Irving Berlin, "Heaven, I'm in Heaven". And also the not so imortal words of Speedy, Try it. You'll like it!".
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
If some artists or performers are known and described by only one name, Jimi, Picasso, Matisse, Madonna, Garbo, perhaps the only descriptor needed for this wine is 2001 d’Yquem. I know that works for anyone lucky enough to have tasted this nectar. The best vintage since 1975 for the estate is off the charts, in all the right ways! It blends intense, massive layers of pure, ripe, honey drenched fruits with bracing acidity give it a laser like focus that is found in few other wines. While it’s not close to maturity, drinking this now is a thrill a sip ride. If you lay down a few bottles for your kids, OK, make that your grandchildren, they will remember you fondly.
I'm not sure it gets better than this. Any descriptors cannot do it justice. Liquid Gold that will be unreal as it ages. Frankly not sure how it can improve it's so good. Paired wonderfully with Foie Gras.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Fresh, youthful, floral aromas filled with baking spice, fermented apricot, crushed stone, and hay. Bright and lively on entry with a sort of under-ripe citrus note that adds levity to the deep, golden caramel notes of the mid. Great density of flavor and wonderful length that shows ridiculous generosity of fruit on the finish: pit fruit and pineapple. Really hard to stop drinking. Yummy juice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Lucky enough to have this again - magnificent, amazingly delicious wine. While I noted previously that it should be left for 12 years more before opening, I revise that some (for my palate but not everyone's) as it is very tasty right now!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Marco's TN immediately below is very good. My own somewhat vague impression from Burgundy Night at my house: 2001 Yquem. Much subtler nose than the Nairac 2005 Barsac opened alongside it, both generously brought by Jim D. with his wife's particularly outstanding pear tart. This '01 Yquem lacks the mandarin orange notes of the Barsac, this is more tan/hay sweet notes; good, nice lightweight palate, light cement notes. The strength here is on the finish, which is bright." Some of the '01 Yquem remained in the bottle, which I saved for Chris Y. to try the next night. We were both very impressed. No oxidation nor degradation, after 24 hours of air this '01 Yquem is showing bright citrus fruit, with moderate sweetness balanced by firm, racy acidity, all on a lightweight frame, seemingly dancing very nimbly. Lots of energy to this dessert wine, not ponderous, not thick. Complex, multi-faceted, very energetic and very impressive.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Burdundies @ Asher's (Westport, CT): I am not a big Sauternes drinker, but I cannot deny the greatness of this wine. Perhaps because it is more tension-filled, crisper and sleeker than most other Sauternes I am exposed to. Such power and concentration, but this is lifted by lighter flavors of earl grey tea, citrus and florals. Long, lingering and profound in the finish. Much better than a bottle I had a few months ago, where it seemed a bit more closed. This is a wine for the ages.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I am not a great lover of Sauternes, especially when young, not a big lover of desserts period, just not into sweet stuff. The 01 Yquem like all great Sauternes stands out for being light and fresh at the same time as unctuous and sweet, very complex too. PS: Since there are only two Yquems in the last 50 years with 100 RP points, the price is off the charts too.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
It's funny. I taste this wine at least a few times a year and I seldom take notes, thinking I've already posted a current view on this sexy, sweet elixir. I was surprised to see only one note published. Time to fix that situation. If aromatics are your thing, the blast of fresh green apples, apricot, smoke, caramel, white peach, molasses and pineapple slathered in honey is the right place to start. Thick, rich, intense and packed with countless layers of ripe, and over ripe fruit, the wine ends with a dense, silky, fat, opulent finish. The zippy acidity keeps everything where it should be. Drink this now, or save for your kids, kids and let them taste their first 100 year old wine.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Truly remarkable and considering it was paired with foie gras, it was the match made in heaven; creamy thick righteous nectar loaded with gobs of honeyed peach, nectarine, mango and pear; amazing d`Yquem and the best of many bottles recently enjoyed in the past few months.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Acker BYO 2012 (Tribeca Grill, Tribeca, NY): Partial note: nose only. Very sweet and young. Waxy and thick nose of creme brulee, marzipan, nuts, vanilla. Very creamy but clearly needs time. Seems to have the right stuff however. Nose - 5.5/6.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A remarkable combination of intensity and lightness; a core of ripe apricot, nectarine and pineapple fruit framed by sweeter honeyed, floral and butterscotch flavours. This has a lovely purity of flavour and stunning balance and length, but seems to be holding a lot in reserve and not showing the aromatic complexity or depth that I'd usually expect from Yquem.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Not much to add to others' comments - this is totally too young but still brilliant wine that will last 100 years. Leave it alone until about 2025 or so.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I drank this at home while catching up on old episodes of "it's Always Sunny In Philadelphia". It seemed the right thing to do at the time. The last time I tried one of these bottles, I wasn't as fully impressed as the first time that I had one. Now, it seems to have come out of a dormant stage and it's showing quite well. Lots of honey with some mild apricot thrown in. If I have any small complaint, it's that the wine is still a slight bit "thin". I think a few more years will only fatten it up for the better.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
i tink i hve nt drnk enuff of sweet wine yet.a nice bttl but nt impressive.the fruits nt complex enuff.its rather bright tat nd time to age.it finish off with some oakiness.the plus point of tis sweet wine is it doesnt.taste syrupy.
Day 1 01 - Right after both corks were pulled, the 01 asserted itself. Beautiful aromas wafted from the bottle. In glass the magic began. Toffee, pineapple, pear, beeswax, lemon curd, and honey are all delineated on the nose. The palate takes it to a whole new level. My goodness, what a wine! All of the above flavors with the addition of grapefruit and creme brulee. Overwhelming richness and tongue searing intensity, all with perfect lift from the laser like acidity. On bended knee!!
03 - This is no slouch, and IMHO it is already a great Yquem and will only improve. A little muted next to the 01, but the nose still delivers. Citrus fruits, lanolin, thick beeswax, lemon curd, and prevalent oak. The palate follows a similar flavor profile, with maybe just a bit too much oak. Still incredibly rich and absolutely Yquem. I expected the lower acidity to be exposed, but the finish acquits itself very nicely. Very impressive.
Day 2 - Both benefitted from the additional air, especially the 03. The oak really subsided on the 03. The 01 is just in a different league, speechless. And this is not a knock on the 03, it is a superb wine. But on day 2, the 01 has sealed its legend status. All the flavors on both wines were more pronounced and intense on both wines.
Days 6 & 7 - Skipped 3,4 and 5 to make sure that I had plenty for the last two days (both wines from 375.) Not surprisingly, there was not any profound change in either wine from day 2 to day 6 and 7. A little softer and maybe the addition of quince and apricot to further the complexity. The 03 still had crisp acidity and I did not find it cloying at all. The 01 just had me muttering with amazement.
Conclusion - What a great week! You will see a 3 point differential in my scores, and these are very significant points. The 01 is one of those special wines that seem to appear every 20 to 30 years. The 03 is a great Yquem and deserves the accolades that it receives. On all tasting days I used Jin-na as a test subject. She was served both wines blind and picked the 01 every time. My buying advice is this: if you can afford it, the 01 is worth every penny that you will spend. If your budget is tighter, the 03 will still give you the pleasure of Yquem in a brilliant (if hot) year.
2001 Yquem - 100 Pts
2003 Yquem - 97 Pts
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drank at dinner with Heinz and the gang. Beautiful bright full yellow. The nose is inviting with lots of peach, orange peel, butterscotch, apricot. The palate was little disappointing with lack of acidity to support the sweetness of the wine; very pure flavours but little cloying.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
100 Point Wine Dinner: Maybe just not my night tonight. While a great wine, it was not perfect as I had experienced previously. The finish specifically seemed a little short. The almonds, peach, pear, apricots were great.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bordeaux Søskenparsmaking (Moss, Norway): Hinsides nese! Enorm, kompleks og intens. Mørk, tropisk gulfrukt. Plastlim og kokos. Rik, ekstremt intens og med vanvittig sødme. Super syre. Uendelig ettersmak. Benchmark.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bordeaux Siblings (Moss, Norway): A little reticent on the nose, however leaves little doubt concerning which wine this is. Multifaceted, lightly spiced, elegant, fresh, very long. However, slightly less impressive than a bottle a few months back. Too warm storage?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
How do you even begin to describe a wine like this? Let me start by saying that I had lowered my expectations - no way was this wine going to ever live up to the hype. Not only did it live up, this Yquem smashed right through my expectation point, and just laughed at me as it blew past with seemingly no effort and a full tank of gas left. Wow! As soon as I pulled the cork I knew that I was in trouble. Though primary, the aroma was penetrating. I tried to not touch the bottle for 4 hours, but this was futile. Let's get right to it. The nose has haunting, dynamic aromas of pineapple, lemon, beeswax, creme brulee, lanolin, and honey. Constantly changing, I was also sensing some mango and pear. As incredible as the nose was, it was the palate that did me in. This Yquem may become habit-forming; not a good thing on my salary. All the aforementioned flavors of the nose are there on the palate, but with this searing intensity. I mean, they are literally burned into your tongue. And the amazing thing is the lift of the wine and its lightness of foot. I was studdering with glee by this point. The finish goes on forever and you cannot stop thinking about this wine. How often does such a highly heralded product exceed expectations these days? Not much. I had contemplated trying this wine for well over a year before finally pulling the trigger. I just returned from buying as much as I could afford. It is that good! 100 Pts
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This wine is likely to remain the reigning champion of Yquem for quite a while. Probably not since the 1959 has there been such a result from the chateau; I am confident this is easily superior to even the 1967. Nothing in between, or since, is in my view a candidate to seriously compete with this magnificent effort.
Superlatives seem to be a bit silly to describe this monumentally elegant, complex, rich and rewarding wine. The initial experience of the nose is almost preternaturally psychedelic; I swear I can detect dozens of aroma notes, all arranged in a 3-D space in the glass and each sporting a spectrum of colors. If that's an aspect of a psychedelic experience, where sensory input gets criss-crossed to where you can see music and hear colors, well, that's a bit of what's going on here. Close your eyes, let the aroma capture you, and a rainbow of colors may present themselves on the nose in the glass.
On the palate, it goes without saying that the experience is one of magnificent balance, elegance and richness without the slightest bit of cloyingness or over-sweetness. I feel it impossible to single out a single flavor, or group of flavors, that stand out, since none really do, yet all the typical notes of a good Sauternes are there. You've got the apricots, the almonds, the honey, pears, pineapple, and all the rest, all interwoven in a most exquisite harmony that serves a standard to which a great Sauternes should aspire.
This was one of the last vintages overseen by Comte Alexandre de Lur Saluces, who produced this wine and left the estate the year it was bottled. What a magnificent legacy to have left; I have no doubt this wine will thrill wine lovers and be talked about for decades, generations, and possibly even centuries to come. Bravo!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Amazing wine. Exploding with so many varied sweet flavors that went on and on. Finish lasted for a good 30-45 seconds. Nothing short of a fantastic wine that deserves all credit it has received. Fig, caramel, almond, and candied citrus fruits stand out.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Kracher vs. Yquem (Scala Restaurant, Renaissance Hotel, Wan Chai, Hong Kong): Tasted blind but knowing it was in the pack. Light bronzed gold colour with just a touch of burnish. Nose is drop-dead silence creatingly lovely...... supremely elegant yet rich and heady acacia flowers and acacia honey and warm summer-night garden air....gosh, this is almost reverberant and head-resonating on the nose, which is very rare indeed. Palate is just drop-dead gorgeous......coffee roasting oils and several variations on a fugue of honey and tons of Bot followed by deep, deep and mounting resonance but balanced by tons of acidic freshness. The pleasure was not in correctly spotting this blind but in being so completely transported by it. I didn't think that the Ch. Rieussec 2001 I have drank on many occasions could have been so comprehensively bettered.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
So we meet again. This is my reference for a hundred point wine. This is seamlessly balanced and absoultely delicious in every sense. To say that this wine is long is truly an understatement, the flavours lasts forever. Perfect wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Incredibly fresh, complex and layered, combining all sorts of floral, tropical fruited, honeyed and more savoury elements into an enticing scent that slowly keeps developing with air. There's fantastic richness and depth here, but it doesn't come across as sweet as I'd expect - there's a sense of restraint and remarkable acidity beneath that moderates the sweetness and keeps it very light and refreshing at the same time. A superb wine though it seems to be holding a lot in reserve now, but I'm glad for the chance to try it. Thanks Mike.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Old Haut and Young Yquem (Vernon): Perhaps it was the hype and the multi-100 point scores. Perhaps it was a friend telling me this wine can inspire religious faith in the masses. It is a superbly balanced wine, with excellent acidity, good concentration, lightness, and a long finish, but lacked the blow-me-away aromatics and complexity I would expect from a "perfect" wine. Very very good, yes, but not (yet) deserving the additional superlatives.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Popped and poured, followed over the next 6 hours. Beautiful deep golden colour in the glass, and quite viscous. A powerful nose of honey, clove, roasted almonds, apricot, florals, beeswax, lemongrass, white peach and fresh grated ginger. Every time you stick your nose in this you get something different; constantly evolving and adding layer upon layer of complexity. With air, some tropical components came out on the nose, showing pineapple and coconut. On the palate, luxuriously textured, showing apricot, marmalade and spice. Beautiful balance with complimentary acidity, which paves the way for an extremely long finish. There is a touch of botrytis bitterness on the finish, as well as a slight greenness that I’ve never encountered in Sauternes. I was worried that this wouldn’t live up to the hype, but this truly is liquid gold. Worth every penny.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Celestial? Ambrosial? I have only had three other vintages of Yquem, but this certainly is in a class apart from them. I have drunk a couple of top class Mosels of similar complexity, but different flavours of course. This half bottle seems smoother and richer than our last one two years ago, and has darkened slightly but perceptibly. A distinct note of very fresh Moroccan orange peel, and some peaches and spices. Very light on its feet and very intense at the same time. Extraordinary complexity. A bit of a bite at the back this time, but no harm in that. One small glass lasts an hour or more -- sipped, salivated and savoured ever so slowly. Each sip stays with you for minutes. The half bottle should see out the week. Probably both celestial and ambrosial, but I will settle for the most interesting and delicious wine I have yet encountered.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A Weekend in Excess; 1/20/2012-1/21/2012 (Trondheim, Norway): My first one. I was most anxious if this would live up to the hype. Worried when sniffing it. Yes, it was good, but not extraordinary. Tasting it, I just had to laugh. Such a combination of intensity, richness, lightness, and balance! It is somehow almost cool. Imagine what this will taste like in 20-50 years!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
2001 Yquem Dinner: Popped and poured with a slight chill. Very light, yellow-gold in color; the nose is a bit closed with decent fruit; the palate shows explosive flavor and has fantastic complexity and balance between sweetness and acid, there is purity and linearity normally only found in the best balanced icewines and the complexity found in great sauternes, great white fruits; finish is long. This wine is very young, almost as if it was just released and not like it has been aging for 10 years. I suspect that it is also a bit closed right now from the nose's reticence. I have some left and will see what it turns into in a few days. For now, excellent but not perfect although it certainly has potential a few decades from now. 95++ Day 3: Nose is showing more today with a waxy/lanolin component and some white peach, cinnamon spice, definitely a classic young sauternes nose but with more complexity; palate is absolutely explosive, even more than on day 1, with fantastic density of fruit, spice, clean and fresh acidity throughout but especially in the midpalate and finish; finish is very long. This is certainly improved from the day it was opened, but it is still painfully young and will likely open up even more with more air. Though this is excellent now and I'm glad I tried it (and look forward to trying it again far in the future), I would recommend HOLDING for as long as you can bear (at least a decade). Right now the other 2001 Sauternes offer comparable drinking at much better value. 97++ Day 6: Holding up well, even improving from three days ago. Sad to see the last of it go.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Classic d’Yquem. Apricots, peaches and vanilla on the nose. Lovely on the palate. While I like this wine on the palate, the finish is always disappointing to me as I find it very medicinal.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Classic petrol, apricot, creme brulee; intense all around with great balance, concentrated elegant flavors and long finish. This is very classic and perfectly proportioned but a little staid and very young. Not flashy or super exciting, but very good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
EWG - 2001: A Taste Odyssey (Conrad Green's Abode): Tropical fruits and apricots on the nose. Very focused and well put together. Driving acids behind fat fruits. Pretty with notes of vanilla. Lovely with loads of potential.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
When a dear friend turned up with an 83 Latour I just had to try another 01 Yquem. (With hindsight I'm not sure you should drink 2 wines of this calibre and emphasis, one after the other, since each deserves to be what your palate remembers most clearly).
Oh my! You can't overstate how good this wine is. Nose has a really penetrating apricotty, orange marmalade botrytis with a touch of pineapple and vanilla and that orange coloured honey fungus you get on tree trunks, plus some lovely sweet orange blossom character as well. My nose was still hyper sensitive after the overwhelming nose of the 83 Latour, and the Yquem nose had a bit of bite in the back of my nostrils. This is a very, very concentrated wine!
Palate: The flavours are dried apricots(!), some dried peaches, mango, marmaladey orange rind, pineapple and some vanilla. There's a hint of honeyed toast, too. It's luscious and very sweet but has perfect balance because of lots of lovely acid. I keep saying this when I drink this wine but you constantly find yourself licking your lips, even after a small sip. The botrytis is fabulous, with tremendous concentration. Even a teaspoonful fills the mouth with flavour and does not get diluted however long you swill it around or draw it through your teeth. Our winemaker friend said it was "very well defined, with urgent intensity, sustained attack and an assertive final statement". Truly magnificent.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
2nd bottle we've drunk in the last 12 months and makes me think about the evolution leading to man (or woman, sorry Sandrine) creating such a masterpiece.
Colour: Light, fresh and very youthful; years off its best. No comparison to a 99 drunk last month, which was way more advanced (and nothing like the 01 in any other respect either, by the way).
A beautiful complex nose, with fabulous integration of apricots, orange rind and pineapple in a glorious botrytis cocktail. And then there's the palate ...!
Wow! Is this wine for real? Amazing flavours had the 3 of us licking our lips and "ummm"ing every time I looked around the table! Yes, it's that delicious. Exquisite. Lovely thick, syruppy texture but is not heavy because of beautiful pineappley acid character running through an intense and thick apricotty base, with honey, and faint hints of champignons, all finishing with a slightly astringent orange rind character. Gorgeous (distinctively Yquem) flavours but this is one special vintage; with fabulous acid, fantastic balance and vitality and amazing length - a magnificent contribution to mankind.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
In the nose some tropical fruit, botrytis with a hint of characteristic acetaldehyde/solvent notes, mature citrus fruits, some spice, great concentration of aromas and elegance. A very good Sauternes-typical nose that gives a young impression, very well integrated oak barrel notes that are hardly discernible. Enormous concentration on the palate, very fresh acidity that gives an almost "fizzy" impression mid-palate. Massive and concentrated fruit notes of mixed citrus fruits, passion fruit and dried apricot, together with some spice. It is the palate that really gives this wine its lift! At this stage the nose is similar to many other 1er cru classé-level Sauternes wines that I would score low-90s, while the palate is very concentrated, with razor-sharp acidity, which together with the dominant citrus notes gives a very fresh impression. However, the wine is still quite young, and while impressive, still needs a very long time to peak. I tasted it from half bottle, rated it "97-99?" at the moment, and would guess that another 10-20 years would be needed for half bottles to peak, around 2020-2030. Perhaps 2030-2040 for full bottles in perfect condition.
nose - rich, raisin, floral, maple, peach, coconut, lots going on mouth - impressive breadth and depth, extremely long finish. on the attack, vanilla gives way to raisins, honey, flowers, and after one minute or so peaches and melons. Even at five minutes a slightly saccharine flavor persists. This is some very concentrated stuff.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Don’s 50 50th birthday bash (Don's house): Complex nose indeed, ginger, peaches, apricots, pineapples, perhaps a hint of fresh dill and etc. Such a precision and so light. However it has lost some baby fat and seems a bit more structured. Perhaps one of the greatest wines every made.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Incredible nose, straight from the opening. Very rich, complex, layered and a never-ending finish. You could sit for an entire evening with this before even thinking of taking a first sip. Gorgeous!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Simply a fabulous wine. Drank from a 375 with roquefort, after a healthy soft-decant. Perfect balance of acidity and sweetness. Very light. Docking a few points for the relatively brief finish, not as rich as the '83.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
There are such things as 100 point wines and this one is near the top of the list. Spent several minutes with my nose in the glass before the first sip. Floral, citrus and notes carmelized sugars. Each sip contained a complexity of flavors that were in harmony with each other. The finish lasted longer than any wine in memory. Must find more.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Old Bordeaux: (served blind) Decidedly lighter in color but unmistakably Sauternes. With some swirling and a whiff you get the same Yquem texture to the nose with that waxy depth and almost unstable nrevosity, like a nuclear reaction.
This wine engulfs the nostrils with such depth of pitch. This might have been the deepest, most structured white wine I’ve ever smelled. Upon first sip, it is almost a rapturous emotion that overcomes. It is like a deluge of lavender, botrytis driven honeycomb and above all else essence de apricot, like an ethereal concoction of Ferran Adria. This wine is endless, overwhelming my senses and throwing me into near physical shock. It is the legendary 2001 Yquem and it will surely last forever in immortality, barely unclinching its true potential. An epic experience. Kudos to Matt for adroitly guessing it blind!!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Older Bordeaux (Chez Glowa - Bethesda, MD): Darryl brought this bottle and served it double-blind after the 1983 D'Yquem - I whispered to Faryan that I thought this could be the 2001. It had an underlying commonality to the 1983, maybe it was the richness or the dense apricot and coconut on the palate This, however, was an entirely different animal than the 1983. Incredibly dense and powerful nose of coconut, white flowers, lanolin, apricot, and vanilla bean. Best way I can describe this wine is this; it's a sleeping giant. Brutally young, and I'm talking decades too young. The palate was incredibly deep, with explosions of dense apricot, and white peach fruit. The finish had nice minerals and balance. Hard to find anything wrong with this...there was a touch of heat on the finish...but that'll go away with age.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Je suis subjugué par la complexité, la richesse ainsi que la finesse de ce vin. Un nez moins "sauterne" qu'habituel, beaucoup de fruits (pamplemousse, pêche, poire, marmelade). Un vin onctueux au goût de miel léger. Une longueur extraordinaire. Le pilier de cette soirée de St-Valentin au Toqué à Montréal. J'abonde donc dans le camp de Parker avec une note parfaite.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
why have i been underwhelmed by this wine recently when my drinking companions remain gaga? first, i've got to stop being goaded into opening one. ha! but it has shown shut down to me of late. i know it's splitting hairs, it's still a great wine, but the suduiraut gave it a strong run tonight.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
G6 (Jeff): Deep golden color. Honeyed tropical fruit nose. Tastes of apple, pear, melon, lemon, and lime. Incredibly well balanced with great freshness. Rich honeyed finish that has nice elegance and complexity. Seems to be shutting down or going through a dumb phase as this wine has shown much better in the past. 13.5% alcohol.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
From a 750ml opened the previous day. Medium yellow-gold. Initial aromatic impression of very fresh fruit medley. Not especially viscous or unctuous in appearance. Mouth impression - this is WINE, not "sweet wine." Thick, intense texture and forceful presentation without any sense of weight. The depth, breadth, and height of material mask a mighty fortress of acid and tannic structure. Hallucinogenic complexity of aromas and flavors. Orange marmalade; Asian and Indian spices (e.g., curry, cardamom and papadum notes); cranberry compote; ginger; pear; bergamot; mint; carob; brined (smoked and saline) pork chop; crispy bacon; fresh cantaloupe ... immensely long finish, truncated only by the fact that this wine is very, very young and it's easy to see it lasting for fifty or eighty years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Fairly subtle nose with scents of honey, botryits and coconut. On the palate however it explodes and leaves a 5 min. aftertaste that makes you feel floating on botrytis clouds! Fantastic complexity and the absolute winner in our 2001 tasting. Kicking ass and leaving great wines like Rieussec and Suduiraut easily behind.
Merci bien Chateau D'Yquem, our next bottle will be in 2016!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is a rock star d'Yquem, and for my palate the best since 1921. This is and will be a historical wine. Every time I drink this, I buy more. Simply amazing.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I just had to rate this wine again after been tasting this glorius wine yet another time. Pure love out of a nectar from gold. This is the best sweet wine I have ever tasted together with an amazing bottle of 1989 Trockenbeerenauslese from my friend Egon Muller.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
What an experience to taste this perfect balance. The aftertaste stayed in my mind hours later and it seemed way too complex to describe in words. The nose was that of usual suspects: orange, honey, rose, and peach, but all rather gentle and subdued, not heavy at all, yet highly perfumed. And whether you like me to say this or not, I was blown away by the scent of a linden tree in full blossom that somehow conjured memories of happy sunny days in the months of May... The palate was delicate, graceful, and completely in accordance with the nose. I could not discern any flavours in my mouth that I did not smell. My only regret was having to drink it so young, but what an experience it was... I am giving it 98 because I just have to keep 2 points aside for those statistically possible exaltations later in my life. Otherwise, it would be a 100 so-far.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
By far the best of Yquems I have ever tasted. Unbelievable wine. Absolutely faultless! A real masterpiece. Golden with amber hues. Layers of quince marmalade, passion fruits, pears, apricots, creme brullee, rubber and nail polish. A perfection. To enjoy on its own!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
It reminded me of a line from Bull Durham where Crash Davis said that he believed in "long, deep, slow kisses that last for three days." That pretty much sums up the length of this wine. It went on and on. Nothing like the other Sauternes we had that evening. What did it have - apricot, marmalade, a little petrol, pineapple and a tinge of petrol both in the nose and on the palate. A complete package that wasn't too sweet or thick. Such a little bit went such a long way. To complement the wine, we had a napoleon with orange pastry cream, on a bed of cranberry syrup with candied cranberries on top. Perfect!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The Kesslers visit NYC and I roast a little piggy to go with some terrific wines. (Dougherty's): Finally got to try this legend. My first impression was, you know, I think the ’01 Rieussec is going to be the better wine for the first 40 years or so as it offers so much more right now. After that, however, this wine will run away with it for the next 100 years. There’s a lot to this wine that’s hidden. Yes, there’s plenty of upfront pleasure to enjoy now, but you really get the sense that this is a densely packed wine that’s going to need a lot of time to evolve to eventually show all its layers. In the present, there’s wonderful ‘nilla wafer, cream, butterscotch with tropical fruit and orange citrus flavors and aromas with terrific depth and balance, but the wine is so primary. If you’re young and have this wine, be very thankful. If not, your kids will love you for it. Solid A now with A+ potential.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I’ve had many Yquems but this is by far the best (although I haven’t tried the 1967). Colour is bright pale gold, showing no signs of age. The nose is very intense and penetrating, with a beautiful amalgam of honeyed orange blossom, pineapple and marmaladey desserts aromas.
The palate is spectacular. Very complex, very intense but tightly coiled with fantastic natural acidity which makes it really bright and lifted. The flavours dance across the palate. And what flavours they are! It tastes like dried apricots crushed up and blended with mango, honey and orange marmalade and citrus flavours that give it a beautiful cut and amazing persistence, while being extremely refined, vital and lively. Is by far the longest palate I have ever experienced. Reminded me somewhat of sipping Grand Marnier, with some of that mouth filling sensation and lift – albeit more subtley - long after being swallowed. Incredibly, I could still taste hints of it more than 20 minutes later.
OK, I'm a "stickies" fan but this is the best balanced (and most enjoyable) wine I have ever drunk. No other wine has had me smiling so much of the next day just remembering it! I have never given any wine 100 points, and reluctantly will not do so now, but I feel a bit mean spirited giving this astonishing creation (only) 99 points. Wow!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I never have had a d'Yquem before and until Mike and Ann brought one to our house, I really didn't understand what all the fuss was about. Now I know. Rich, opulent, elegant and complex. After our guests left, my father and I licked our glasses - it was just that good.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Aged Bordeaux, Champagne, Chef Toby Joseph and a few miscellaneous wines (Casa Covolo): Off the charts ethereal nose of tropical fruits, sugar candy, orange peel and on and on and on - just gaining complexity for me. Stunningly delicious in the mouth. Seamless with precision and grace just begging to be consumed. I could smell this wine all night and be happy! Impeccable finish and nose! What a treat for Chris to bring this out. The wine of the evening for me and what a 100 point wine is supposed to be like. The first time I've assigned this score to a wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Much the same as everyone else. We were so anxious to try this wine so we popped a half bottle and found it to be a beautiful, opulent, rich, powerful wine that at the same time has brilliant finesse and elegance that requires so much more time. Like everyone else has stated, it's almost a shame to open this wine so young, but the opportunity to try it overwhelms. Can't wait to try my first truly aged d'Yquem.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Birthday Dinner (Inovasi - Lake Bluff IL): Great tropical fruit aromas accompanied by candied ginger and candied orange rind. Cornucopia of flavors continue onto the palate with some great toasted macadamia nuts. Great acid and great minerality make this even more exciting into long, energetic, textured finish.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Celebration Dinner (Inovasi, Lake Bluff, IL): 750ml. Intense aromatics of apricot, ripe peach, vanilla, and honey. The palate is rich and full of the same ripe stone fruits. Fantastic mineral backbone with outstanding acidity. Medium body with a very long finish. A fantastic wine that has a very long life ahead.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Well I was looking forward to tasting this double 100 point wine and it did not disappoint. Definitely the best sauternes I have ever had. So vibrant powerful and complex in it's youth. Seems a shame to open another for 10 to 20 years. Such a future.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Had several different bottles of this great Sauternes! The taste was nothing short of stellar! Apricots, vanilla, peaches, only begin to describe this full bodied wine. The after taste stays in your mouth over 2 mins........too good!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Julia's 50th (Old Rectory): Infanticide, but we could not resist opening a half bottle (our first) on such an occasion. For all of us, the finest glass of sauternes/barsac we have ever tasted. Still primary of course, but so complete, rounded and extraordinary already. Orange, pineapple and honey, yes, but much more than that. And no hint of the slight bite so often present even in the finest wines of the region (in Yquem '90 for example). Marvellously balanced, long & satisfying. 98 points only because there must still be room for development well into the future. Apart from four 2005 FGs tasted with Farr in October 2008 when newly in bottle, the only probable 100 point wine I have had to date.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I have had 2 other vintages of d'Yquem (1995 and I forget) and they were both good. This wine was unbelievable. Viscous, mouthcoating, so concentrated, so complex, so delicious. Others are saying this needs age, but I thought it was absolutely perfect.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
from 375 ml, my bottle. others raved, i was underwhelmed. i have had this pushing 8-10 times, and this was clearly the worst example i've tasted. seemed washed out, lacking the unctiously expressive apricot and sweet mineral fruit i'm used to. i will also be contrarion to my great friend who says this is a shame to drink. i don't agree because every other time i've had it the wine transcends probability, drinking beautifully young, and displaying itself as ready to drink now-2100.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I was lucky to drink this at a friend's house recently. I've also been lucky enough to have had three other d'Yquem vintages. This was in a different league. The nose of this was un-***-believable. I could have siniffed it all night. Big, strong, exotic, tropical nose; passiion fruit, honey, kiwi and star-fruit. Big, big, big. This was very early in its life. The wine is an infant, but still an amazing drink. One of the fascinating things about wine, is seeing how it ages. I was very lucky to be in on the very start of the life of this wine. The wine is clearly a juggernaut, that has many years of aging and evolving to go. I'm looking forward to tasting this wine over the next two or three decades (all that I have left) and seeing where it goes. As you can tell by the gushing, one of my wine high-points!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Exceptional wine. Such balance and length! Drinking beautifully.. Honey, orange, crème brulee…Great acidity on the backend. A shame to drink now however, as it’s just a baby.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
From 0,375 l. Decanted nearly an hour before drinking. Right, we already had some great wines this evening (like Montrachet and an old red label of Bruno Giacosa), but when this juice hits the glass... you're blown away. The sheer intensity of the wine is incredible, when you've not drunk this wine you don't know what I'm talking about. The nose: heavenly. The finish, everything, just perfect. Another 100 points here.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Welcome to the pleasuredome. D'Yquem, a candlelit room, soft background music. I'm all in a tizzy. What a wine. Perfect status confirmed,it gets no better than this.
Rich and concentrated with so many different fruits, orange rind, honey, apricot, etc. The extremely long finish would all of a sudden then reveal another layer of different fruits. Never experienced that before. Great acid, structure, balance. I really do think it is too young and powerful now to be at its best though. It needs many more years to really show all its complexities that are to come for those who can be patient. I have no doubt this will be a 100 point wine in my book when it matures.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
2001 Yquem - Private Tasting - Will be extraordinary. Resounding botrytis notes, while very young and a bit tight and green. That said, an extremely graceful Sauternes with essences of honey, apricots and dates already well evident. Has a long way to go to reach Yquem nirvana, but will be well worth the wait! Drink 2020 - 2050.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
EWG - Church & State - Cabs - Jan 3, 2009: Oh my word. This was outrageous. Obviously this will be around for a long time but it is drinking so well right now. This is a wine you can just keep drinking. Having all that sweetness with no cloying elements. Wow!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drank from a 375ml last night and i have to say my senses still haven't fully recovered. Absolutely perfect balance and acidity providing an almost ethereal structure to the total richness and concentration. Have had my share of good d'Yquem over the years but this one really stands out. I may even go as far to state that this was the single finest wine I have ever tasted. A legend in the making - I know that it will improve in the bottle but talk about setting a high standard to start from!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Yquem "great years" tasting (Seinpost (Scheveningen, The Netherlands)): I must admit I was a little skeptical when reading all the halleluja-notes on this wine. But when this wine was tasted last in an impressive line-up of d'Yquem (55, 67, 71, 75, 76, 86, 88, 89, 90, 97, 99, 01) I just had to admit this vintage is other-worldly. Before drinking this wine my top-3 was 67 - 88 - 90, after drinking 01 - 67 - 88. This wine is just great, one of the best I ever had.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
2001 Château d'Yquem (Frankrijk, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes) Kleur: Vol goudgeel Aroma / bouquet: Een jaargang die zich overduidelijk nog niet geheel wil geven en om geduld vraagt, zowel in het glas als in de kelder. De frisheid verraadt zich al in de neus, waarin naast Botrytis, rozijnen en overrijp tropisch fruit zelfs wat citrusfruit waarneembaar is (zowel geel citrusfruit als sinaasappelschilletjes). Smaak / Afdronk: Superieure balans tussen zoet, prachtige zuren en een subtiel bittertoontje. Een lengte die ook nu al gigantisch is. Door sommigen niet voor niets 'één van de topwijnen van deze eeuw' genoemd. Algemeen / potentieel: Eén van de absolute toppers uit de proeverij van de jaren 67, 71, 75, 76, 86, 88, 89, 90, 97, 99, 01 50 + Kleur: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 15 + Smaak / Afdronk: 20 + Algemeen / potentieel: 10 = 100/100
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
To say I feel privileged to have tasted such a magnificent wine in my lifetime would be an understatement; apricot and honey, lots of honey, with a finish that lasted for minutes and had be still thinking about it hours later.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bright yellow in color. Absolutely intoxicating aromas of honey soaked bees wax, coconut and pineapple. This wine is incredibly delicate, even elegant, covering the palate with an unctuous, though incredibly light, coating of apricot and hazelnut with a secondary of almonds. It is completely ethereal in the mouth and never, ever, cloying. I continuously felt remorse while finely allowing each savored sip to slide down my throat, however the finish seemed never-ending. When eventually finished I could still taste it hours later. Absolutely amazing and can only think that age will increase some amount of complexity. However this will not necessarily improve the wine experienced presently. Surely one wine I feel priviledged to taste relatively young while looking forward to experiencing as it ages over the next decades. Amazing.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Beautiful golden yellow, clear rim. Enchanting nose of Honey bee wax, apricots, pineapples, coconuts. Simply great mouth-feel only D'Yquem can get right. No part of this wine was out of place. This was just stunning in aromas, texture and finish. And the finish just didn't... It's nice to have good friends to share these pleasures with.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This perfect Sauternes gets better every time I taste it. Thick, rich, ripe, extremely concentrated with honeyed, tropical fruit and the right jolt of racy acidity to give it lift and keep everything in balance.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bordeaux Tasting ("Chateau McClure Roberts", Philadelphia PA): apricot, peach, toffee, creme brulee, apple, tropical fruit, marmalade, truffle. remarkable wine, and lived up to my absurdly high expectations for it. absurdly long finish... in fact, long enough that i found myself justifying the cost of splits since it lasts so much longer than full bottles of other wines! I will be buying more, for special occasions. Any occasion where you open this will become special.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Survey of Bordeaux (Our House -- Philadelphia): This is an absolute WOW wine. Still so young. I would love to be around to try this in 75 years. What a tremendous way to cap this tasting. Pale lemon yellow color. This nose is stunning. Creme brulee, sweet dough, smoke, sweet tropical fruits and even a touch of mineral. It is a concentrated incredible explosion on the palate. Smoky sweet dough. Amazing crushed tropical fruits. Amazingly long finish that keeps going. This is so sweet and concentrated that the finish may never end. This is a jaw dropping effort that left everyone at the table in awe. The pairing with the incredible Roquefort made it even better. Just a final note. These wines are so expensive. On a price "does not matter" basis, this is amazing. When price is considered, I'd recommend looking at either an off vintage or another highly regarded producer. It's just hard, absent a truly special occasion, to justify the cost of this. But wow. It's incredible.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The Big "Four-O": 40+ Wines for 40 Years: This was one of the sweetest beverages of any kind that I have ever had. The nose had apricot and orange peel. The palate had lots of sweet fruits including candied apricots and peaches, along with honey and a touch of lemon on the finish. There were chunks of sugar crystals in the bottom of the bottle. This was clearly sweet nectar, but almost too sweet.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Backstreet Bordeaux Tasting (Backstreet Wine Salon - PHX, AZ): Out of 1.5 liter. Full bodied and concentrated with wonderful complexities and nuances. Such a treat to drink. What a way to cap off an evening after drinking over18 first growths. Thanks Dave! 50+5+15+19+9=98+++
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
dave's bordeaux blowout (backstreet wine salon): from magnum! showy for the format. seemingly bulletproof to time and/or format. no additional useful thoughts on this wine which i've now had countless times.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
From magnum. HUBBA HUBBA there's a lot of complexity on this nose. Underneath the layers of honey and flowers I got some curry. Lovely color and texture. This doesn't suck. B+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The most amazing wine I have ever tasted. Simply put, this Yquem condenses the aromas and tastes of the most idyllic British summer's day and condensed them into a glance... drinking this wine is an amazing experience, that longs to be repeated.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
What can one say about this wine? So gorgeous and complex, perfect balance. Elegant but powerful. I want to say this is a perfect wine but this wine will only get better with age so 99+.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
G7 (Jeff): Intoxicating nose of tropical fruits and flowers. Honey, lemon, pear, orange and peaches. Very light on its feet. Expansive mid palate with tremendous purity of fruit. Tremendous complexity and elegance. Impeccable balance. A finish that literally lasts for several minutes. A baby of a wine that will easily outlive me and possibly my offspring.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
From 375 ml, pop and pour. Utterly majestic nose, but not giving as much on the palate as the '99. To be fair, these both deserved to be contemplated for hours. But if this experience is representative, I'd say open your '99's now and let these sleep. B
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is the first and only wine that I've tasted that clearly, without any question, deserved a 100 point rating. I would have given it a 115 point rating it was so remarkable. This was shared at the end of the night with eight friends. Stunned silence filled the room as we tasted, and then looks of astonishment and finally people began to talk about what was happening. The intensity, power, finesse and wonderful flavours simply took the breath out of everyone. I've tasted other d'Yquem vintages and they were great, but nothing like the 2001. Drinking this wine is similar to witnessing a remarkable and powerful work of nature unfold before you. It was a thrilling experience, and definitely worth the $600 paid for that experience.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wino Guys Weekend (WGW) #2; 11/7/2008-11/8/2008: From 375mL. Medium-gold colour. Gorgeous aromas of foie gras, peaches, honey, lychee, dragonfruit, jasmine flowers, cream, and vanilla. The nose is utterly explosive and its aromas burst from the glass. Not as botrytised as some d'Yquems I've had. Full-bodied, ridiculously unctuous with perfectly balanced acidity and amazing purity. The finesse is unreal and shows seamless replays from the nose that are joined by some crystalized ginger notes. An unbelievable finish that goes on for minutes and has some touches of caramel and orange oil. This is a wine that leaves me utterly speechless. It has the texture of foie gras in a glass. Simply stupendous. Absolute perfection. Easily 100 points - you can't ask for anything else in a wine. I think this is the type of wine that will always be perfect - it won't necessarily be better with time, just different.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wine Guy Weekend Chez Doktas Take 2; 11/7/2008-11/8/2008 (Collingwood, Ontario): Pure apricot nectar, honey, pineapple and bananas on the initial nose. The palate is filled with oily apricot liqueur but without ever being cloying. Long long everlasting fruit flavours as each sip is permeated with a biting but well integrated acidity that makes your mouth salivate for more and more minutes after having swallowed the nectar. What can I say? Perfection in a bottle. Second time tasting this gem with another perfect score. Can't get better than this.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I know this was infanticide, but my friend asked me to pick out another bottle to drink at the end of the night and I couldn't resist. Absolute pure apricot marmalade on the nose with a touch of orange peel. In the mouth, completely balanced. Perfect fruit and acidity, non-cloying. The one thing about this wine is it definitely was hiding something special. All the parts were there and I am certain it is going to improve. Awesome wine!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Perfection in a bottle. We opened this for Desert after 03 QC, 02 Insignia and 95 Ducru. Accompanied by Creme Broulet and Lemon Tart. This was unbelievable. How can one wine have so much going on? Sweet honey, pineapple and tropical fruit, mango, and vanilla on the nose. Mouthfeel was unctious with tons of glycerin, and the lively zip of healthy acid. Too much to list! the palate was filled with honey, brown sugar, apricot, peach, pineapple, coconut, mango, other tropical fruit, kiwi, cedar, creme broulet, lemon curd, and more! Finish was for minutes. I am probably forgetting something, but this was the single most incredible wine experience I have ever had. I said i'd never give 100, but this merits it.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Mango, papaya, candied orange peel on the nose with lots of floral charm. Same flavors come through on palate with roasted nut flavors and everything tasting of a sensational floral honey throughout. Really good acidity helps make an incredibly powerful wine even better textured and longer.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
LdC Causal Italian Dinner (Prosecco): Just keeps getting better. One of the profound wines of our time. Showing incredible coconut on the nose and wonderful mouthfeel. Will be a 100pt wine with time.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted February 15,2008 at Lake Louise Post Hotel Yquem tasting. This one had a medicinal smell to it with some honey as well. It was smooth and balanced and very fresh but seems to have entered a shut down period. I would wait at least 3-5 years until trying another one.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nose: flowery, very honeyed, pears, light raisin. Greenish straw color. Medium thickness. Honey, but not at all raisiny. Flowers, incredibly rich and luscious. Perfect acidity. Mouth-coating! Lavender? Apricot. Huge, but subtle. Lt banana. I'm not worthy. $300/375ml
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wife decided she didn't like the hotel room we were in, she wanted a better view. So she switched rooms while i was out and left the d'yquem in the mini bar where i had left it to chill..Housekeeping tossed it in the compacter...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Ain't nothing wrong with this fine Sauternes. It has everything that I look for. Particularly well done is the absence of too much petrol that plagues many Sauternes. It is really good. Having said this, I must also say that I prefer the 2003 Rieussec. Call me crazy.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The 2001 has it all. Very good concentration in combination with complexity and elegance. There are Sauternes 2001 wines which are more voluptuous at the moment, but the overall complexity and harmony in this wine will almost certainly be the winner in the long run. This is really a treat! For now 96 or 97 seems to be a correct score, but because of the whole structure, harmony and potential this score can even be too low. Future will tell.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A superb nectar, completely integrated oak, multi-dimensional, astounding elegance, incredibly concentrated but lithe, magnificent. I cannot imagine a better Yquem.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
(Drank at the Antrim 1844.) I don't even really know how to evaluate this. Under so-called "perfect" tasting conditions, I would've paid more attention to the wine, but the company combined with this artifact made the occasion what it was. Truly special. I'm sure it's a 100-point wine even if I can't taste it yet and even if it won't spread its wings for another couple decades. It's more balanced and harmonic than any other dessert wine I've ever had, and possibly any other WINE I've ever had. It's smooth as silk but somehow still bracing. And it shows that alluring spicy nailpolishy citrusy frosty nutty essence that I can never quite describe but absolutely love. The finish is eternal. For now, I can't find the complexity, but I know it's in there somewhere. I'm guessing that the next time I have this -- hopefully at least once in the next five years -- it'll get two or three more points out of me.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Beautiful and extremely concentrated, layer upon layer. Young elixir with orangepeel, canned fruit, fine acidity and an immense balance. WOTN. #Charity#SøllerødKro
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
If I wouldn't have saved a few drops to taste 2 days after opening the bottle, I would have probably rated it lower than the 2001 Suduiraut (98 points). These wines are just amazing. You can get lost in smelling it... it is so complex and offers layers and layers... unbelievable. On the palate it is amazing: the different aromas and nuances continue – the literally spread out. The finish is really long and leaves you with an aftertaste that continues to develop more and more layers of aroma. The finish could be more harmonious and elegant... so same sign of youth as with the 01 Suduiraut. Is the Yquem better? In my eyes clearly NO! But what I know... When comparing this with the Suduiraut, you have to keep in mind that the Yquem is 5 times the price (at least)... is it worth to buy Yquem? Hard to say... if you want to drink in 100+ years you are probably better of with the Yquem ;-) But IMHO you should buy as much of the Suduiraut as you can (like I did). Although I know that its price increased a lot, it is still a steal compared to the Yquem. So or so: Sauternes on this level is without a doubt one of the few best (if not the best) wine experiences.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Just found one of the bottles with little black mold spots on the lead cork cover. Pulled it off to find that the cork is leaking. ARGHHHHHHHH!!!!. Well I guess we will be trying a bottle this weekend with friends about 20 years earlier than planned.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Still way too young but after breathing for a couple of ours, it began to show the most gorgeously complex fruit and classic flavors of the vineyard. Perfectly balanced, perfectly ripe and while its a powerful wine, its not outsized or rustic and is supremely elegant. This bottling of Yquem is rated so high (100 by everyone and their mother) because of the balance and elegance. Should age fabulously. 97+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
At The Sampler: for me the nose is initially the same as other d'Yquem's I've tasted - it's once on the palate an extra-ordinary full spectrum of aromas and balance develop - it seems to touch all the sensory bases; also a high petroleum spirit note I had not expected. Maybe what makes this wine so good is that even though it has been incredibly hyped I was not expecting it to be, frankly, exciting - which it was; several previous Yquem's were very good but this is different class. By exciting I mean that apprehension of the wine in the mouth and as I swallow: it seems to uncover new "angles" (aromas/tastes) every time I "look".
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
pure gold color with amazing aromas of apricot and other tropical light fruits. Very young, great concentration and depth but, too sweet. This needs many years, I prefer the '01 Rieussec at this stage over the d'Yquem
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Really good stuff. Manages characteristic d'Yquem concentration with Climens finesse. Big, thick, and gummy mouthfeel with great purity. As I think most of the '01s are, may lack a little vibrancy that more acidity could help with, but this is so good now that it's a minor complaint.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The deep golden yellow sunlight color is astounding. Aromas of sweet citrus, honey, and tart tropical acids spill into the air as if an orchestra had just begun playing softly. Imagine sipping from a fully decorated Christmas tree with the lights on. Stone fruit, honey, wild green apples, and tropical nuances collectively embracing eachother with a defined crisp acidity to bring order and balance to this fine ensamble. d'Yquem is so delicious that words cannot justy. She is sweet like the most beautiful nectar yet balanced to perfection. The finish is sublime and lasts forever. I was smiling for a whole week after this glass. This wine really lives up to it's reputation. It seduces me completely.
Footnote: I sampled this in a flight consisting of 01- d'Yquem, 01-Suduiraut, 01-De Malle, and 01-Coutet. With no exageration, the d'Yquem blew away the others by a mile in every way, shape, and form. Hands down d'Yquem is king.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
375ml. Opened and served right away. Nice light honey/golden colour. Very intoxicating nose of apricot, papaya and candy coated nectarine. The nose is enough to give this wine 95+ points, and then you taste it. Silky flavours of dried pineapple, candied apricot, mango and papaya which I can taste 2-3 minutes after I swallow. Completely coats the palate. Your mouth is filled with seductive and velvety flavours of tropical fruit that immaculately integrate with the balanced acidity. The only flaw I can uncover is some slight heat on the mid palate. The flavour profile is great, but it’s the complexity and multilayered flavours that make this young Yquem such a remarkable wine. The potential is endless. 95+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
After all the hype over this vintage of Yquem, I finally decided to open a half bottle. First of all, it needs to breathe and open up as much as possible...several hours would be best. It's not necessarily a huge Yquem although the sweet fruit flavor does remind of the taste of the huge '83. What I think sets this vintage apart is the incredibly transparancy of the purity of the vineyard as the luscious minerality of the site is so vividly apparent. This young, balanced beauty is certainly the finest and purest Yquem I've ever tasted and it actually is wonderful to drink even at this young age. 98+
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The Wines of Mark Aubert (Pinot Provence, Costa Mesa, CA): Third time I've had the pleasure of drinking the '01 and it's been consistently stunning. The fruit is incredible, the acidity marvelous, the balance impbeccable and the finish out-of-this-world. Why not 100 points? The nose and the finish are clearly there, but it wavers ever so slightly on the mid-palate.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Y2 day in the Librije, Zwolle, Netherlands. (Yquem tasting) (De Librije, Zwolle, Netherlands.): Light yellow. Boinggg!!!! Enormously complex bouquet of all sorts of tropical fruits. The same goes for the taste. The good balance is what hit me most. Concentration and elegance at the same time. Wow, what a wine. (Drank this wine about a year ago as well, striking in this case is that in this last year the wine has developed a lot. Eventually this wine can score even higher I guess.)
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
"Very Special" Dinner at Picholine OL (Picholine Wine Room, NYC): Nose of bananas and caramel. On the palate, this is a lovely, harmonious wine. Notes of honey, lemon merinque pie, bananas. Really lovely but OH so young. Definitely not strutting what it will be capable of in a few years time, but very enjoyable today. Probably a 93-94 showing in my opinion, but undoubtedly will improve. My #3 WOTN, Group's #3 WOTN.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Incredibly sweet. Too young. This wine will last forever in your cellar. no need to rush at all to open this wine. I think that it is not a good idea to open this bottle before years. i would take another one in 5 years minimum.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Montreal Offline: MWP End of year (Restaurant Forchetta): Sex in a bottle, what can I say more. This was spectacular. As Steve said, a finish that well... never finished. Still had memory impressions the next morning. Descriptors are lacking because there's is no way to really describe it except as "perfect".
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Yellow pale gold liquid. This wine transported you directly to the vineyard as they were cutting the grapes for this wine. Palate of some coco, bananas, honey and pinneaple on a long long complex everlasting 1 hour finish. Is this a wine or a drug? I'm not sure. Great!! 100 points.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Yquem Tasting (Robersons Wine, London): Very light lemon, sweet spicy oak, very fragrant, perfumed with complex light fruits, well balanced, not overly concentrated. I am still to be convinced by this, the balance is superb but I find a lack of density. Very long finish though, of candied fruit, could still taste it an hour later. Not rated.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
My first one from a case. Defies description. This will be one that people will remember for a long time. I don't have a lot of experience with y'quem but the hype does not exceed this wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
WS California Wine Experience Top Ten Tasting (San Francisco Marriott): Full deep electric yellow color. Incredible big botrytis yellow fruit with clear bright lemon notes on the nose. Incredible unctuous rich mouthcoating sweetness with layers of complexity on the palate, but not cloying in any way. Long lingering finish - ethereal. This is an absolutely stunning wine that I would be tempted to give 100 pts to if I didn't know it was going to continue to improve! 98+ pts.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dinner Party at Home w/ Pinots & d'Yquem (Milford): I didn't want to believe the hype, but man was this good. The clarity of a fine German Riesling and the intensity of a great Sauternes. No evident oak notes (a plus in my book). Almost painful acidty to compliment the intense fruit. A baby with a stunning future.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A half bottle. Opened and decanted into a wide bottomed ship's decanter. Drunk over 5 days. Throughout it remained somewhat reticent on the nose. Initially in the mouth it showed considerable amounts of body/glycerin backed up by lots of acidity. Hardly budged over the 5 days! Just a very tightly wound ball at the moment and I would advise others to leave for several years before trying. By no means an unpleasant experience (!!) but not as flashy or open at the moment as the 01 Rieussec I tasted last week.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Patrick's '01 Sauternes Horizontal in Rego Park. (Queens , NY): If this isn't a 100 point wine, I don't know what is. I am by no means an experienced Sauternes taster, but this just showed soooo much complexity and magic, that I don't know how it could improve.The wonder is that it WILL improve for decades to come. The Nose: carmel popcorn, coconut, spicy tartness, apricot and much more that I could not put a handle on. All presenting in a subtle and unassuming wave of aroma. The Palate: Weightless and thick at the same time. Carmel, Apricot, orange peel & honey with an incredibly long finish of honey sweetened croissant. Along with all of this there is a backbone of good acid to tie it together. Every facet of this wine flowed seamlessly into the next.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Friday night with Patrick Stella's Sauternes (The Count's House): This is an extremely difficult Sauternes to describe properly. The hugely complex flavors were more blended than in some of the others we tried. Although there were clearly notes of coconut, honey, creme brulée, brioche, apricots, et cetera, they were completely harmonized. However for me the real stand-out for this wine was on the palate that had an unmatched and almost unbelievable contrast of full-bodied weight with etherial silkiness, as well as a finish that went on forever. Extraordinary stuff!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Patrick Stella and the '01 Sauternes Show (Count's Mannor): i cant believe it...its sitting right in front of me....empty... :( BUT i did get the chance of a life time during this dinner... i had the chance to utter the most amazing sentence: "Patrick, pass the d'Yquem please..." :)
this is a wine thats in a class by itself, even on the nose - it doesnt assault you with tropical fruits and botrytis, its elegant....there was something of a white burgundy on the nose... i didnt write notes last night.... there was nothing i could write down...to talk about fruit and finish would be to ruin it... you cant pinpoint this wine... its elegance in a glass... BUT i gave it 99...why? 2 reasons...1) it needms time to show all its got... its nowhere near ready. 2) i had only 1 100point wine - the moscatel from Valdespino...and i wouldnt trade that moscatel for this wine. nor would i trade a donhoff eiswein for this... BUT this is trully a class above all the other sauternes and an honor to drink such amazing juice.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The Grand Finale with Leve at the French Laundry (Yountville, Napa Valley, CA): Well, Leve called this "thin", but I loved it. Unctuous and powerful yet with amazing acidity. It doesn't have quite the weight of the Suduiraut or the sheer focus and precision of the Rieussec, but it seems like a perfect cross. Undoubtedly this will take decades to really strut its stuff, but it's pretty fun right now as well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Light gold flecked with very pale green. Initially hot, slightly medicinal and reticent nose opened up to reveal moderately generous but still tightly wound aromas of clean botrytis, banana, pineapple and orange candy. Immense flavor and coating along with an ethereal lightness - wine at zero gravity. Finishes with well-delineated honeyed citrus and tropical fruits.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
TTG#4 (Salon, Coche, Jasmin, Pape Clement, HSS, Yquem, Joly...) (Rico's Kitchen): Attractive deep and concentrated yellow. Nose is absolutely bursting with honey, citrus, tropical fruit, stone fruit, brulée, sweet cream. Palate shows all of this and more in an amazingly delineated, detailed, balanced, and quite structured form. How many flavors or aromas are there? Well, how long do you have to sit with it? Every few minutes represents a shifting and swirling of accent that reveals something new. Even the long and concentrated finish evolves as it fades away ever so slowly. Enough conventional notewriting. This is simply too young and intense and packed with goodness to describe that way. This is like a hand grenade with all the chemistry and power and material to overwhelm a large area condensed inside a compact package. However, while the fuse on the grenade lasts ten seconds or less, the fuse on this Yquem is bound to last seventy-five to a hundred years or more. Like a Noah’s Ark of wine, it’s got two of everything. There go the lemons, and the limes, and the apricots… You get the point. Monumental wine with amazing balance and complexity. Believe the hype.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Impressive wine!! This wine, which was given to me without knowing what it was, reminded me of the Rieussec I tasted some weeks before. At first it seemed just a hint lighter. And after reading my Rieussec note back, I think it was. But in elegance this wine was the winner. My score is the one I gave tasting it blindly (the best way to score I think), but the future might prove I was wrong. I’m not 100% certain yet. (And I do not taste these wines on a daily basis.)
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Post-New Year dinner (Home): Start to finish, a perfect wine. All dessert wines I've had before, however delicious, have had flaws (i.e. slightly too sweet and cloying or just a tad too acidic or slight chemical taste on finish etc.) that could be identified. Not here. Perfectly balanced and tasting of honey and citrus, we literally sucked out the last drops from the bottle!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Medime light yellow. Medium clean aroma of yellow fruit wit hclear botrytis. Rich lovely mouthfeel. Nice and balanced yellow fruit and sweetness and acidity. Hints of banana. Lovely caramel botrytis on the finish. Lovely 0 just disappears into your mouth. Will be a classic. 10/05
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
4/16/2024 - Biskuit Likes this wine:
Served alongside a range of dessert wines, clearly a class above.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/18/2024 - Kim Gerner wrote:
Tasted vintage 2001 regularly since 8 years ago as it is clearly one of my all time favorites - every time I have tasted it, it is worth 98 to 98++. This time it was an experiment: Poured from a bottle which I coravined first time 6 years ago. Since then coravined 2 times further before today, last time 1½ years ago with only 1/3 left in the bottle. Despite that the bottle was still outstanding today. That is impressive but of course also influenced by the fact that this is a wine with both high acidity and high sugar level. Not quite at same level as I remember form "fresh bottles", but nevertheless outstanding. It would not be fair rating it officially on cellartracker, but I rated this coravine version 97. I can also reveal that 1½ years ago when I tasted the coaravined bottle last time it was not affected by the coravine (at that time the bottle was 2/3 full)
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/23/2024 - sh6k Likes this wine: 100 Points
Amazing. Nose was slightly less powerful than my last bottle but traded off a tiny bit of power for broad all-encompassing finesse. And the palate... ultra focused finesse (and acidity) with amazing palate-filling fruit, and a backing of caramel. Still at the start of its life. With a couple hours of air, spice and amaretto adding to the bouquet. Added a chemical note to the nose -- petrol like a riesling with another twist I can't pinpoint (but is enticing). Cotton candy finish.
Spectacular yet again. Easily 100 points.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/18/2024 - Baxterna Likes this wine: 100 Points
The is our first experience with Sauternes, and it was incredible. It had such a gorgeous nose of pineapple upside down cake and cinnamon spice. Velvety smooth on the palate. A truly perfectly balanced wine. We chilled this wine for an hour on ice, and it was amazing! We enjoyed this with 2 of our closest friends who have tasted many vintages. They agreed this might be the best they’d ever tasted. So happy we finally cracked this OWC of 6 bottles. So happy we have 5 more to enjoy over the years. What a beautiful occasion to try this wine from a 400+ year old vineyard.
7 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
2/17/2024 - sdr wrote: 90 Points
I am rating this very conservatively because it presents as very, very young. Linear yellow fruit, high acidity. Botrytis is hidden. From half bottles it is much more demonstrative.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/11/2024 - jshufelt wrote: 98 Points
From 375, stood up for an hour before opening. Best dessert wine I've had to date? The only thing I can compare it to would be a 2002 Dönnhoff Oberhäuser Brücke, which had at least as much tropical fruit and the same balance between sweetness and acidity, but a bit less of the texture and staying power on the palate.
In the glass, a rich shade of amber, leaning to orange (plenty of crystals in the bottle). On the nose, mango, peach, passionfruit are fully present and assertive - just lovely overripe tropical fruit aromatics. On the palate, a flawless melding of rich, almost pungent fruit (passionfruit, mango, orange marmalade, pineapple) with an unctuous, enveloping, enamel-coating silky texture, a liquid creme brulee, with an incredibly long finish. Lick your teeth a minute later, and the fruit and residual sugar are right there. Fantastic.
Is my rating too low? It could well be. But this is so youthful and exuberant now that it's possible to imagine a further step upward when secondary complexity begins to show. Let's just hope I'm still around when it gets there.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/11/2024 - dhwesley Likes this wine: 99 Points
When opening a bottle from a legendary producer, expectations run high. It can feel disappointing if you pop the cork and get anything short of the heavens opening and angels singing. In this case, the angels and the wine sang beautifully. Refined and precise, reserved sweetness, subtle exotic profile of citrus, mango, clove, nutmeg. Acid in perfect balance and begging to the paired with food - we obliged with foie two ways (seared and torchon). Everything I had hoped for. If you are fortunate enough to have any bottles in your cellar, there are many decades of enjoyment ahead.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/28/2024 - le_franc_de_pied wrote: 94 Points
Golden toffee color. Tropical fruit and nuts. Extremely long. Can it get better?
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/27/2024 - lepetitchateau wrote: 98 Points
Hardly even hitting its stride… real power, grace and class. Yum
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2023 - bsbrown05 Likes this wine: 100 Points
Opened 9/23/23 with friends while our kids were at their homecoming dance. Flawless in every way—I’ve never tasted anything like it but could not think of one thing about it I did not like. Tasted monthly thereafter (while being stored at 55 in our wine room) and did not change its flavor profile at 10/23 or 11/23 at all. Head and shoulders above any other young-ish d’Yquem I’ve ever tasted (and we opened a 2015 375 on 11/23, Thanksgiving Day, and had a 2009 375 earlier this year). When re-tasting, and finishing the bottle, this evening, it had taken on the orange flavors consistent with the recent 1967 (750ml) and 1975 (375ml) we have opened, and it’s primary sweetness had faded somewhat. I have yet to try a ‘29, ‘37, ‘45 or ‘59, but this ‘01 has set an awfully high threshold for us!
9 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/12/2023 - Jeremy Holmes wrote:
I took one sniff of this and said “that’s the ’01 Yquem’. Gotta talk yourself up when you nail an option! So complex, with notes of apricot jam, pineapple, coconut ice and candied peel. Rich and honeyed through the mid, so much presence and intensity. The finish drives on for an eternity, and despite its sweetness and concentration it is a fresh wine that glides across the palate and provides so much pleasure without any excess fat or weight.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/5/2023 - acyso wrote: flawed
Good vintages of Yquem (Chicago, IL): Corked.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/25/2023 - KSWinegeek wrote: 99 Points
Carmel color. Citrus, honey and white flowers on nose. Complex palate including honey and apricots with a delightfully creamy texture. So rich and enjoyable. Paired beautifully with the butterscotch pots de crème. Thanks Ann and a Mike for sharing.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/22/2023 - SonnyChiba wrote: 98 Points
The best Sauternes I’ve had. Leaving some room with regards to point score just in case, but this is amazing and as perfect as I’ve tasted. Wow.
7 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
11/15/2023 - csimm wrote: 98 Points
Always awesome. Always. Truly a benchmark for Yquem with some age on it. Undoubtedly sweeter and richer than the racier 2020 Yquem served beside it, the 2001 is in a great drinking window now. Every time I have this, it reaffirms my ardor for Yquem (the only dessert wine I even bother with at this stage). Paired awesomely with homemade creme brûlée. (Nice job bsumoba!)
9 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (5)
11/12/2023 - BadOyster wrote: 99 Points
Oh my. This wine is a conversation stopper. When this hits your palate, all other sights and sounds are willingly ignored while your palate is taken over by honeyed citrus and stone fruits, and a length that lasts minutes as the ginger and spices dance. You want to savor every second. I cannot think of anything to improve. Why not 100? I can’t bring myself to think there won’t be further improvement over time.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/11/2023 - WineBurrowingWombat Likes this wine: 97 Points
Duck, duck, abortion!; 11/11/2023-11/17/2023: Deep yet light honey on the nose with melons that provide enough freshness, honeyed white flowers and a dry, pulverized, stony mineral note.
Palate matches the nose with the addition of bitter waxiness, deep golden honey with bitter minerals. Again, similar to the other half bottle I’ve had before but this half bottle is a touch more lively. It’s missing the freshness of the standard sized bottle. Still good, but damn.. it’s like knowing twins and seeing one age noticeably faster than the other.
This was paired with an awesome creme brulee (shouts out to bsumoba) and it was smackin’.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/11/2023 - bsumoba Likes this wine: 98 Points
Yup, I know why this is the quintessential benchmark for sauternes. Not much more needs to be said. I might have liked this a bit younger for my palate, but now I'm reaching in terms of finding something to criticize this wine about.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/3/2023 - Gregmonroe wrote:
JD Friday Wine Group - GA Host (City Club FW - Wine Room): Tasted blind - light-ish gold in the glass. Sweet apricot, stone fruit, marmalade. Last wine of the night after a bunch, so not great notes. But delicious and still very primary. Guessed a 10 year old Y’quem.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/15/2023 - d'Artagnan wrote: 95 Points
Anniversaire du Baron (Le Serpent): Un très grand millésime d’un très grand vin, ça donne quoi?
Un nez classique abricot rôti, de crème brûlée, avec un peu de volatile. Bouche ronde mais en retenue, serrée et puissante, presque tannique (!). Une bête! Encore si jeune, le vin est profond, très long, mais pas encore charmeur. Probablement le plus grand vin de la soirée d'entre tous dans 10-15 ans. 95++
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/4/2023 - WineBurrowingWombat Likes this wine: 96 Points
Aromas of heavy honey drizzled on stone, honeycomb, honeyed white flowers and earth, and the scent of a nearby river.
On the palate was spiced honey wax, shaved old oak, and honeyed earth. Tons of honey character. Acidity seems to be tired or is tiring out, leaving the wine a bit heavy and even a bit cloying.
A bit lacking on the acidity here compared to when I first had this (a 750ml bottle whereas this is from a 375ml). Seems to have aged much faster which is expected coming from a smaller bottle. I know I'm gonna get some heat here but If you have a few of these (the 375ml ones) start popping them to gauge if you should be drinking them sooner or later. I know they supposedly last decades but the tired acidity this showed today worries me a bit. Maybe it's just my bottle unfortunately. 95-96
7 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (4)
7/1/2023 - Wine Canuck wrote: 98 Points
An Epic Summer Wine Weekend - Year 2; 6/30/2023-7/2/2023 (Muskoka, Ontario, Canada): This really shows why it’s up there as one of the best of all time. Crazy intense on the nose from the first pop, blasting apricot, marmalade, light VA, a touch of pool toy, honey drizzled peaches, high quality vanilla bean, a touch of fresh white mushroom, and river rocks. The palate is immaculately balanced, entering on honey, apricot and peach, turning to lovely bitter marmalade as the lemony acid cuts a precise swath across the palate. The finish closes harmoniously on the array of lovely orchard fruit accented by vanilla bean. Just glorious Sauternes that's aging at a snails pace.
8 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
6/20/2023 - fabchave wrote: 97 Points
A golden wonder.
Powerful nose of tropical fruits and honey.
Palate is a masterclass of elegance and equilibrium. Green papaya and pineapple, melon, a whiff of peppery spice. Great acidity and length.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/16/2023 - Mchiarot Likes this wine: 98 Points
phenomenal. complex, intense, Looooong and fresh all at the same time. Can last forever.....
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/23/2023 - dharrison93 Likes this wine: 100 Points
Brilliant as usual. Drank with friends after a long travel day.
Vibrant notes of apricot, honey and peaches.
Decades of pleasure remain.
If a date, this was a 29 year old MBA grad who takes you away for a relaxing dirty weekend at the cottage.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/22/2023 - RichardP wrote: 96 Points
Orange blossom and ether on the nose: It's literally ethereal. On the palate, pineapple, orange, mango, apricot, and notes of honey, yellow apple, and coconut, with powerful acidity on the long finish. Although this is outstanding, I was expecting even more; this may be either too old for my taste or too young. I will wait a few years to open the next bottle.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/29/2023 - canan wrote: 100 Points
KYD #2.3 (Møntnergade): Dried apricots, honey and bruised apples / quince. Amazing intensity and a wonderful balance with a refreshing acidity..
Almost feels weightless! Over time, this seems to have improved back to its original performance when it was originally released. Absolutely wonderful!
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/9/2023 - peternelson Likes this wine: 93 Points
The best of the 4 Sauternes (all from 375) although maybe not as good as it should have been from a 750. Slightly dark, orange marmalade, apricot, buttery and silky smooth with great intensity. Similar palate to the Climens, but with more complexity and depth. Hippo w/EWG 2001 wines
Blind 375ml 2001 Sauternes: Rieussec, YQyem, Climens, Guiraud
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/27/2023 - ginfizz wrote: 98 Points
Rich for Yquem, complex nose of flowers, citrus tinged green apple, almond-like VA with hints of just ripe pineapple, green pears, caramel. Viscous and rich on the palate, with a touch less acidity than expected and infinite length. From a half. Drink now to 2130. Almost infinite...
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/23/2023 - lightning wrote: 95 Points
Exotic nose of pineapple tarts and Christmas cake. A layered and textured palate, ripe pineapples, cooked apples, minerals, great length. Technically excellent, and the best Sauternes in my experience (an extra gear from the 4-5 glasses of 2005 Yquem last week), although does not touch the ethereal plane - which is what I was expecting, given the reputation of the wine in this vintage.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/28/2023 - rc@ughey wrote: 96 Points
A fully-justified legend, it's hard to imagine Sauternes getting better -- except this itself will be better in 10 years and probably better still in 20. So luxurious, exotic, and rich but with this vibrant acidity and spherical in balance. I dare say the price is even reasonable in today's world.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/16/2023 - jviz wrote: 99 Points
Finally a chance to try this wine. Paired with a fluffy pistachio cake, the marriage was among the finest I’ve ever tasted. And this wine is indeed a superlative Sauternes. The weight and concentration buttressed by searing acids. Already it’s coming into a tertiary space. Dripping with honey, pineapple, tangerine, and a cornucopia of tropical fruit, imagine the best Sauternes you’ve had and make it 10% better. It’s that.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/16/2023 - ekessler Likes this wine:
Transcendent.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2022 - Cremuel Likes this wine: 99 Points
Bob's cellar. Yellow brown oily wine, clear and perfect. Nose is rich sweet marmalade, candied lemon rind, incredible honeyed sweetness, brilliant acidity. Awesome. Taste is unctuous sweetness, pinned exactly by a sharpness, framed acidity, baked apples & pears and caramel, developing sweet peaches. Not a note out of place, everything is framed in perfect symmetry, the sweetness balanced by the acidity, the sharp fruit by the sweet fruit, the caramel by the lemon. This is perfection in a glass.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/18/2022 - AaronMaxwell Likes this wine: 99 Points
holy cow. this is one hell of a Sauternes, and my first time enjoying it from a magnum. Enjoyed with foie gras prepared three ways.
What an absolute treat...
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/5/2022 - Collector1855 wrote: 96 Points
Salon Focofi Paris walkabout and dinner, so no detailed tasting notes. Top drawer, bery intense and youthful. Although it has top acidity, I struggle with this, too rich/intense. Cannot have more than a sip.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/24/2022 - zimmy07 Likes this wine: 98 Points
Not quit at the same level as the absolute perfect bottle I had a few years back. Not sure this was any different, but mood and environment can make a wine. This is so damn good and polished. I can only think what this will be like in 30 years. Still golden yellow, not browning out at all, this is everything and will last forever, one of the greatest wines ever made...
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/17/2022 - rocknroller wrote: 100 Points
Medium golden color. PNP, drank a glass over an hour. The 2001 d'Yquem is nothing short of perfection. Among the superlatives that I wrote in my notes are: "otherworldly" and "I can't even...". The nose is glorious, stunning, high pitched reaching olfactory levels rarely attained, let alone by any other producer. Intense tangerine, Colorado peaches, amazing purity, sublime spice profile, honeysuckle, honeycomb, shaved coconut, mandarin orange cream. The palate is pristine with impeccable balance, featherweight and tingly with intensity and precision. Layer upon layer comes through with clarity and such length. The definition of what Sauternes aspires to be, beyond a benchmark wine. In a beautiful spot, I can't imagine anything better. Thanks Jason for sharing this.
7 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/17/2022 - galewskj wrote: 99 Points
Back at the Kenwood with Luis and the team: The highest I've ever scored a wine, and both times now it is Yquem. This was as good (or day I say better?) than a 2009 that blew me away a couple years ago. The benchmark for sauternes with a featherweight palate and all the classic Sauternes descriptors - creme brulee, orange marmalade, baking spice, yellow melon. Stunning.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/17/2022 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine: 99 Points
Luis Rides Again! (The Kenwood, Minneapolis, MN): Same bottle as coravined previously...ethereal, what else can I say about it...my highest score...not sure if there is anything better (hard to imagine!), but left a point on the table just in case (who knows, in 10 years this may be better?!)
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
11/13/2022 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine: 99 Points
Some Special Wines with a New Friend....well, sort of new! (Jason's House): First, this was opened on the evening of the 12th...we just had finished a .375 of the 2009 Yquem, which was my benchmark Sauternes. After everyone left, I coravined this wine for Marvin to compare (I also wanted to compare, especially since it had been a while since I tasted one of these) with the 2009. The 2009 Yquem has never disappointed, and certainly did not disappoint with this showing. I have repeatedly stated I just cannot imagine a better Sauternes....well, that was shattered with this wine, and my first score higher than 98, i.e., the first time a benchmark wine was surpassed!
This wine had everything the 2009 had, impeccable balance, honeyed, but not cloying fruit, a creamy texture and a super-long finish, but more intensity than the 2009....it took Sauternes to new level, and is finally (for me) living up to its hype! An awesome wine that everyone should experience at least once! 99 points, and new benchmark for me!
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (8)
11/12/2022 - WineBurrowingWombat Likes this wine: 100 Points
Wine weekend in the Twin Cities; 11/10/2022-11/12/2022 (Where the frosty air is refreshing.. kind of): N: Elegantly deep honey with an incredible acidity that pierces through the gentle sweetness. Everything is gently honeyed: oak, minerals, stone, fruits, oats and white flowers sprayed with morning honey dew mist (if there was such a thing). If honeycombs were perfectly sweet with its slightly bitter wax, it would smell like this. I got scents as if I am standing next to a pristine waterfall with white flowers at its base, crashing mists of honey and rocks made out of melon rinds (not watermelon).
P: This is the complete opposite of cloying, with acidity coursing through its veins with verve and energy, carrying the fruit on its back. Intense yet subdued acidity that’s integrated but somehow carries the fruit so well, never allowing the flavors to become too sweet. Pleasantly spiced honeycomb wax, intensely bitter minerals coated in light honey and honeydew melon lightly drizzled with, you guessed it, honey - gentle, pure, unrefined honey.
This shatters my reality of what I thought the world of Sauternes could be. The amazing acidity, where it's just the right amount (so not so much a searing one), gives this wine an incredible and awesome life on the palate. I was afraid any extra acidity might break the balance, like the balance of what the ‘09 had, but it doesn’t. Rather, the acidity broke my boundaries and showed me new realms to explore. I used to wonder how does one enjoy a whole 750ml bottle of a Sauternes by themselves, and now I wonder no more. I can totally spend a whole evening with this. Spent 4 hours with this and it kept getting better, showing more speed and swiftness with each passing hour. Holy shit, if the gods had a dessert wine, it would be this. Thank you 'I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine' for treating me with this, I absolutely hate what you have done to me.. every time he asked me do I want more, I felt bad for saying yes every time but man alive did it taste oh so good! Ahh yes, the benefits of a Coravin.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
10/28/2022 - sh6k Likes this wine: 100 Points
Holy crap. Maybe the best wine I’ve ever had. The nose even before pouring is overwhelming (in a good way). All the fruits and all the caramels and all the great things. The palate is the same plus a powerful acidity and slight wintergreen cooling that keeps it from being overwhelming. And the finish feels like it may go on forever. Head and shoulders above any Yquem I’ve had, which is saying a lot.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
10/19/2022 - JonnyG Likes this wine: 97 Points
Some Weighty Wines on a Wonderful Autumn Eve (Los Angeles, CA): From a 375, the first of six I’ve dared to test, and indeed it is too soon, not that anyone complained. Such complex aromatics I hardly needed a sip. Yellow and white fruit, marzipan, some white tea, citrus, coconut cream and a myriad of spices, for starters. Tremendous depth and cut, with a multi-minute finish. Patience required!
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/11/2022 - glou.sf Likes this wine: 99 Points
From 375ml. Deep and complex nose of apricot, caramel, orange, melon, blossom, honey and vanilla. There's so much going on, but the flavors are clearly delineated. Very well balanced sweetness on the palate with more fresh and dried apricot, melon, honey, lemon, clove, and vanilla on the palate. Very, very long finish. Outstanding wine, just as good as from a 750ml a few years ago.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/18/2022 - dream Likes this wine: 95 Points
Out of half-bottle, this shows great depth and purity with a perfect balance between sweetness and mineral cut. It's going to be great but it's not there yet. Hold! Hold! Hold! as it has everything and just needs time to fully develop. 95+
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/27/2022 - Jhalpern27 Likes this wine: 98 Points
Opened to celebrate my 50th birthday and this did not disappoint. Just amazing
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
7/24/2022 - csimm wrote: 98 Points
I mean... It's Yquem. It's 2001. What's left to talk about?
This was from a .375, which showed a bit more honeyed characteristics and viscosity than the .750 bottle I had last year, which exhibited more herbal and floral attributes. A bangin' bottle of wine and certainly a benchmark vintage for this producer.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/16/2022 - Teaky Likes this wine:
Popped and poured over about 3 hours, evolved a bit but still seems quite young, nose of tropical fruits, apricot, pineapple, creme brulee, flavors are similar with a nice underlying green tea component, nice acidity, super long finish, sweet but not too much, paired well with a simple cheesecake. This was an amazing wine but I am going to wait at least 10 years before I drink another.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/14/2022 - dharrison93 Likes this wine: 100 Points
Brilliant++. Drank BTG following a fantastic dinner at Taillevent.
In the 20 years since release, this is my benchmark for perfection, being an enveloping fog of pleasure.
Beguiling nose of apricot with layer upon layer of passion fruit, creme and honey.
If a date, this was a 30 year old Goldman Sachs senior banker with a PhD in medieval history.
Easily another 10-20 years of vibrant pleasure.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
6/18/2022 - drwine2001 wrote:
Poured by the glass from a full bottle. Burnished light golden color. Soaring high toned perfume, light oak, and creme brûlée aromas. Very elegant weight and feel, moderate sweetness, and superb acidity. Not monumental by any means but discrete, long, and beautifully balanced. This impressed me much more than it did in 2015 and is evolving very slowly.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/5/2022 - Goldstone Likes this wine: 97 Points
Sunday Lunch - Greg & Sayo with friends (The Conservatory, Crown Wine Cellars, 18 Deep Water Bay Drive, Shouson Hill, Hong Kong): From 375ml. Served with lightly pan-fried foie gras. Very deep but bright-sparlkling and fresh honey yellow gold colour. WOW!....nose is immediately an Andy Warhol painting BLAM! Sensations of the purest honey poured into a tin of Dulux white emulsion paint. There are 10 planes of honey here....like a modernist painting. Palate is pure liquid gold...and immediately sends you plunging down Alice's rabbit hole into deep reveries. So many dimensions of dry and sllightly burnt honey and blow-torched apricots. Amazing length. 97 easy....which is an extremely high score for me and I think I was keeping my scores down today.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/14/2022 - Hugo Hilde wrote: 99 Points
From 375
Mein Gott, this was something else.
Absolutely flawless, perfectly made. The only reason I am giving a stingy 99 is for personal preference, not my favourite wine category but an absolute privilege to experience.
Very much agree with professional reviews, I dont have much to add.
Must be tried to be believed..
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/11/2022 - Andybe wrote: 94 Points
Like Cosmo (Vincent Gardenia) said in the movie Moonstruck about the fiancé ( Danny Aiello) of his daughter (cher)…he’s just a baaabbbyyy. So let it be for another 20 years. Better watch the movie. Or take the 1983 cause that one is superb !!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/3/2022 - winot Likes this wine: 94 Points
Medium to medium deep gold/orange. Huge creme brulee and toffee nose. Fruit is of the dried mango and lychee variety. The palate is sweet and unctuous, but a razor wire of acidity keeps it focused. Smoky nuances, biscuit. Really saturates the palate, with a 90 second finish. Great wine.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/31/2022 - Montesquieu Likes this wine: 100 Points
Austin 3-star food + wine; 1/30/2022-1/31/2022 (Our residence, Austin, TX): I love Yquem and think this vintage is as good as it gets. Sauternes perfection for me.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/1/2022 - kr522 wrote: 95 Points
Out of 375….I can’t yet give it the superstar score that others are giving. The bouquet is a little stubborn, and the palate is promising with its depth and dimension, but the complexity is not quite there. I see 3 years ago I called this tight, and it still hasn’t blossomed. If I were buying something to drink today it’s a no brainer to go with something older
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
12/30/2021 - Topper wrote: 100 Points
Perfect
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/28/2021 - PKim Likes this wine: 95 Points
Bought 6
Drank 1 but darkest in colour of the 6 bottles.
Lovely drink but I suspect the others will be fresher and better condition
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/22/2021 - Cailles wrote: 97 Points
Annual Xmas Lunch (incl. Yquem 01): From a half bottle. This legendary vintage of Yquem showed amazing with the perfect sweetness/freshness combo, an already quite complex aroma profile which will only improve with more age and superb precision. This bottle didn’t show as complex as other bottles of this before but maybe we just had too much wine already or it would have needed a proper decant.
TN: Medium+ expressive nose full of saffron, spices, peach and citrus fruits. Intense and very precise and inviting. On the palate this is very impressive with a towering but perfectly round acidity, perfectly-integrated cutting through the rainbow of sweet fruit aromas from tropical to orchard fruit. Additional layers of saffron and minerality and citrus fruit. Perfect balance with the right amount of creaminess. Weightless feel.
Decanting: Not decanted. Needed a bit of air to start to shine. I would decant it for at least 1 hour.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/14/2021 - sirpat00 wrote: 97 Points
Tasted blind (and nailed it). Tons of saffron, caramel, burned sugar. Amazing intensity with precise, thick layers of nuts, candid fruit (apricot, peach, quince) and aging notes reminding me of leather even. A perfect combo of freshness and creaminess leads into an endless finish. The intensity, aroma profile, texture and sweetness are very consistent with how 2001 Sauternes drinks today (which is amazing). That said this could probabaly do with another 5 years of cellaring before even coming close to its peak. At this point still feels a bit too sticky amd fat.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/5/2021 - Dave Canada wrote: 95 Points
So young...so great....
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/4/2021 - S1 Likes this wine:
Chas Offlineorama VI, Another embarrassment of riches; 11/3/2021-11/7/2021 (Various locations): A baby but already delicious. All honey, candied orange and apricot, not tons of acid but just enough to cut the sweetness. Could be a monster
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/4/2021 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Charleston VI; 11/3/2021-11/7/2021 (Charleston, SC (various locations)): Not often we get to drink this vintage but there is a reason it has the reputation that it has. It's still a child 20 years later. Very light and bright and the earlier sweetness like orange blossom and honeysuckle. Finish that goes forever. Beautiful wine.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/20/2021 - Wine Warrior 1 Likes this wine: 97 Points
Never disappoints. Enjoyed sharing it with Poker Club dinner.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/7/2021 - Libbidog wrote: 100 Points
Appearance
The wine is medium amber.
Nose
The wine exhibits developing medium aromas of honey, dried apricot, dried peach, orange zest, preserved lemon, and brown sugar.
Palate
The wine is lusciously sweet with a full body, high acid, medium alcohol, exhibiting pronounced flavors of honey, dried apricot, fig, orange, preserved lemon, and brown sugar with a LONG finish….still tasting it after 4 minutes. Insane.
Conclusion
The quality of this wine is exceptional. It is wonderful to drink now along side a cheesecake or crime brûlée and berries, but it certainly has the structure to age and develop well for decades to come. What a treat. Not sure how a wine gets any better. Life and wine are good!
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/31/2021 - Jeff Leve wrote: 100 Points
Honey, flowers, apricots, pineapples and spice might be what you initially notice. But it is the compelling balance between the incredible levels of richness, sweet honey-slathered yellow fruits and blazing acidity that rocks your glass! Still a baby, this is probably going to be a 100-year wine!
7 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/19/2021 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Compared to the 1996, this was showing bright and youthful.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/27/2021 - csimm wrote: 100 Points
Vice Versa weekend and dinner: Honeyed apricot, lemon succulence, the ripest peach you’ve ever had, clementine, wet flowers, lemon verbena, and a mélange of herbs all make for the most impressive of Sauternes known to the free world. Pair it with seared foie and you have the most amazing “traditional” pairing you could ever ask for. “I’ve died and gone to Heaven” was uttered more than once by many a partaker that night. Drink now and feel like a million bucks!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (4)
7/24/2021 - Cristal2000 Likes this wine: 100 Points
Vice Versa Wine Dinner: What can I say? Best dessert wine ever? Honey and peaches paired with vibrant and energetic lemon pie and stark wet stone. Powerfully concentrated but totally light on its feet, this shows ridiculous freshness that tastes like it was bottled yesterday. Masterfully balanced, with great minerality, the wine stuns and finishes like a locomotive, with layer after layer of satisfaction.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
7/14/2021 - BROpus One Likes this wine: 97 Points
So fresh and wonderful. This already drinks well and we know it will age forever. Light golden color with explosive nose of apricots, orange, honey etc. Just amazing on the palate and silky finish. Had side by side with an 88 and preferred the 2001.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/11/2021 - Geoff7777 wrote:
Burnished gold in colour. Roasted pineapple and coconut oak, the nose first seems advanced as it takes time to uncoil in the glass. The boom! Amazing complexity unfurls over time, and all the flavour descriptors provided on this page by other notes appear in one form or another. The essence of “Power without weight”. Glorious wine, a great d'Yquem and worthy of its reputation. Thank you TY 19.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/11/2021 - Peech Likes this wine: 96 Points
from half bottle. orange blossom, honey, nutty, honeydew melon, lychee honey. Fucking beautiful.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/13/2021 - Handy1 Likes this wine: 97 Points
Chateau d'yquem 2001 tasting note:
97 points. Sex In a bottle. Smells like lemon apricots. Tastes like a perfect mixture of citrus with brown sugar, marzipan with a very long finish. Really good. Perfect ending to a great wine dinner. Thankyou Lloyd!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/7/2021 - Fuel55 Likes this wine: 100 Points
This is the first perfect rating I have ever given. Absolutely perfect wine - perfect balance, immensely long, delicate yet intense. Integrated, balanced and did I mention insanely long? So rich, so fruity. Sweet but not too sweet. Hints of everything - nothing dominating. Seamless.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/1/2021 - fizz wrote:
From 375ml.
Luminous gold. Lifted aromas of citrus, honey, botrytis. In the mouth the feeling is of opulence and luxury. Everything is harmonious, and in such balance. A decadent treat.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/10/2021 - Oscaro Likes this wine: 96 Points
Best of the best: Sista vinet under en helt fantastisk kväll. Mörk bärnstensfärgad med en otrolig doft. Det är varm saffran, kryddigt och moget. Enormt expansiv doft som efter ett tag påminner lite om calvados.
Den smakar mindre mogen än färgen och doften ger intryck av.
Mycket saffran i munnen också, fylligt och kraftigt och samtidigt extremt välbalanserat. Massor av persika, krämigt med mycket honung. Ett nästintill perfekt vin som kan få ytterligare något poäng om något årtionde.
96-97
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/4/2021 - Sacramento Geezer Likes this wine:
Easter afternoon dinner with ex seemed good time to pull this out to start with our soup, salad and turkey casserole, much like the French might do, I’ve read.
A class of it’s own, truly for slow sipping and savoring. Richer and creamier than other Sauternes. Even better the next day.
Still, I enjoyed moving to the red Burgundy as the casserole continued, at one-tenth the price.
Great once in a lifetime taste. Would be nice to try one really aged but this will have to do for me.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/20/2021 - melzar wrote: 95 Points
From 375: Very good Sauterne. A wine this highly rated by pundits and Cellartracker contributors is a setup for disappointment. If I had not seen the label, I might have rated it lower. 100 point wine? I don't think so, but still very good, if, perhaps not worth the price. I'm not a real connoisseur of Sauterne, but I find bottles at 1/4 of the price just as good. Highly extracted with great botrytis, and the expected citrus, brown sugar, and honey notes on the palate. Glad I had the opportunity to drink it. Enough acidity to provide balance. Long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/5/2021 - Miceri Likes this wine:
No notes taken. Lovely.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/16/2021 - Sundbyberg wrote: 98 Points
A second time with this wine, and this time half a glass.
What a wonderful wine, close to perfection and it stays in the mouth for hours after the glass is empty.
This time the bottle was fresh from the cellar, and this was the first glass from the bottle (coravin) so a bit younger this time.
I would say wait 3-5 year.
Previously 1997, 1999, 2006, 2007 vintages of this wine.
My third Sauternes 2001 and certainly a great vintage for this district.
Previously from 2001: Château Rieussec (97) and Château Suduiraut (97).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/9/2021 - Bob Bimon Likes this wine: 98 Points
Det perfekta vinet? Vi har inte druckit tillräckligt med Sauternes, eller ens söta viner, för att avgöra. Kan dock inte komma på något vi vill förändra. Fantastisk doft och helt balanserat. Sätter det högsta betyget hittills. Det här är bra. Vi håller nog inte med om åsikten att "ett så bra vin alltid är prisvärt". Dock kul att prova hypen såklart.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/27/2020 - baxter67 Likes this wine: 100 Points
Half hour decant. 14 degrees C. Perfect. Words fail me!! ******
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/25/2020 - Sundbyberg wrote: 100 Points
Small taste: A very complex nose and an equally complex palate. Seems to be in a perfect spot for drinking.
Previously 1997, 1999, 2006, 2007 vintages of this wine.
My third Sauternes 2001 and certainly a great vintage for this district.
Previously from 2001: Château Rieussec (97) and Château Suduiraut (97).
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/30/2020 - zimmy07 Likes this wine: 100 Points
perfect, no other way to say it. I have had this before and it is evolving and getting better. Honey, crème Brule, baked apples. Not as much viscosity as years back. Still has decades and this wine in 20 years would have me crying to mama, but last night a tear or two formed as not very often does a perfect wine show up.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/30/2020 - drjb Likes this wine: 100 Points
Wine Group Dinner #179, Harvey's Restaurant, Brisbane. 2005 Right Bank Major Growths. the 2001 Yquem remains a stunning wine of rich golden colour and a 'forever' nose of preserved peaches, apricot and cumquat jam, pineapple tarte tatin, leatherwood honey and creme caramel. The palate is a treat of the same flavours but with afine acid and tannic grip that gives poise and length to the beautiful finish. This a great Yquem that justifies all the praise written and spoken to it.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/27/2020 - Rodenbach99 Likes this wine: 97 Points
Superbe liquide jaune dorée pâle, le vin a à l'oeil une longue vie devant lui. Il nous acceuille avec un beau botrytis avec des pêches confites, miel et sirop d'érable. La bouche est parfaitement équilibrée. Une franche acidité vient balancer le sucre et le botrytis. La finale est interminable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/14/2020 - aquacongas wrote: 96 Points
blind
not my cup of tea anymore but really impressive and well drinkable. Dried fruts but the fresh elements are dominat. Great acidity. Will survive me for sure. 96+
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/7/2020 - NoTrollingerPlease Likes this wine: 96 Points
A relaxed afternoon with two crazy guys (@Private location, Solingen): Glass: Zalto Universal
Popped and poured from half bottle. How do you approach the highest rated wine in CellarTracker? Glowing medium amber color. Warm, balanced, fine and deep nose with some volatile acidity. We should have decanted the bottle.
You need to drink Yquem with a certain temperature. If you drink it to cold as we initially did, it is “just” a good Sauternes. If gets the right temperature (around 12 degree Celsius) it starts to open up and develops an unbelievable depth, pressure and length. So fine, elegant, multi-layered and complex. The length is almost NEVER.ENDING. Absolutely fantastic, but IMHO not yet at its full peak. 96-97++
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/3/2020 - jdtonic Likes this wine: 97 Points
from .375
bright gold into deep gold
early nose of botrytis, leaded gasoline and lemon oil
She darkens noticeably with some swirling and the petrol blows off into beeswax, botrytis infused pineapple, apricot jam, honey, yellow rose and marzipan.
Early palate of mulling-spiced cider, grilled pineapple, botrytis, lemon oil, apricot, white pepper and, indeed, both the flavor and heat sensation of jalapeño jelly! Very, very tasty, and longer than either of us have patience to explore..
"Settling into" a nose of grilled pineapple, honey-roasted almonds, marzipan and fresh golden apple.
I think i put my glass down 2 minutes ago, and she isn't finished as a cornucopia (in the main listed above but with other nuts/spices) of fruits including cinnamon, mango ,,, ends in my mouth at 3.5 minutes with the smell of new Pirelli tires crushing wasp-apples...
(end day 1)
..ok, the half sip left in glass (no longer) was a very distinct blend of lemongrass and vanilla bean.
97
June 4, 2020.
Day 2 starts with amber-tinged gold, like mildly occluded yellow diamonds.
Nose of Pledge (lemon oil, verbena, furniture polish, propellant) In Toto, canned peaches, and ... wait for it... BOTRYTIS! Actually this is somewhat unusual in my experience. Someone earlier commented that they sensed "finest botrytis." I am forced to echo.
After a swirl, she's just the peaches (in sweet syrup) and the polish on the nose. Ahhh, polish gives way to pineapple and that apricot tart.
Silky mouthfeel odd in a beverage with the consistency of 5W-30, very nice acidity here--and all honey, peach syrup and noble rot on the tongue. A little weaker, relative to her nose, are her gulp flavors, this evening. More yellow rose and
honeysuckle on the nose with air..
The flavors work up, but a bland note -- like the flavor of the actual rose petal if chewed, seems to "clip" her finish. (clipped at a minute -ish)
My gosh, hard to not swig this down. Her sediment is actually sugar! A little whiff of brine on the palate this sediment. [Indeed it is nearly pure sugar.]
The last smell into the split is very yellow and woodsy, and boasts the most lifted aromas of canned peaches, lemongrass, and ---- vanilla inflected-----* ---BOTRYTIS.***
97
Hold
(got peach crême brulée clearing my glass.)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/29/2020 - gouldcampbell77 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Dark orange gold - the colour of slightly tarnished new copper. On the nose, lots of botrytis, barley sugar, honeycomb and a hint of somthing spirity. Paraffin? So far so good and after a sip, I'm lost for words. I don't know English well enough to describe the mouthfilling unctuousness of this wine that seems to coat every corner of the palate leaving a numbing, tingling sensation. Impossibly sweet and full, but finishing clean and dry. How do they do that?
This is my first d'Yquem and ok, I get it. It's like the refined essence of Sauternes. Take any sweet wine you've ever drunk and ratchet everything up by a factor of ten and you will arrive here. I don't know enough about Sauternes to say whether this is ready or not but as Jeff Leve says, "who cares?" It's delicious now. Will it get better? I have no idea. My one concern is that it may be a little too sweet and unctious for me. It just seems to lack the balancing acidity and definition I look for in a sweet wine.
Day 2. Having finished the 2nd half of a half bottle, I don't think this wine is for me. Yes it's absolutely amazing etc etc but I can't help feeling that it's just too concentrated and too sweet for me - like drinking liquid honey. I'm glad I have tasted it and I'll tick it off my '100 wines to try before you die' list but to be honest I'd rather be drinking a top Tokaji at a third of the price. Sorry.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (3)
5/26/2020 - Cailles wrote: 97 Points
With a bit of air this Yquem shows unbelievably complex with no cloying sweetness but a lot of freshness and spiciness. A dream to drink today and certainly with a long, long bright future ahead. Clearly one of the best sweet wines I’ve ever had and for me a reminder that I shouldn’t neglect this category that much and only pop a bottle at the end of long dinners when the taste buds are tired and everybody is full. 97-98 points with more upside in the future.
TN: At first some unwanted chemical smells which quickly blew off. Super complexity with a very broad aroma spectrum of the finest boytritis, saffron, apricot, quince, lots of citric fruits, peach, apple, nutty notes and a great spiciness. Every sip revealed a new nuance here. There is sweetness but well kept in balance thanks to perfect acidity, citrus freshness and the spiciness. Very good concentration and length.
Decanting: A short 30 minutes decant should do the job.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/8/2020 - sirpat00 Likes this wine: 98 Points
Tasted blind - and immediately blown away. The saffron really gave away the Yquem! But there was also nutty, lemon grass, lots of spices, candid spices, honey, bee wax, and initially some chemical notes boosting the complexity. Another testament to Yquem's next to none standing in the sweet wine universe - even before taking a sip! On the palate an incredible combination of honey sweetness and fresh acidity. This is absolutely fabulous, but - yes there is a "but" - the crisp acidity and more detailed profile of the 2015 has been imprinted for eternity in my brain and against that otherworldly benchmark this wasn't a 100% match.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/27/2020 - Jeff Leve wrote: 100 Points
OK, this is too young. But it is so incredibly good, who cares? The array of roasted nuts with cashews and almonds leading the pack were perfect with the roasted, overripe, sweet, honey-coated pineapple. vanilla, marzipan and apricots. Rich, sweet, intense and unctuous, but due to the bolt of racy acidity, the wine was never cloying or tiring to drink. Two of us managed to polish off a split on a hot afternoon. The only issue was, it was too bad we didn't have a full-bottle, so we could have enjoyed some the next day.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/13/2020 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine: 96 Points
PnP - This wine wasn't quite up to par with the 2009 Yquem. It certainly seems to have the stuffing to surpass the 2009, but not quite there. As this is the only '01 Yquem I have tasted, I will chalk it up to bottle variation. Still a damn good bottle of wine, and one of the finest Sauternes I have tasted. Better than the "01 Reiussec and '01 Suduiraut, which are both excellent Sauternes, and on par with the excellent '01 Climens. The nose was excellent, with a slight whiff of petrol that blew off quickly, then honeysuckle, stone fruit, including peaches and apricots, dominated the nose, On the palate, complex mixtures of stone fruits, mango, poached pears and allspice, with a super-long finish! Definitely a great Sauternes, but this bottle was not quite up to par with the superb 2009! 96+ today
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/10/2020 - Jeremy Holmes wrote:
Fabulous nose of honey, apricot, cinnamon and vanilla. It is complex, rich, layered and oh so fresh. Everything is perfect and it has length to burn. A great, great Yquem that is still just a pup.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/8/2020 - LB88 wrote: 95 Points
Still early in the drinking cycle! Could get a whole lot better with age.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/23/2020 - For the Love of Wine Likes this wine: 96 Points
Cult Wines (Jason's House): The night ended with a wine I was definitely looking forward to tasting....the 2001 Yquem. I have had several vintages of Yquem, and I have also had several stellar 2001 Sauternes/Barsacs, including Climens, Rieussec, and Suduiraut. So needless to say, my expectations were sky high for my first 2001 Yquem. Sad to say I was disappointed (I know, disappointed in a 99 point wine, right??). I was expecting a new benchmark for Sauternes....now it could be my extraordinary high expectations, or it could be it wasn't the bottle, or could just be the wine was over-hyped....regardless, it was a damn good wine! Like all Yquems, it strikes that perfect balance sweetness and acidity, and between power and elegance...the perfect blend. On the nose, you get honeysuckle, poached pear, apricot preserves, lemon creme pie, and a whiff of petrol. On the palate you get layers of creamy cheesecake, pot de creme, stone fruits, pear, melon, Meyers lemon, butterscotch, vanilla and sweet oak, and, as other reviewers have stated, a finish that goes on and on! For comparison, I thought this was better than any of the other 2001 mentioned and was probably only bested by a magnificent 2009 Yquem, which I expect may change with another bottle or more time! We will see...for now, it is close, but not quite, perfect, which was a disappointment.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/23/2020 - Barry Rothof wrote: 98 Points
Selosse | 1996 Auslese | 1949 Les Amoureuses | 2001 d'Yquem (Restaurant Vineum, Rotterdam): Wow!! Layered complexity, superb concentrated and very delicious, with dried candied fruits as orange and apricot. Perfect balance, powerful and still very young!!!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/22/2020 - galewskj wrote: 97 Points
"Cult Wines" (Jason's House): Keep in mind that this wine was the 10th of the night for the 6 of us, so I may be spitballing here. The expectation was high for this wine, and it had that Yquem quality in spades. I just don't know that it surpassed many of the other experiences I've had with this producer from less heralded vintages. In fact, a 2009 seemed much more compelling a few years ago. I'm going to chaulk this up to a crazy high expectation and already being underserved. (If you're keeping track, I'm explaining why I ONLY scored this a 97).
Onto the good stuff. Elegance on top of elegance, nothing out of place. What a glorious nose, it is singing to you. You have all the usual suspects from a Sauternes, orange peel, stone fruits, baking spice, brulee, burnt sugar, caramel. What is so fascinating about the best Sauternes producers (or those that got lucky in a good year) is how it is all seemlessly integrated that you have to work to hunt down a distinct flavor. Seemless... just not the best Sauternes I've ever had, which was my expectation.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/20/2020 - rocknroller wrote: 97 Points
"Cult Wines" & a Few Others (Jason P's, St. Paul, MN): Medium dark golden color. Drank a glass over 45 minutes. I think galewskj nailed it when he referenced expectations. There's certainly a lot of hype around this wine and I was excited to try one. This does hit the early part of the mid drinking window for me for Sauternes. The wine was too cold when it was served and that dulled things early on. Gentle warming in hand made a big difference as this slowly blossomed in glass. This has such intensity on the palate, it really does. Peach, marmalade, cream, white blossoms, honey, lovely spice on the nose. The palate really stands out, so creamy, elegance galore, peach, orange panna cotta, orange marmalde, wonderful spice, honey, creme brulee, long and wonderfully silky and creamy with excellent lift and acidity. Always the mark of d'Yquem, this is so impeccably balanced. Is it better than the other great '01's I've had, certainly not head and shoulders, but probably just a hair ahead of the other big guns at this point. A great wine and it will be fun to see where this goes. 96+ to 97pts.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
1/6/2020 - Vinum Deorum wrote: 93 Points
Good but not great. I really don't get the fuss about this so-called perfect Yquem. Have had much more pleasure with the amazing 88, 89 and 90, and with the gorgeous 97.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/16/2019 - acyso wrote: 98 Points
Sauternes study (Chicago, IL): This is another of those wines that is just flirting with perfection and hasn't attained it yet simply on account of youth. This is as kaleidoscopic as it comes, with a mix of both tropical fruits as well as your more typical stone fruits. Layered complexity and a shimmering peacock's tail of a finish that lasts as long as any other wine. Fabulously concentrated, this is one of those wines that has everything and will show it as long as you're willing to put in the effort. At the same time, this is also just a viscerally delicious wine, though the sweetness does make it hard to take down a good glass of it in one sitting. I am extremely excited to see where this goes with time.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/31/2019 - DrZett wrote: 92 Points
Not as good as I remembered it from last year. Great structure and nice fruity notes (peach, cantaloupe, citrus) but it felt a little closed down in the moment. I wouldn’t touch this for the next 10 years it definitely needs more time. (Drank at Noble Rot Wine Bar in London from 0.75 bottle.)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/27/2019 - Greg Munyard Likes this wine: 99 Points
Goodness me - this extraordinary wine is even better than before! Our generous hosts (thanks, Patrick) served a 750 ml bottle with strawberries and vanilla ice cream, which it complemented beautifully - but just trivialised. So compelling was it that It drew one person to say that you could drink it with anything. A powerful yet exquisite and delicious masterpiece, it changed the course of a fantastic lunch for 4, it was such an attention-grabbing tour de force. Even my wife, who normally doesn't drink a lot of stickies, was captivated - arm out-stretched at every reload.
First impressions are of lusciously sweet yet exquisitely complex flavours, of remarkable concentration. Lip-lickingly beautiful; descriptors include dried apricots, honey, mango, pineapple, orange blossom, a beautiful hint of muskiness, and lots more. Nice as they are, however, they simply don't do the combination justice.
Only Yquem has the remarkable and distinctive flavour combination (plus or minus in particular vintages) that brings so much admiration. (It was even obvious in a remarkable bottle of the 1900 that our same host kindly provided last year). And only Yquem has that perfect palate 'attack', characterised here with a nice musky thread, and good palate grip, tying together the rich and luscious sweetness. I'm surprised more people don't comment on this lift, which I assume has come from deft oak handling. It's in every Yquem but in the 01 is in perfect balance, along with the perfect fruit-acid balance of the great 2001 vintage.
As if that weren't enough, then there's the after-taste. (The word 'finish' is inadequate to describe it as it implies something much shorter). You'll find yourself looking for new words of approval many minutes after each taste, such is the persistence of the flavours. Put it all together and you have an experience - rightly revered as one the world's greatest wines and, for me, the greatest dessert wine I have ever drunk.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/14/2019 - _water.into.wine_ Likes this wine:
More details to follow. Amber, orange and brown hues.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/13/2019 - Fausto_Coppi Likes this wine: 96 Points
Extremely luscious sauternes with rich peachy and citrus fruit, bucket loads of marzipan adds complexity and rich, botrysized finish makes for an outstanding wine
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/3/2019 - BradE wrote:
Truly one of the great vintages. A beautiful Sauternes.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/28/2019 - aquacongas wrote: 96 Points
blind, Gabriel standard, half bottle
It started a bit slow, alcoholic and broad. We had it firstly side by side with the Maximin Grünhaus and foie gras but we drank it 3 hours later with the dessert and then it showed his beauty and elgance. dried candied fruits as orange, apricot but the tertiary aromas didn't evolve yet. At the end really precise and more balanced. 96
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/27/2019 - Bigtuna Likes this wine: 98 Points
Outstanding wine, all the hype is true. Definitely improved after an hour. Apricot, orange, peach. 98 now and probably 100 in future
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/9/2019 - LWI wrote: 100 Points
60-års dag og blinsmaking: Bøyer meg i støvet. Latterlig balansert og kompleks, fantastisk intensitet, lag på lag av krydderdominerte smaker, frisk. Har hatt noen ikke så overbevisende flasker de senere årene, fra halvformat, her var den tilbake i storform.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/25/2019 - glou.sf Likes this wine: 99 Points
The nose is out of this world! Sweet peach, oranges, and candies emerge from the glass. It was super complex and deep and evolved over the course of an hour. Lovely palate with good acidity and flavors of ripe orange and sweet fruit. Very long finish. This is very close to perfection, what a treat! 99-100
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/9/2019 - chatters wrote:
New Zealand micro trip; 5/6/2019-5/9/2019 (North Island, New Zealand): Seville orange and lime marmalade with apricot compote, cream, the tiniest smidge of vanilla. On the palate it's sweet but with the purest acid line, ridiculously long, the aromas on the nose are reflected on the palate with some orange peel as well as a little sweet spice. Cripes.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/17/2019 - Jeremy Holmes wrote:
Complex aromatics of apricot, honey, lavender, coconut ice and vanilla. Awesome concentration and sweetness, perfectly balanced by the wines minerally acidity. A powerful, luscious and intense Yquem of superb proportion, length and class.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/8/2019 - patwjr Likes this wine: 100 Points
From a 375. Decanted for 2 1/2 hours, rebottled & recorked, then opened & drank 4 hours later. Full-bodied, sweet tropical fruits, honey, still powerful and will be long lasting. Amazing & everyone loved it!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/18/2019 - Jeff Leve wrote: 100 Points
Not even close to mature, but who cares? This is so good. Unctuous, fresh, concentrated, sweet and complex, the endless layers of ripe, very ripe, and overripe apricots, pineapples, and assorted tropical fruits all slather with honey is a show stopper! But that would not be possible without all of the wines concentration and the blazing bolt of acidity that gives the wine the fuel it needs to jump up, and keep on going. Drink this now, or leave it for your kids in 50 years, or your grandchildren in 100 years. It's that good!
9 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/24/2019 - Elkcims Likes this wine: 99 Points
Decadent, superlative. Agree with DCWINO Notes of Dec 2018. Enjoyed from a split over two nights and thought it was better the second night.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/11/2019 - Dinamarca wrote: 98 Points
Fremragende! Lækker, blød, rund og dejlig sødme, der er flot styret af en let syre. Perfekt balance og 100p hos Parker. Honning, ristede nødder, abrikos, citrus i en eftersmag, der bare fortsætter og fortsætter.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2018 - UFGators Likes this wine: 100 Points
This is mind blowing stuff. Sweet without being overwhelming this wine is massively concentrated and packed with so much complexity every sip reveals something different. I paired this with some homemade cheesecake but this wine is rich enough to be Served in its own as the desert. I can’t wait to see what this bottle reveals with more age as it is just a baby every at 18 years of age.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
12/21/2018 - dcwino wrote: 98 Points
Holiday Dinner - Champ, Burg, Piedmont, Rayas and a ringer, Bordeaux and etc. (Officina - Washington D.C.): It has shed opulent primary fruit. Perfectly balanced nose displaying decadent yet pure yellow fruit, apricot tart, peach preserve, dry mango, candied orange peel, ginger candy, crème brulee, strong saffron and honey, vanilla, and spicy spices. There is a hint of red currant. Beautifully integrated energetic palate, layers upon layers of slightly dry concentrated sweet yellow fruit, incredibly intense and oily yet also pure and weightless, bright acidity, good mineral presence and the finish that lasts over a minute with strong saffron and candied ginger at the end. We all agree that this will outlive all of us. A great way to end the perfect evening.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/25/2018 - BordeauxNut wrote: 97 Points
One of many wines at a post-Thanksgiving dinner. Served with a Torchon of duck foie gras and onion jam, which was a great pairing to start things off. A very complete wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/25/2018 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote: 97 Points
The other notes pretty well say it. Endless descriptors of complexity, length, and depth. Obscenely sweet with the acidic structure to take it next level. No end in sight here (20-30 years...).
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/18/2018 - Cailles wrote: 95 Points
We wanted to see what all the fuzz is about with this 2001 and it is indeed a great wine. The aromatic complexity is off the charts, the precision and energy is amazing, the finish is endless and the acidity perfectly keeps everything fresh and light. Why not a higher score then? Maybe it was the setting on a cruise ship, with high humidity and a “few” cocktails during the day... Others in the group, however, we‘re completely blown away („best sweet wine I‘ve ever had“).
TN: The nose was without fault but didn’t reveal too much, but then comes the first sip and a rainbow of aromas hit your palate from stone fruits like peach, apricot, nectarines to tropical fruits like pineapple, lychee, citrus, orange, to quince, honey, some hints of creme brûlée and even some floral and smoke aromas. The complexity and precision are amazing and so is the long long finish. Soft texture not too sweet not heavy at all thanks to a perfectly integrated vivid acidity.
Decanting: Drank from a half bottle. No decant needed, was good from the get-go but probably the nose would have been better with a long decant.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/5/2018 - logos Likes this wine: 92 Points
lovely pale gold colour. rather lighter body than expected. extraordinary delicacy and bright, sparkling highlights in nose with a rush of harmoniously blended delicate creamy, apricot, citrus, almond, and floral notes; less VA than usual. very sweet and a bit low in acidity. very racy, uncharacteristically sprightly, remarkably refined taste redolent of lime-flowers. exquisite balance and enormous length. needs at least 20 years to develop fully.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/2/2018 - DrZett wrote: 94 Points
Beautiful ripeness and great long finish. Definitely worth a try! Drank from half bottle at Hide restaurant London.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/2/2018 - andtheodor wrote: 95 Points
Tasted blind next to the 01 Suduiraut. While that was defined by its custardy richness, this was all about vivid detail, acidity, and energy. You could list descriptors all day, but I'll just say it was more pineapple than orange, and dynamic enough that you almost don't notice the sweetness until you've experienced everything else that's going on.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/11/2018 - Spargel Likes this wine: 91 Points
Overall disappointed: nose rather weak, improves on palate, but far from other ratings.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
10/6/2018 - Papies wrote: 100 Points
A gift of a dinner for Joao's 40th (The Papies, Elizabeth St, London): From half bottle. Where does one begin to discuss this wine... Frankly we discuss a lot over this and there was nowhere we could find a fault with it. The acidity is there, the energy, the ripe rich fruit, honey, light caramel beginning to emerge. Granted there is some stargazing when one drinks this wine and probably a feeling of "is that all" but really its just an effortless display of elegance. Nothing too much nothing too little. A perfect tune and a perfect wine. 100
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/4/2018 - fcxj wrote: 90 Points
Unctuous. Bracingly sweet.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/31/2018 - Aravind Asok wrote:
Les Deux 2018 (Chez Gill): Gorgeous. Thick and sticky, with beautiful sweetness, but not imo over the top. Got paired with a foie gras macaroon and a bacon ice cream, which worked pretty well together. The texture is amazing, somehow dense and weightless at the same time. A glorious bottle of sweet wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/10/2018 - jeduardoms Likes this wine: 100 Points
Perfect Sauternes!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/21/2018 - Jamie Manley wrote: 100 Points
I have had this wine a bunch of times and it is always perfect. A huge nose of botrytis, white peach, lanolin, cotton candy, Earl Grey, orange rind, apricot, and spice. One really could spend hours just sniffing and not even taking a sip. But a sip seals the deal, 01 Yquem is in a league of its own. The palate goes on and on with incredible precision. As with all great Yquem, the intensity is off of the charts. It is simply amazing how well this wine is coming along and it still has many decades to go. From 375, light golden color, and opened 24 hours in advance of service. 100 Pts
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/3/2018 - KenK Likes this wine: 100 Points
A DC Wino hits Chi-town (RPM Steak): From 375ml, still so young, exciting, and exotic. Aromas of rich creme brulee, soft and silky texture featuring a kaleidoscope of ripe fresh tropical fruits. Dense, creamy, and lush, yet still so vibrant. This will outlive anyone alive today. Clearly, one of the best Yquem vintages ever.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/3/2018 - jlgnml Likes this wine: 98 Points
Out of 375ml. Spectacular, honey, vibrant balance fruit with good acidity, should age gracefully. A real treasure.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/1/2018 - tinybubbles Likes this wine: 92 Points
From 375. Good acidity, but overall a lighter touch to this wine. Higher note tropicals than I expected with a dash of citrus. Will undoubtedly get better with time, I just don't know how much better. 92+
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/1/2018 - Goldstone Likes this wine: 98 Points
(From 375 ml). Deep glden bronzed copper colour. Nose is ten different interpretations of banana - especially the fresh over ripe kind and the baked kind - with subtle hints of getaway car smoking tyres.....you just can't stop sniffing this. Palate is a heavy initial mouthfeel of baklava pastry but it suddenly unfolds into 10+ different layers, each with its own unique character.....so hard to pin down because so much is happening. So rounded and complete....there is an incredible "Alice down the Rabbit Hole" sensation of burnished honey that is almost impossible to put into words. It finishes with a gentle but extremely powerful resonance in the mouth and in the head on the finish. This wine has an incredible copper-ish element that is like liquid gold and liquid honey too. Sensational....a truly iconic wine you feel priviliged to have drank.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/14/2018 - Red581 Likes this wine: 97 Points
Toronto winetasters Decanted 24 hrs before. Deep peach and honey on nose. Huge unctuous palate, rich and no where near ready. Slight bitterness on back, has not developed but will be wonderful in 10 years
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/18/2018 - kr522 wrote: 96 Points
Pineapple, apricots and creme brûlée, very promising but also very tight....more so than I remember in the past. I’d wait a few years, or decades if you have that luxury.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/16/2018 - Blake Brown Likes this wine:
2001 CHATEAU `d`YQUEM SAUTERNES- 750 ml; 80% Semillon, 20% Sauvignon Blanc; our group has been blessed to drink d`Yquem regularly throughout the years as many have bought and stored this for eons; we`ve had this vintage numerous times and all have been spectacular including this one; it had a light yellow gold hue and so inviting aromatics of floral and tropical notes along with a suggestion of some honeyed stone fruit; true to the nose, the taste profile is loaded and layered with pleasurable vanilla and honeyed pineapple, lemon zest, peach and apricot; a hallmark is its bright acidity and creamy rich full bodied texture. Wow!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/11/2018 - chbeaumont wrote: 97 Points
Burnished old gold; adolescent, lemon pith, burnt toffee, caramelised orange, penetrating; rich, powerful, intense to such an extent almost painful, yet with a relaxed texture providing poise; exquisite, lingering finish. A myriad of complexities making it difficult to pin down. Provides plenty of enjoyment now, but this should deliver over the next half century. Grand vin.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2017 - aquacongas Likes this wine: 99 Points
Magnum, Mehrfach getrunken, heute am stärksten. Nahezu perfekte Balance. Die Süße ist eindeutig im Hintergrund. Sie gibt dem Wein den nötigen Schmelz und Harmonie. Aprikosenkompott, minimal getrocknete Früchte wie Dattel und Feige, Honignoten noch ganz weit weg, keine überbordende Cremigkeit. Die messerscharfe Säure läßt ihn wie einen Balletttänzer daherschweben. Flasche zwei Tage offen, 99+, zweitstärkster Wein des Abends
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/11/2017 - BradE wrote:
This continues to inspire. I truly believe it is (and will be) one of the greats.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/12/2017 - Goldstone Likes this wine: 96 Points
Dinner at the White House (The White House, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong): From 375ml. Popped 'n Poured. Colour is burnished copper. Nose is immediate indecipherable melange of copper metal, crushed rock, red nail varnish, ripe pineapple creme brulee, Palate is so deep and rich - burnished pineapple, sweet honeysuckle, an impossible pureness of over-ripe peach, tons of botrytis, impossibly heady and endlessly long and reverberant inside the head on the finish. Stunning and silence-creating. But still lots of room to improve.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/10/2017 - Quiet Lion Likes this wine: 94 Points
From 375ml. Perfectly balanced d'Yquem as always, not much complexity but paired perfectly with Trader Joe's chocolate-covered orange slices. Cap to birthday dinner.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/31/2017 - sdr Likes this wine: 96 Points
As so often happens with a tasting of a variety of excellent red wines, the Yquem steals the show. What is so amazing about the ‘01 version is how compulsively drinkable it is at this toddler stage. The balance of fruit, sugar, acid and botrytis is perfect and when it fills out in the decades to come, it will clearly take its place in the pantheon of the greatest Yquems. Simply exquisite.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/27/2017 - Burgundy Al wrote: 98 Points
Wine Dinner Extravaganza (Mirabelle - Washington, DC): Dried apricot, caramelized pineapple, mango and dried coconut. So dense, so very long. Great now, so very energetic and exciting. This will last a generation or two.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/15/2017 - Goldstone Likes this wine: 96 Points
From a 350cl and the first time to revisit this in 5 years. Our host fell asleep so I got to drink two-thirds contemplatively. Deep orange gold colour. Nose is a blast of almond, apricot stones, confit apricot, warm rubber. Palate is thick, unctuous mouthfeel somewhat sugary marmalade but great lightening acidity and then a rolling sensation of unfolding summer flowers, honeysuckle, Deep burnt orange marmalade. Lovely acidic balance. Gosh, this gets really reverberant inside the head on the finish and is really long. Very contemplative. Lots of that signature Yquem botrytis. This wine departs from the mouth to the central vortex very quickly...like in 45 seconds. Absolutely fabulous and worth the high price of entry for a once-in-a-lifetime bucket list experience if you love wine and don't have wealthy friends. 96+
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/27/2017 - aagrawal wrote: 98 Points
'01 Yquem vs. Fargues; 9/27/2017-9/30/2017: From a 375. Color is light golden, as expected for the 2001 Yquem but lighter than other '01s; nose is highly aromatic, plenty of botrytis spice, honey, some vanilla, some cinnamon, complex even beyond fruit and spice with some sandalwood coming out with air; palate is explosive, full bodied, sweet but balanced by high tingly acidity throughout, certainly has a presence, plenty of white fruit, apricot, and orange marmalade throughout the midpalate, honeyed complexity; finish is long, both palate coating and fresh, persists for minutes. I bought this to replace a corked half I tried in an '01 Sauternes horizontal, and I was really looking forward to this data point. Since my last taste in 2012, the nose has really opened up and is much more aromatic, complex but not pure youthful tropical fruit any longer. The palate is still vibrant and intense, but still so well balanced that it's almost hard to isolate each individual flavor... rather just to absorb them all together. Superb sauternes and superb Yquem; I would place this at just beyond youthful immaturity to early adolescence but not anywhere near maturity... this still needs a decade or two to get anywhere close to its potential. For now it is excellent, but the 01 Fargues (well stored) and the 01 Suduiraut (especially the Suduiraut...) get 95+% of the way there for a small fraction of the price. 97-99+
Of note, compared to recent top vintages like the 2011, the style of Yquem has changed to a lighter bodied wine. This just seems more substantial (still fresh due to its high acidity) than the recent vintages which seem more elegant and Barsac-like.
Update: I'm always struck by how similar Yquem and Fargues are. This 01 Yquem has just a faint hint of bitterness on the palate that I call a citrus pith or a grapefruit bitterness. Fargues generally has much more and I think it's their trademark. It's much more subtle in Yquem, but it's there.
Day 2: Largely the same as yesterday. Nose has subtle complexity, and the palate still has explosion of flavor including most prominently orange marmalade, and plenty of acidity. A landmark wine, but for most casual drinkers of Sauternes this is probably overkill. I let this sit out in a glass for 4 hours and it was completely unchanged.
Day 4: Overall unchanged, but I paired this with a simple sugar snap pea dish, and it came alive even more. Every sip just a melange of complexity, balanced with the crispness of the sauteed sugar snap peas. I rarely pair Yquem with food, but I have to say with this pairing, it tastes like a perfect wine. Perfect balance, perfect complexity, perfect richness and acidity. Still expensive, but worth trying once (or a few times...) in your life. 100
Compared to 01 Fargues (From half, opened fresh today): On the nose, the Fargues is actually more aromatic and more advanced. By comparison, the Yquem has more complexity but is more reserved, and far younger. On the palate, the Yquem is far younger, and in comparison seems almost too young (whereas by itself it seemed approachable). The Yquem has more youthful pure fruit on the palate, even a bit of melon and tropical fruit that I didn't get by itself, whereas the Fargues is a bit less sweet, a bit more citrus pith, and a bit less complex (only in comparison to the Yquem, it's still a super-complex Sauternes). Overall, the style is very similar with superb balance and lovely citrus notes (and actually the '01 Fargues reminds me of the '88 Yquem now), so I expect that the '01 Yquem will develop in that direction over 2 decades. For drinking now, the Fargues pairs better with a broader array of foods (because the sweetness is more integrated), and it will take at least a decade or two for the Yquem to enter the same window. Pricing was $60-70/half for the Fargues and $350-400/half for the Yquem.
Day 5: Similar to my comparison yesterday to the Fargues. A tad more reticent on the nose right now, but makes up for it in additional complexity. With age, this will be even more spectacular.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/26/2017 - DrinkBordeaux wrote: 95 Points
From a 750. Interesting to compare this with previous tasting experiences with half bottles. This one appeared younger, with more viscosity and lower acidity. There's still the beautiful tropical fruits and honey. The mouthfeel and finish are just incredible. This will only continue to improve over the coming decades. I look forward to trying this numerous times over the upcoming decades.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/30/2017 - scott w Likes this wine: 99 Points
Words cannot tell you how great this wine is. Rich/elegant perfectly balanced.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/2/2017 - Vinum Deorum wrote: 95 Points
A delicious Yquem, while not at the level I was expecting a hundred pointer. Drunk from a 0.375 L. Needs to age.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/25/2017 - Topper wrote: 98 Points
Great wine. Nuff said.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/16/2017 - ricknat1 wrote: 96 Points
pure elegance
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/8/2017 - AllRed wrote: 97 Points
Supper with Futronic (Osteria Langhe, Chicago): From 375ml. Apricot, honey, violets and lifted floral notes giving way to pear liqueur, quince and spice. Gorgeous honeyed fruit on the palate. Amazing concentration but with good acidity, this remains bright and focused. Wonderful lingering finish.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/20/2017 - Quiet Lion Likes this wine: 95 Points
Monthly Men's Wine Dinner (Steve and Martha's house): I've enjoyed every d'Yquem I've tried and this 100-point vintage is the best in my memory. Perfect sweetness, flavor, everything. I'm not a dessert wine fan but the hype is real.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/14/2017 - acyso wrote: 98 Points
The Yquem dinner (Chicago, IL): This was the most different of the Yquem that we opened tonight, largely because it was so damn young. Very, very sweet, but the amount of stuffing here is next-level. This is simply a massive wine that won't let up. The finish goes on for minutes. However, this doesn't have as much of those classic orange peel, brown sugar and spice notes that you might expect from Sauternes. I think it's just not old enough yet. This is still fully primary. Decant, if this is to be opened now, for a very, very long time.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/29/2017 - KSWinegeek wrote: 98 Points
So rich, creamy, complicated and delicious without being cloyingly sweet. Just outstanding
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/24/2017 - KenK Likes this wine: 100 Points
Big Boy Bordeaux Spring Dinner (Morton's Northbrook): A perfect wine, aging at a glacial pace even from this 375 ml. Rich sweet profile of apples, peach, banana, and pineapple in the center of the best creme brulee on earth, yet amazingly bright and fresh with a finish that I can nearly still taste a day later. Wow, what a treat! Thanks Jeff!
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/15/2017 - aagrawal wrote: flawed
Epic 2001 Sauternes Horizontal (San Francisco): Tasted single-blind. From a 375. Golden color; aromas are cheesy cardboard. Corked! That hurts...
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/10/2017 - RayOB Likes this wine: 98 Points
Drank at 67
Had beside a '01 Guiraud which was unfair as this blew it away. Rich creamy palate with an incredibly long finish. Yum Yum
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/22/2017 - George Martin wrote:
Tiene gusto de la miel, tiene final largo, el color es oro amarillo
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/19/2017 - Mrbuzz Likes this wine: 98 Points
Dinner at Trelio (Clovis Ca.): SO exited to try this, since I've owned it from release, but never had it yet! Crazy freshness with the citrus acidity...vibrant, perfectly ripe tropical fruits, apricot marmalade, saffron threads, dried honey, vineyard smoke, salty minerals...layer after layer of perfect balanced sweet perfection. A legend for sure!
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/18/2017 - Zweder wrote: 98 Points
Occasional dinner group: 100 Parker points (red) wines (@ the Librije in Zwolle, Netherlands.): No specific note this time. Again this is an impressive wine with a great concentration and yet also a lot of elegance and refined complexity. And still extremely youthful. Great wine!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/8/2017 - bengti Likes this wine: 99 Points
Luscious unending nose of glycerin white chocolates truffle oil candies pear, and perfect prefect gourmand of crushed pear, green apples, pink fruit, rose petals, mineral stone and malty brown sugar reduction. Long and satisfying finish of distinction. Incredible.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/24/2017 - Alex G. Likes this wine:
Tremendous viscosity, plenty of acid and structure balancing this exceptional Sauternes. Still young, but as ever, delicious at every stage of its evolution.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/24/2017 - Burgundy Al wrote: 98 Points
A 40th Birthday Celebration, Dinner Edition (Atlas Bistro - Scottsdale AZ): Cream brûlée, coconut and both dried and fresh apricot. Monumental, superb length and balance. I can't wait to see this when it reaches its peak.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/21/2017 - DrinkBordeaux wrote: 98 Points
First growth dinner (Cafe Maxx, Pompano Beach, Florida): From a half bottle. Drinking incredibly well right now. Deep golden color. This is packed with aromatics, ranging from tropical fruits, apricot, honey, and vanilla. Seemingly perfect viscosity and weight. The finish is long, fresh, and memorable. This is already a fantastic wine, but I am certain it will improve with more evolution. Regardless, you can definitely start popping your half bottles of this.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/20/2017 - williamswhine Likes this wine: 98 Points
At the end of a 7 bottle vertical tasting of Chateau de Beaucastel, what better way to polish off the night. This stuff is the real deal. Syrup-like viscosity, full bodied, sweet apricots, dusty nose, dark golden hue, not overly sweet, perfect LLLLOOOOONNNNNGGGGGG finish. This finish lingers beyond 5 minutes. Hard to belief, but many commented similarly. Terrific night cap!
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/3/2017 - Kim Gerner wrote: 98 Points
Greatest red Burgundy - Wine tasting dinner (Rest FB (kg arr.)): 4 flights tasted:
1. Chambolle Musigny: Denis Mortet 1. cru Aux Beaux Bruns '10 (classical Chambolle, light, elegant, perfect aromas and balance 93-94/100) against Vogué Le Musigny vielles vignes '06 (much more intensity, liquorice and too many tannins - in other words much too young, 91/100)
2. Gevrey-Chambertin: Philippe Pacalet Ruchotte-Chambertin '11 (close to natural wine, a lot of fruit, liquorice, definitely not a typical Bourgogne, 93/100) against Armand Rousseau Le Chambertin '11 (develops positively in the glass, high acidity, fantastic flavours, still very young, never the less I rated i 95/100 based on performance right now, which means it is the winner of this tasting)
3. Vosne Romanee: DRC Richebourg '09 (way too young, very closed and too many tannins, however still a good glass of wine 93/100) against DRC La Täche '09 (deeper colour, even mores closed, more tannin and higher intensity both on the nose and palate - should have waited another 10 years or more, 93/100)
4. Sauternes: Yquem '01 (unbelievable good wine on the nose and palate, extremely good balance - so far the best Sauternes I have ever tasted, It It is not getting better than it is now, just changing towards too many tertiary notes like the 1990. I certainly disagree with Wine Advocate which states drinking window to begin 2030, 98-99/100) against Yquem '90 (Rated 99 by RP - because of the age it is much too oxidative for me (sherry like), almost amber colour, the '01 is so much better 88/100)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/3/2017 - JulianSkeels Likes this wine: 99 Points
Just a potentially perfect wine that every wine lover must have in their cellar. I have had 100yr old sauturnes that taste of grapefruit and young one prodigious ones, but none that have this substance - a typical Yquem nose of pineapple and gingerbread but where it excels is the sheer power and length in the mouth with a noticeably higher than usual level of acidity providing freshness and ageability. This will age tremendously. Tried it also alongside the 97 Yquem (imho the best value in the market) and it blew it away. Nowhere near ready though - hold for at least 10yrs.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
2/2/2017 - dcwino wrote: 94 Points
Bordeaux dinner at Ripple with live rendition of the Star Spangled Banner (Ripple Restaurant in DC): Absolutely correct yet absolutely not expressive. Exceptional concentration and wonderful texture. The nose is subdued. No great wines, just great bottles applies even for this wine!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/2/2017 - PanosKakaviatos Likes this wine: 94 Points
Fit for a wine loving Groundhog: Bordeaux back to 1970, by way of a 1982 trio (Ripple Restaurant in Washington D.C.): Certainly longer and more full bodied than the Tour Blanche of the same vintage and yet somewhat of a let-down, not fully matching expectations, as I have had better bottles of the Yquem 2001, even if it was a while ago. I was somewhat struck by the dark color, darker than the Climens - both coming from halves. It certainly conveyed opulence, verve, and botrytis spice like clove and nutmeg, with citrus like freshness, as in orange rind.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/13/2017 - TayoW Likes this wine: 99 Points
So young, but already so close to perfection. Wonderfully balanced, fresh, but intense and rich. Cannot wait to revisit over what will be an eternal life.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2016 - Jeff Leve wrote: 100 Points
This rockstar wine never fails to please the palate and the senses in every way. Incredibly concentrated, yet light on its feet. Sweetness galore, but with the racy acidity needed to give it lift. The fruit has the beautiful, sense of purity and everything is slathered in honey. I need more!
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
12/18/2016 - akov wrote:
Reportedly well stored bottle. Vast disappointment. Colour is deep, tea-like. The wine has certainly an age, a bit of oxidation, cold tea notes, a bit of volatile and a very very strong medicinal character that renders it undrinkable. Cork was healthy, no TCA taint or other problem.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (5)
12/17/2016 - dbg wrote:
Purchased on release. Perfect cork and fill. Very light gold color. Intense nose of honey, lemon, pineapple, great intensity and concentration, beautiful sweetness/acidity balance, never-ending finish. Killer from the start, the more air it had the better it got. Outstanding!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/16/2016 - FamilyLarsson wrote: 99 Points
Helt fantastiskt. Bättre än så här blir det knappt
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/16/2016 - robertek wrote: 97 Points
Ok this is indeed the best "young" d'yquem I have had. It is complex well balanced and goes on forever.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/8/2016 - dcwino wrote: 99 Points
Holiday Dinner - Champ, Burg, Bordeaux, Rhone and etc. (The Grill Room at Rosewood DC): Everything about this wine is insane, i.e. balance, purity, airiness, intensity, spiciness, concentration, complexity and finish. There is no doubt that this is the most concentrated and intense Yquem since the 67. Absolutely stunning showing which by now I fully expect.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/17/2016 - Bigtuna Likes this wine: 96 Points
Tasted 2001 and 1990 together. While I thought the nose on the 01 was superior to the 90, the 90 is a richer, more developed wine at this time - as one would expect. Light to medium yellow color with a delightful balance of acidity and sweetness. Hold another 10 years to taste next bottle. 96 now with upside
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/9/2016 - fcxj wrote: 96 Points
Roumier Jasper Morris dinner. Nice conclusion to dinner. Crazy nose, very pure, honeyed. Very balanced.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/30/2016 - dcwino wrote: 100 Points
Annual Chicago winos visit - Pearl Clutcher, coche, drc, rousseau, D'Yquem and etc. (The Grill Room at Rosewood DC): For my palate, this is the best D’Yquem since the 75. Another perfect showing. Incredibly complex yet perfectly harmonious nose displaying energetic decadent yellow fruits, apricot preserve, a hint of fresh squeezed orange juicy, vanilla, a lot of ginger, sweet and spicy spices, honey and botrytis. As usual airy and weightless despite unbelievable concentration. I dare say one of the greatest wines and the cheapest price! Just incredible and for my palate, always a step or two above the 01 Climens which is the great modern era Climens.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/30/2016 - Burgundy Al wrote: 97 Points
Wine Dinner Extravaganza (Rosewood Hotel Dining Room - Washington DC): Late night, brief note. It slightly makes me sad when a sweet wine is WOTN, but this wine can never make me sad. Still just teasing us with its greatness.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/16/2016 - Collector1855 wrote: 97 Points
66x Parker 100-Pointers from Bordeaux 1947-2010 tasted blind (Switzerland): Served with the Cheese and charcutery buffet at the end of the tasting. Golden yellow with amber hue. Nose of smoke, botrytis, honey, flowers, bakery, stone fruit. Much richer and denser than the 2009 which is more elegant and airy. Both fantastic but very different siblings. I rarely drink sweet wine and don’t like it very much but I can attest that we have high quality, complex material in the glass here. Worked extraordinarily well with the Cheese - Vacherin Fribourgois and Gruyere of course.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/4/2016 - dbg wrote:
Outstanding. Terrific concentration, depth, balance and length.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/26/2016 - Alex G. Likes this wine:
Restrained and pretty, with that waxy texture and classic nose. Not much for dessert wine generally, but this pushes my buttons.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/22/2016 - dharrison93 Likes this wine: 99 Points
From 375ml with friends over afternoon snacks. Medium gold color with beautiful nose of honey, peaches & pineapple, there's just enough acid to keep the sweetness at bay. Finis sails on forever.
If a date, this was a 25 year old lingire model who enjoys cooking 3 star dinners for her band of sexy merry maidens. Brilliant juice and highly recommended for another 2 decades of drinking pleasure.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/21/2016 - Vinum Deorum wrote: 95 Points
A lovely wine, although I personaly find it a little overated in comparison with the stunning 88, 89 and 90. It is rich and balanced, with aromas of apricot and vanilla. The texture is gorgeous, it has a good level of sugar and acidity, and is truly delicious to drink, although I suspect it will benefit from a long aging.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/27/2016 - giba ochman Likes this wine: 97 Points
Young, but delicious. Perfect harmony of apricot, vanilla, a touch of spices and botrytis, moderate acidity, and a long finish. Hold 10 years.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/12/2016 - Blake Brown wrote:
2001 CHATEAU d`YQUEM SAUTERNES- 750 ml; I`ve had many a bottle of this gem, mostly from 375 ml; all of the best expressions of the famous Botrytised Semilion and Sauvignon Blanc are showcased here; it had a mild yellow gold color; served in 2 glasses for comparison, a Bordeaux and Burgundy stem, we found the aromatics of the Burgundy stem were significantly brighter and the taste profile was more concentrated and therefore more pronounced in the Bordeaux stem, interesting; regardless, the wine shined with tastes of spicy honeyed orange blossoms, ripe apricot, citrus and baked cinnamon apple; this is full on, big, sweet and creamy rich with thick texture to carry all of the joys all the way to the back end; a major life changing sensory experience.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/13/2016 - kstoddard wrote:
G5 (Chris): Open for quite a while. Oxidized.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/5/2016 - johan poort wrote:
Helemaal goed, tijdens diner met Akex Mulder
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/4/2016 - Jamie Manley wrote: 100 Points
Bill Parcells has his five Ps (Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance.) If he had an 01 Yquem with 24 hours of air, he would have another P (Perfection.) Instantly upon cork extraction the perfume of this great wine wafted...and then I poured a small glass and put the rest in the fridge to visit a day later. I cannot encourage this protocol strongly enough. This was my darkest (in color) 375 from a case, so I pulled it. Medium gold/copper, the flavor profile mimicked the color. This particular bottle was just entering a young phase, moving up from infancy. On the nose, defined notes of caramel and butterscotch, but you are still slayed by the orange rind, botrytis, apricot, Earl Grey, and lanolin. The palate is the show stopper - read my notes from earlier years regarding this wine. Searing intensity on the tongue and palate with a velvet lift. Layer after layer and then a 60 second gravity defying finish. As I have said before, this wine is not light years better than the others, but it does everything that a legend is supposed to, and that makes it perfect. 100 Pts.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (4)
6/1/2016 - wineallyouwant Likes this wine: 99 Points
This is what we all search for but never find. Once in a lifetime at best. Lucky to have some in the cellar.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/14/2016 - BradE wrote:
A reference standard vintage, that continues to impress.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/5/2016 - englishman's claret wrote: 97 Points
Delicious Yquem; still so young but a very nice phase to catch. Broad, open, apricot, stone fruits, honeyed, white flower; expands wonderfully. Like all yquems, the acidity and body are well enough suited to the sugar that the wine never really seems too sweet. A long life ahead to say the least.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/3/2016 - mychurch wrote: 94 Points
Great sweet wine makes the brain go giddy. It brings a cheeky grin to the face. It makes you want more. None of these traits apply to this wine. This was bottle Nr 2, opened for my 50th birthday. The 1st was drunk at my 40th and I remember the layered texture, the weightlessness and the balance. I wrote then 'drink up this year' and I think I was correct. This is perfectly correct, is very rounded and is s lovely Sauterne. It's also dull and misses personality. I drank this with 3 novices, who like wine with a sweetness, but none of them had that 'wow' moment. Still young though and I'm sure this will evolve. 10 years to go for bottle Nr 3....
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/22/2016 - dcwino wrote: 100 Points
RJ's birthday gathering - perfect 09 VCC and 01 Yquem (Eddie V's - Tysons Corner): Absolutely perfect showing. Expressive yet perfectly harmonious nose displaying ripe but pure yellow fruits, honey, ginger, nutmeg, crème brulee, vanilla, botrytis and sweet spices. Incredibly concentrated yet airy and weightless, bright acidity and strong presence of mineral, ginger and sweet spices driven palate impression and seamless infinite finish. This particular bottle is incredibly expressive. No longer primary but still with ample youthful fruits backed by ginger and crème brulee. Absolute perfection!
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/17/2016 - Keith Levenberg Likes this wine: 97 Points
This is actually the first one of these I opened. I didn't sacrifice any on release because I was fairly confident that the string of 100-pointgasms was just a feedback loop - that's just too young for any Sauternes to be so transcendent. It is still super-young and could have passed for a current release. If not quite at the level of transcendence, it is still superb and I'm glad I finally took the opportunity to see what the fuss was about. If you are coming into it thinking it is going to be a heavy, ultra-concentrated Sauternes, it is not that. To the contrary, the most remarkable thing about it is an almost uncharacteristic sense of buoyancy and a figure that's positively svelte. The fruit flavors are more peachy than apricot, or at the very least more fresh apricot than dried. I don't know how long it will be before anything suggesting maturity arrives, but it'll be awhile.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/16/2016 - Burgaddict wrote: 98 Points
Just another evening between work in Leiden: Very impressive Sauternes. Liquid beauty. The moment you get this in your mouth you know everything is in the right place. Impressive balance of sweetness, acidity, minerals, saffran, crème brulee, stone fruit. Rich, fresh, mouthfilling, finish goes on and on. Wow wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/26/2016 - erikm9 wrote: 100 Points
What an experience. Had an 03 Mr K nobleman the previous night and could not be more different. Love the acidity.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
2/18/2016 - dcwino wrote: 99 Points
Mostly FGs Bordeaux dinner - 82 & 86 Mouton, 00 Pavie, 86 & 95 Lafite, 96 Margaux and 95 Latour (The Grill Room at Capella Hotel Georgetown): As usual, unbelievable intensity yet weightless. Every sip is a sensory overload. So much of everything yet the wine is singular. Always flirting with perfection.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/13/2016 - AHVinoFile Likes this wine: 100 Points
[IWFS-Vic DRC Montrachet, Various RSV & d'Yquem Dinner at Vue de Monde] Deep rich golden color, excellent limpidity. Honeysuckle bouquet with intense honeyed botrytis notes and suggestions of white flowers, glaced apricot, orange peel, cumquat marmalade, crème brûlée, crème caramel, beeswax, spice & buttered toast. Full, super-intense, profound & dense stone & citrus fruit flavors with lots of developed nuances; opulently rich, lubriciously smooth with remarkable lively acidity imparting exquisite balance & high-pixeled definition. An extraordinary wine of incredible intensity & lascivious richness, staggering concentration & serious density while retaining ineluctable finesse & invigorating freshness. Very long, lingering finish.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/7/2016 - Papies wrote: 97 Points
From half bottle. This is a 95-100 range wine depending on the palate (likes young or old Sauternes?) of the beholder and mood.
It is a masterclass of balance between ripe, sweet and sticky fruit vs polished/elegant acidity. The presence of this wine is beyond and we cannot praise it enough. No need to say more but a milestone in any wine lovers drinking life.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/31/2015 - Remony wrote: 95 Points
A half bottle from the cellar. Still very fine indeed, but not quite as ultramundane as when last opened 4 years ago. Wonderful complex fruits, acidity and texture as before, but it seemed a little too sweet this time, and lacking a bit of fruit/acidity balance, it did not command that total attention/reverence which previous half bottles did in 2010 and 2012. Is it in transition? It followed a bottle of Haut Brion 1989 in superb condition, unquestionably a very hard act to follow. Nevertheless, at the moment this wine is not quite performing as it did in its youth, and as it may very well do again with a few more years' maturity.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/30/2015 - Poussin Likes this wine: 96 Points
From a 375. Beautiful nose of marmalade, orange peel, dried apricot, honey, flowers, perhaps some oaky vanilla, botrytis smoke and a certain steeliness. Palate is rich and concentrated with a pleasing amount of glycerin/viscosity. Balancing acids are present but in an elegant and understated way: there is no assault on the tongue. Finishes long, oaky and resinous with a touch of astringency. A lovely, balanced sweet wine...but it doesn't have me reaching for the hyperbole.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/14/2015 - Edouard84 Likes this wine: 96 Points
Served blind as the last wine of a fantastic lunch.
Nose is creme brulee, saffron.
What surprised me in this blind tasting is the strong acidity of the wine, that made it extremely fresh. So acid in fact I guessed it was a high-end Jurançon.
To hold for at least 5 additional years before revisiting, but this wine is probably immortal.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/6/2015 - aquacongas Likes this wine: 99 Points
My 1000 TN on CT. A good wine to describe. From Magnum. Thanks Ingo!!
The last three wines of an unforgettable evening with a complete Clos du Mesnil tasting are worthy to close the night. Yquem 88, 75, 01 from Magnum.
The bottle was one week open, still fantastic, what a fruit, great acidity structure. you can imagine howthis wine could be in 50 or 70 years. I'M happy to drink this wine again. Next time I will open the bottle 2 days ago and decant it for 10 hours.98-100
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/14/2015 - The Vines That Bind wrote: 95 Points
Intriguing and enticing nose of lemon lime and intermittent varnish. Still young with an almost lemon pledge sort of aroma. Gorgeous palate of slate, clay, and tremendous stoniness. Sweet honey present throughout. Fresh acidity. Lovely to drink young.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/8/2015 - Racer117 wrote: 95 Points
From 375ml. Surprisingly green note to start and some tropical fruit; Crème brulee in a glass! This has plenty of acidity and a wonderful mid-palate crescendo. 100 pts? I really don't think so but this is very good.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/30/2015 - Xavier Auerbach wrote:
A private dinner (Restaurant Behrens Am Kai *, Düsseldorf, Germany): From a magnum that was opened a few days ago and was still about one-third full. Just a sip - I did not have the time to really concentrate, but I was once again amazed by the magical combination of richness, concentration and elegant freshness of Yquem in this vintage. I am not scoring it tonight, but I suspect this is still (close to) perfection.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/15/2015 - noppakit s. wrote: 100 Points
Actually I want to keep this bottle another 100 years but I just change my mind to bring it to end up the night of 1989 Petrus tasting.
It's very good to drink at the moment !!!
This 2001 reminds me of 1988, very elegant, very beautiful, fresh, lovely, pure and precise. It's not heavy at all.
The best Yquem !!!
I think I drank a lot, too many bottles of Yquem and getting enough but this 2001 has changed my mind.
I would like to drink it again someday.
Oh ! what a night...
Drink now - 2150+
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
10/13/2015 - HowardNZ Likes this wine: 98 Points
Sauternes tasting: The light lemon colour gave this wine's identity away to everyone in the room. A touch of sulphur on the nose. A more restrained, refined bouquet than the others. Still fine and complex with floral, gentle spice and citric notes interwoven. Orange peel, apricot and pear with marmalade on buttered toast. 'The least VA of all of the wines', said one of the tasters. On palate, a great young wine. Delicate and elegant with great concentration. Pinpoint precise with excellent acids. Detailed with flavours of peach and other ripe stone fruit, pear and pineapple. Showing a little evolution actually, but, obviously the least of any wine on the table. There's a little vanillin oak yet to integrate. Great length. 'Dances across the palate. Superb.' said JC. That was also confirmed on the second evening. This is a wine of great purity, complexity, balance and length.
N/A = 0 Bronze = 0 Silver = 0 Gold = 22 WOTN = 13
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/7/2015 - aquacongas Likes this wine: 99 Points
Gorgeous, even in this young stage. Now on the "fruity" side. Raisin, honey, innocent apricot jam, coconut syrup, vanilla, creme brulee, some figs and dates, concentrated but not overwhelming, Fine razorsharp finish because of the killing acidity, amazing long, not the beauty of 67 and 75 (because of mising typical Yquem aging notes) but this will reach the maximum points in 20 or 30 years. A Giant! 99+
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/25/2015 - canan wrote: 100 Points
BYO European Wine (Restaurant Kul): What an impressive wine and I don't believe that Sauternes gets any better than this. Different and equally good but not better.
It is just packed with botrytis, tropical fruits, coconut and honey with an insanely long aftertaste. Everything is just perfectly integrated.
Simply an extraordinary wine where the hype for once merits the wine!! When tasting this wine it is difficult to find the right words.
The most fitting word is perfection :-)
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/18/2015 - Jeremy Holmes wrote:
The 2001 Chateau d’Yquem is one of Mark’s all-time favourite wines so when you get a shit hot glass of youngish Yquem served blind by him you rarely are wrong if you go 2001 with your option. This wine was up to its usual brilliant standard. It had an exotic and concentrated nose of pineapple and coconut ice with some honey and apricot. It was so sweet and luscious but so balanced and long. It is a wine of great drive and energy.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/11/2015 - Greg Munyard wrote: 98 Points
Bright, deep golden colour and powerful and almost liquerish nose gave no indication of the vivacity and elegance of the stunning palate - but I remembered well from before. OK, so let’s try this baby again …
Holy Hannah; a lip-licking tour de force, the incredibly intense flavours of dried apricots, burnt orange-marmalade and musky honeyed nectar hit you straight away - then build up from there! This is all happening in a luscious and voluptuous - almost syruppy - palate, with that incredible complexity that only Yquem can produce, all counterbalanced by perfect acidity and tannins. Make no mistake, there’s stacks of acid here; it’s powerful and completely pervasive, yet it has “soft edges” from start to finish, and not a hint of harshness. Consequently, this intensely luscious tour de force feels light in the mouth despite its emphatic and lingering palate.
It’s impossible to even sip this masterpiece without licking your lips again and again, and rolling your tongue around to savour every last drop. BTW, “lingering” doesn’t do justice to the finish. It goes on easily for minutes and is still really present when you take the next sip. After several sips, it builds up to almost become an assault on the palate – in the nicest possible way!
I can’t remember ever enjoying so much how acid can perfectly complement the fruit in a wine, although I do recall how the magnificent 1975 Yquem probably bettered the also magnificent and more full-on 1976 - because of better balance (and acid) in the 1975. The 2001 seems to be even better balanced than the 1975, and more intense, too. It may seem an odd metric in a wine that will be legendary for its exquisite flavours and complexity but the 2001 Yquem also is my reference standard for fruit-acid balance. Plus, it has perfect astringency (some Yquems can be a bit grippy on the finish, even at this age from a 375ml).
I’m a complete sucker for Yquem in any year, let alone a top one, but the 2001 truly is extraordinary.
PS. Make sure you serve it at just the right temperature ie. cool enough to appreciate its elegance and balance but not so cool as to diminish its emphatic power. This is even more important than breathing time with Yquem.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/22/2015 - Jamie Manley wrote: 100 Points
From 375, absolutely beautiful golden color. Where do I begin? For me, this is the best wine that I have ever had (and I am not a fan of the word "best" in this context, but I have no choice.) This wine is not light years ahead of everything else, but just an incredible package with virtually no fault. The nose radiates from the glass and fills the room. Honeycomb, lemon curd, lanolin, Earl Grey, fresh orange peel, botrytis, grapefruit, beeswax, and on and on it goes. The palate gives you even more, but with this razor searing intensity that almost burns the tongue and beyond. Simply emblazoned on your taste buds, but with a lightness that is completely majestic. Still a pup, this has ages to go. You are fooling yourself (and friends?) if you do not open this at least 24 hours in advance. This wine is a singular experience and worth every penny. 100 Pts
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
8/21/2015 - dcwino wrote: 99 Points
Viking dinner at RJs - 96 Salon, 09 Coche CC, 01 Rousseau, 06 CSS, 06 Masseto, 01 D'Yquem and etc. (Reston, Va): How awesome is it to drink two halves in one night. This was served by itself. Consistent with the first bottle, flirting with perfection.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/21/2015 - dcwino wrote: 99 Points
Viking dinner at RJs - 96 Salon, 09 Coche CC, 01 Rousseau, 06 CSS, 06 Masseto, 01 D'Yquem and etc. (Reston, Va): How such a big and intense wine be so balanced is mind boggling. Intense nose displaying apricot, mango, pineapple, yellow peach, honey, ginger, nutmeg and sweet spices. Incredibly concentration yet weightless, incredibly layered fruits, intense sweet yellow pit fruit driven palate impression, bright acidity and lovely long finish. IMO, one of the greatest Yquems. Drinking incredibly well. We had this with a warm Lobster course with grapefruit reduction, the perfect marriage.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/7/2015 - wpd Likes this wine: 100 Points
Two years ago I rated this wine 98. If anything it has improved or the conditions were better, this is pretty much a perfect wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/27/2015 - EhrlichDY wrote: 100 Points
This is a perfect wine in every way. Light and airy on the palate while demonstrating deeply pitched flavors of honey, coconut, and tropical fruit. Still showing incredible youth with many, many, great years of drinking ahead.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/26/2015 - MBKDK wrote:
Light whiskey color. Intense nose. This is just one of those perfect wines where everything comes together and you find it hard to put words to the notes. All about balance and complexity. Creamy, fresh honey, coconut, acidity, perfect tannin and a looooong taste. Extraordinary. Believe the hype.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/14/2015 - Harry Cantrell Likes this wine: 97 Points
Light gold. Nose was shy compared to previously. But with swirling and time all glories awoke. Flowers, apricots, caramel, honey. Taste never quit and overwhelmed the mouth, in a good way. Stopped conversation. Wow.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/31/2015 - drwine2001 wrote:
An Amazing Birthday Meal (San Francisco): Half bottle. Deep yellow. Relatively primary aromatics of creme brûlée and pineapple. Lighter weight. Young, relatively reticent and straightforward. Try as I might, I could not find a lot of excitement in this legendary vintage of Yquem. It was proper and perfectly fine but clearly outshone by the Fargues.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/27/2015 - elvinet Likes this wine: 97 Points
Color ambarino con tonalidad yodada bien brillante y cristalina y ribete acerado ligeramente amarillo. Notable intensidad en nariz con una elegancia desbordante de aromas de fruta blanca bien madura, orejones, pan de higos secos, miel de naranjo, bizcocho cremoso con un toque de nata y avellanas ralladas, una delicia en nariz con una complejidad real. En boca es otro mundo con una gran cremosidad y un toque de naranja amarga que le confiere textura, cuerpo y frescura, excelente acidez, elegante y sedoso, equilibrado, elegante, inmenso volumen y con una amplitud que llena toda la boca y no deja indiferente, magnífica persistencia. Final bien largo, postgusto de miel y naranja amarga y retronasal
More information: www.elvi.net/2015/02/15/chateau-d-yquem-2001/
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/21/2015 - dcwino wrote: 100 Points
Burgundy dinner (The Grill Room at Capella Hotel Georgetown): This has to be one of the most perfectly balanced wines. Incredible intensity, sweetness, decadence, airiness, finesse, balance, harmony and finish. Just perfect in every way!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/12/2015 - Jeff Leve wrote: 100 Points
What can I say that hasn't already been said? Purity, intensity, freshness, density and complexity in spades. This is as good as a sweet wine gets. The scary thing is, it has not even budged towards maturity. Having tasted Yquem at 80 years of age, current owners will never see it. But who cares as this is damn delicious today?
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
4/4/2015 - Tenuta Stefan wrote: 98 Points
Perfect half bottle.
Golden colour.
Saffron, saffron, saffron, pineapple, qumquat, honey and saffron.
What can I say ... this wine is pure magic!
Maybe it is in a fase ... because it does not deliver 100p today ... only 98 ... but what can I say. It is still pretty damn close to perfection!
Lovely texture, nice acidity that gives this sweet wine a freshness, long long elegant finish!
As my good friend says: "Chateau d'Yquem is the best wine in the world! It is fantastic, always deliver and you can still get it to a reasonable price?" - soo true!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/23/2015 - KenK Likes this wine: 100 Points
Another perfect bottle. Rich creamy sweet tropical Flavors with unctuous mouth feel and great underlying depth of flavors. Concnetrated white fruits with wonderful acidic support that is just so well intergrated. Decades of live and love ahead as still so fresh and young. Totally decadent. Went amazing well with bannana cotton candy Beleive it or not.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/22/2015 - Nanda wrote: 99 Points
What else can you say about this wine? Perfection in a glass. Nose is soaring, huge with tropical and honey notes. Palate has power and finesse. Fruit gives a sense of weightlessness and somehow delivers power, richness and incredible juicy acid. Long, lingering finish. Out of 375 - pop n'pour.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/24/2015 - CO_Roots13 Likes this wine: 97 Points
Tasted this along side the 1989. At present, the '89 was more complete and mature (as one would expect). The nose of the 2001 came through with nutty marzipan notes and a prominence of grapefruit. The texture was even and balanced, but not as viscous as it will become. The beginnings of toasted caramel and perfumed orange liqueur fought through the expressive (but still primary) honey suckle and vanilla notes. The finish is not quite as along and it will become with more age. These somewhat critical words are splitting hairs in pointing out the things that are keeping this bottle from being rated as a perfect 100 (which it will undoubtedly achieve in five short years). Even in its youth, I can not imaging a more balanced Sauternes. This has the makings of a powerfully extracted, ultra expressive dessert wine with the perfect level of acidity to keep it light on its feel and able to take the shape of what ever it needs to in the environment it is consumed. It will be the star of any meal, but will allow the other players to be appreciated to the fullest potential. Incredible!
9-19-9-10
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/19/2015 - acyso wrote: 98 Points
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, DECANT IF YOU MUST DRINK THIS NOW. From half-bottle. (1: pop and pour) The initial nose was underwhelming, as it was completely overrun by a strong note of Sharpie marker (think organic solvents). However, at the same time, there is a fantastic amount of orange peel, marzipan, and ripe apricot on the nose. You can almost even smell the sweetness too. Very, very thick texture, like warm honey. On the palate, the flavours hit you in waves. Initially, it's a bit of bitter almond, then the breadth expands as it coats your palate, where you get some sweet orange marmalade, brown sugar, nutmeg... the intensity leaves you gasping for breath. And this is all on the pop and pour. Strangely, though this is a very, very sweet wine, the sensation of sweetness is nowhere to be found, perhaps buried under the mountains of extract and acidity. The marmalade-scented finish lasts for minutes. Needless to say, this wine will be able to last many, many decades. (2: 8 hours of decanting) This implacable monument of a Sauternes has not budged a single bit. (3: next day, the third quarter of the half bottle) Stupid thing still hasn't moved, though those high-toned chemical solvent aromas have definitely blown off. (4: third day, a small pour) It's on this day where the famous Yquem coconut really begins to show itself on the nose. On the other hand, absolutely nothing else about this has faded. We'll see how far I can push this bottle along. (5: seventh day, another small pour) This is really still going strong, and if anything, it's even better than the first pour. Perhaps still a bit high-toned, there's definitely even more of the coconut going on now, and even a slight hint of butterscotch. None of the richness has faded, but if anything, this has gotten racier too. I'm wholly convinced about this wine -- ticking the score up a notch. We'll leave a little bit for even further down the line to see what happens. I'm seriously in no worry of this last two ounces going downhill anytime soon. (6: tenth day, last pour) Finally showing slight signs of breaking down, with most of the aromatics starting to fade out; the same goes for the palate.
8 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/16/2015 - lepetitchateau wrote: 98 Points
Incredible succulence, layers of complexity. Massive, will improve and last for a long, long time. (The Modern)
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/4/2015 - FYC wrote:
I don't usually score on the 100 point scale but this is probably a 100 point Sauternes. Apricot, pineapple, creme brûlée, but with fine lemon acidic lift. So balanced and elegant. Like a ballerina. Another class above the the 2001 Rieussec which is heavier and the 2001 Suduiraut which is lacking the length. Thanks to Jay for your generosity.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2014 - Wrighty Likes this wine:
Just stunning. Beautiful complex palate but wound up with no doubt years to unwind. Finish was just amazing and went on and on with no sign of fading
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2014 - budh wrote: 98 Points
A fabulous wine. Apricot, orange marmalade, brown sugar, honey, caramel, candied orange and lemon, honeydew melon, sweet spice. Perfect balance of fruit, acidity, alcohol. Viscous, vibrant. Finish lasts forever.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/13/2014 - aloisioteles Likes this wine: 100 Points
Perfection.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/10/2014 - Paul D wrote:
Christmas WIMPs - Burgundy II (La Trompette, Chiswick): Quite mature appearance, medium/deep gold. Full bodied, rich fruit, palate drenching yet fresh, very long. ****1/2
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/6/2014 - BradE wrote:
This vintage of d'Yquem continues to astound. Virtually perfect. A wow wine if there ever was one.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/1/2014 - Vinterest Angus Likes this wine: 97 Points
Finally got to taste the epic 2001. Lived up to all expectation - would not say it was a perfect wine as I'm not sure there is such a thing (Parker) but still pretty damned good. 97
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/30/2014 - rossi.wine wrote: 100 Points
Lovely colour, dark yellow, old gold, glowing. Very very complex nose - with caramel, white flowers, honey, tropical fruit and very ripe yellow stone fruit, quince compote, marzipan, crème brûlée... The mouthfeel is equally amazing: Rich, concentrated and intense but great balance, no heaviness at all. Merely cruising across the palate. Notes of nuts, dried figs, marzipan, spicy. No rough edges whatsoever, fresh, complete. The finish is beyond comparison - incredibly long and persistent. This surely has a long life ahead of it. Perfection.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/23/2014 - Winevestor Likes this wine: 98 Points
This was drunk at a big family celebration. It was a massive hit. Both from people who had never had d'Yquem before and found out what all the noise is about, to people who did know d'Yquem but had never had a 2001. No hint of globby sugar. Just great fruit with a wonderful masked acidity. Massive notes of grapefruit, melon and lychee. Massive after finish. Sublime wine (and family) moment.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/8/2014 - jimkay21 wrote: 94 Points
Drank from a half bottle. Golden color, lovely floral nose. Sweet but balanced to the acidity. Surprisingly (for this first time with this producer) light in the mouth. White fruits and a very long finish. Paired well with a light cheese cake.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/30/2014 - Jeff Leve wrote: 100 Points
Take the ripest, juiciest pineapple you have ever seen, meaning today, just touching brings the juice out, tomorrow, it will begin falling apart. Place it in a hot pan filled with butter, brown sugar, honey and apricots for the aromas. Drizzle in the juice of a Meyer lemon to give it all the acidity it needs and sip slowly, to experience the full essence of its stunning, unctuous personality. The wine does not go softly into the good night as the finish remains for more than 60 seconds!
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/17/2014 - Christoffer78 Likes this wine: 99 Points
Without being all too familiar with Ch d'Yquem or even a fan of sweet wine, I have to admit this effort was quite mind boggling. The first impression is full of rich lychee, apricot, dried flowers and sun warm Acacia honey, but then the most impressive array of complex layers are rolled out. Sweet brioche, nutmeg, roasted walnuts, tarte tatin - the list of what is possible to identify is so long the above are just a few examples. I am totally impressed. The structure and texture tell me this wine is in it for the long haul. It will most likely continue to develop for many many more years. The palate adds to the overall integration and elegance with perfect balance and a creamy lovely overall impression. With a length on the finish lasting some 2+ minutes, I am fully convinced this is a profound effort worth all the merit it can get. (score is 99+)
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/26/2014 - valjone Likes this wine: 95 Points
Again outstanding. Ethereal nose and out of this world mouthfeel. Last two bottles seemed a bit less expressive, but that really is finding defects which are not there. A treat every time.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/10/2014 - mrmedoes Likes this wine: 99 Points
Got to admit, I entered into this one pretty hesitant given the hype, the scores and the age of the wine. Then we opened it. Unreal on the nose, but that's actually not even doing it justice. It literally is an explosion of flavors - creaminess, apricot, honey and some citrus, and it lingers seemingly forever, just taunting you to go back to the glass of liquid gold. I've never given a 99 on a wine, and wine perfection to me is a moving target, but I'm not sure how you get a better wine. I would tell you that this could get better, but I don't think that's a correct statement - I think it will just continue to change and be one of those wines that can be enjoyed at different ages to reveal different character, but it's REALLY hard to lay off of now.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/9/2014 - RayOB Likes this wine: 98 Points
Drank at Bob Bob Richards
Nose of honey, burnt sugar, mellon, spice, citrus, candy floss and orange. Wonderful complex palate that kept changing in the mouth. It is amazing to see how good the '01 vintage is. In recent vintages the '03 comes close but you have to go back a couple of decades to beat this.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/2/2014 - bablues wrote: 96 Points
Judgement of Chicago (Nomi): Tasted blind alongside an Inniskilin Ice wine. Everything about them was different. While I loved the Ice Wine, the D'Yquem was on a different level. Much more subtle and balanced. Elegant, supple. Pure liquid gold.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/16/2014 - johannes.c Likes this wine: 99 Points
Apricot, honey and a nice touch of citrus that gives this wine its freshness. Very elegant, and not overpowering. Whereas I usually stop after 1 glass, I could take a second and third one of this.... Blew away the 2001 Rieussec served next to it. Best young Sauternes ever tasted.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/11/2014 - Neecies Likes this wine: 100 Points
Apricot, lemon and vanilla bean strike first. As one savors, loquat, honey and yuzu marmalade fill out the layers with fleeting hits of mango, kumquat and kaffir lime leaf. Flawless concentration and elegance--stunning beyond belief. Thank you, Frank Deis, thank you.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/10/2014 - Jeremy Holmes wrote:
Far better than a bottle we had last month, in fact this was stunning. The nose is super complex with notes of vanilla, preserved fruits, apricot, lavender and candied citrus. It is luscious and incredibly rich, filling every crevice of the mouth with golden nectar but is by no means heavy. It finishes with great energy and you can taste the wine for a very long time after swallowing.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/8/2014 - sandwich wrote:
This is the second bottle of this that I've had, but unfortunately this fell short. I hesitate to rate it because my first experience with this was life changing. There was nothing wrong with the bottle, ie it was not corked, but the authenticity of this is definitely in question. There was definitely Sauternes in the bottle, but the lightening quick finish makes me question whether this was really a d'Yquem.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/13/2014 - Jeremy Holmes wrote:
The aroma has plenty going on with some marmalade, honey, apricots and a hint of volatility. It is sweet, rich and textured in the mouth and finishes with some savoury elements. This was a good but not great bottle, perhaps again not showing the detail that you would expect from it.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/16/2014 - hongkongtom Likes this wine: 99 Points
Sublime, the perfect Sauternes. Drank at home with desert. Could not ask for better
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/14/2014 - Zweder wrote: 98 Points
100 RP Points plus some extra's (@ Bottles): This will be one note for the Yquem and Rieussec 2001 tasted beside each other. I did not make so many notes. It was in fact for all tasters, including myself, not so easy to decide which was the Yquem and which the Rieussec. Both wines are really beautiful with orange peel and apricots, really concentrated and complex with a beautiful balance between sweetness and acidity. The Yquem had some more creaminess and maybe even some more concentration. The Rieussec was maybe just a little more elegant. No mistake about it; both wines are superb, but I scored the Yquem one point more, because of just a little more concentration and the creaminess. And I can perfectly understand that if you prefer elegance above a little more concentration and complexity, the scores can be the other way round or the same. For tonight Yquem 98 and Rieussec 97.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/14/2014 - jkoenen wrote: 96 Points
Tasting of 100PP wines (Restaurant Bottles, Sas van Gent): More elegant, more finesse. Fruit has a wonderful candied lemon-and-lime touch. Palate is very creamy and mouthfilling. More crystalline and feminine, probably more complex, but my palate is almost shot by now...
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/12/2014 - RayOB Likes this wine: 98 Points
Drank at Bob Bob Richards
Nose of honey, burnt sugar, mellon, spice, citrus, candy floss and orange. Wonderful complex palate that kept changing in the mouth. This is a real beauty and still very young. Will be back.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/3/2014 - TheEngineer Likes this wine: 99 Points
This is the best Yquem I've ever tasted. Period. The massive size, the precision of this wine, the insanely long finish. This is a legend now, and a legend in the making.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/1/2014 - LWI wrote: 96 Points
Georgeous concentration and balance, complexity emerging. However, more mature than previous bottles. Actually all bottles, from different cellars, during the past year have been less fresh than before, in an increasing rate. Is it going through a difficult phase?
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/28/2014 - Alex G. Likes this wine:
Opening this wine is like fishing with dynamite, it's not much of a contest. That said, I've had this wine several times over the years and I feel somewhat guilty about it. It's so young, so much potential ahead of it. What a glorious wine to follow along its evolution, but I most envy the people who will be drinking this in another 30 years. If you're drinking this in 2044, please be sure to write a note here ;)
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/3/2014 - Vicmal Likes this wine: 97 Points
Fresh, lively, balance and complex. Very long. Eventhough i am not a sweet wine drinker, no problem for me to finish the whole full bottle.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/1/2014 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 100 Points
Some great wine for the end of 2013 (Our home): What more could be said about this wine. It may be the single best wine I have had in my lifetime. Only my third time trying it, this bottle was slow-oxed for 24 hours. The nose is ethereal with honey, tropical fruit, Crème Brule. It gets better on the palate with layered complexity and richness. The finish is amazing. I can still taste it. One of the great wines and still decades from peak. Wow.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/26/2013 - lepetitchateau wrote: 97 Points
Still great - what a surprise
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/21/2013 - Jeff Leve wrote: 100 Points
This is a thrill a sip wine. It's so young and so beautiful in all its fresh, ripe, pineapple, floral, vanilla, creme custard, honey nut glory. The sweetness is perfect and the racy acidity takes it to another level from there. If you're over 50, start drinking it now for the pleasure. If you're under 30, save it for 30 years.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/18/2013 - eschuldt wrote: 94 Points
Great bottle but would have liked a but more acid to balance the incredible sweetness.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/9/2013 - wpd Likes this wine: 98 Points
No flaws, excellent. Hard to rate a wine so good, but just loved it. Fresh, opulent flavors... .375L Couple of bottles left.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/5/2013 - Rupert wrote:
Guy Fawkes lunch (The Ledbury, London): "rich, coconutty, lovely" doesn't really do this justice, although it's how it was
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/20/2013 - siclark wrote:
Tasted as a vertical tasting with the 2003, 2001, 1999, 1996, 1988, 1986 1981 and 1954.
Slightly more alcohol than the 2003, less balanced but still powerful and concentrated.
Pale gold in colour. A great vintage.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/22/2013 - dougie Likes this wine: 99 Points
Drank after a 04 bouchard Montrachet, 78 Romanee Conti and a 02 comtes rose. Loved it, but not in position to really review. Needs a lot of time.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/9/2013 - CManthei Likes this wine: 100 Points
I had a small sample of this wine at Hedonism Wines in London. To this point, it stands alone as the single best wine I have ever tried. It possessed such balance, concentration and intensity, that I literally chuckled out-loud after the first sip. It was really awe-inspiring. The palate is loaded with apricot, pear, apple, whiffs of clean laundry and vanilla that are so integrated with perfect acidity, its unbelievable. This wine is focused like a laser. The finish is amazingly long and it seems to just kind of fade away, leaving only a memory. Too bad i'll likely never have it again! It was one for the memory bank.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/30/2013 - burgburgburg Likes this wine: 95 Points
Love it very very much. Absolutely the best Sauternes I ever tried. Opened 30 hours before and then 2 hours in decanter before dinner. Pure, elegant, complex, aromatic,... it just lacks of ample acidity to balance it. It's such a blessing to have a glass of it. The only regret is I won't live long enough to see its' true potential. Will save another bottle for my retirement.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/24/2013 - tirmi Likes this wine: 98 Points
Simple the best
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/7/2013 - smenzies Likes this wine: 96 Points
Magnificent condition, balanced in all respects. No faults and drinking very well now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/5/2013 - hjurist Likes this wine: 100 Points
Had a half bottle two years ago and was worried because it had a slight bitter edge. Had a half bottle today, and all concerns are gone. Wonderful. People say it will improve, and I am sure that is true. But life is short. Perfect. Drink now and for as long as you live. Nothing else to say.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/30/2013 - andrewdodd86 Likes this wine: 100 Points
A perfect wine. Could be done differently, but not better.
Exotic yellow tropical fruit galore. A nose to die for.
Anyone who doesn't believe wine is mesmerizing has never had a glass of this.
Left speechless when tasting. Just wow.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/10/2013 - Mascarello59 Likes this wine: 98 Points
Honey, apricots, figs, peach and other fruits break open. Very complex nose and taste. Extremely long taste. Shows very well already and i'm sure theres a whole range of other tones as it matures. Wonderful wine, one of the best I have ever tasted.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/8/2013 - Alex H wrote: 95 Points
More robust , sweeter dried and fresh apricots. More body more length and presence. Interesting sweet Indian spices with zippy fresh zippy citrus. A powerful pinnacle of dessert wines. Sweet yet not , serious yet enjoyable by the masses. A delicate yet impactful interpretation of Sauternes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/19/2013 - Paul S wrote: 98 Points
TMM Dinner (aka d'Yquem and extras) (Absinthe, Boat Quay): A stupendous wine. Some wines buckle under the pressure of the early hype that surrounds their youth, but this was not only one of the top sweet wines I have ever had, but is indeed amongst the few best wines of any style, varietal or age I have tasted to date. It had a wonderful nose, maybe a bit less expressive than the 2002 d’Yquem that we had alongside, but this seemed to have lots more subtly complex nuances, from lovely scents of boiled coconut and Gula Melaka, to sweet spicy notes of fennel, cinnamon and hints of cumin, all floating around a lightly honeyed dried fruit aromas. However, as good as that was, it was the palate that really took my breath away. This was Sauternes par excellence – it was rich and treacly, with tons of botrytised depth, yet such was the balance and precision on the wine that it seemed light and lithe at the same time, showing so much more effortless grace that it almost seemed to be from a different planet entirely from the lovely 2002 - even with the other wine already impressing with all its lush goodness and fresh balance. The 2001 was truly a great marriage of power and grace. And then there were those beautiful flavours – a layered dance of ripe red apples, sweet apricots and crunchy peaches, lined with citrussy lemon and tangerine notes on the midpalate, and then sprinkled with lovely spicy nuances as the wine glided into a beautifully long, lingering finish. Wonderfully luscious, yet so well integrated that you could barely pick out the flavours flowing one over another – this was as complete a wine as I have ever had. Breathtaking stuff now, and I can already imagine how incredible it will be in a couple of decades. On the night, it was an exquisite pairing with a carpaccio of Petunia Ocean Trout with Ikura and citrus dressing that the chef had specially prepared to match the wine.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/3/2013 - ews3 wrote: 97 Points
Sine Qua Non Dinner, volume II (Maloney & Porcelli, NYC): this continues to be silly good. from 750.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/26/2013 - davidn Likes this wine: 100 Points
Until drinking this bottle I thought the 2001 was way too sugarry-sweet and lacking acid. I have changed my mind 100%. This is as good an Yquem I have ever tasted and I believe it is going to do nothing but get better for at least the next 20 years+. Tasting note: Yes! Pairing: Shake a little salt on Torchon of fxxx Gxxx and in the imortal words of Irving Berlin, "Heaven, I'm in Heaven". And also the not so imortal words of Speedy, Try it. You'll like it!".
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/22/2013 - Jeff Leve wrote: 100 Points
If some artists or performers are known and described by only one name, Jimi, Picasso, Matisse, Madonna, Garbo, perhaps the only descriptor needed for this wine is 2001 d’Yquem. I know that works for anyone lucky enough to have tasted this nectar. The best vintage since 1975 for the estate is off the charts, in all the right ways! It blends intense, massive layers of pure, ripe, honey drenched fruits with bracing acidity give it a laser like focus that is found in few other wines. While it’s not close to maturity, drinking this now is a thrill a sip ride. If you lay down a few bottles for your kids, OK, make that your grandchildren, they will remember you fondly.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
3/11/2013 - Gabe Likes this wine: 100 Points
I'm not sure it gets better than this. Any descriptors cannot do it justice. Liquid Gold that will be unreal as it ages. Frankly not sure how it can improve it's so good. Paired wonderfully with Foie Gras.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/10/2013 - Nosey Nose wrote: 97 Points
Fresh, youthful, floral aromas filled with baking spice, fermented apricot, crushed stone, and hay. Bright and lively on entry with a sort of under-ripe citrus note that adds levity to the deep, golden caramel notes of the mid. Great density of flavor and wonderful length that shows ridiculous generosity of fruit on the finish: pit fruit and pineapple. Really hard to stop drinking. Yummy juice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/23/2013 - lepetitchateau wrote: 97 Points
Lucky enough to have this again - magnificent, amazingly delicious wine. While I noted previously that it should be left for 12 years more before opening, I revise that some (for my palate but not everyone's) as it is very tasty right now!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/18/2013 - Pknut wrote:
Marco's TN immediately below is very good. My own somewhat vague impression from Burgundy Night at my house: 2001 Yquem. Much subtler nose than the Nairac 2005 Barsac opened alongside it, both generously brought by Jim D. with his wife's particularly outstanding pear tart. This '01 Yquem lacks the mandarin orange notes of the Barsac, this is more tan/hay sweet notes; good, nice lightweight palate, light cement notes. The strength here is on the finish, which is bright."
Some of the '01 Yquem remained in the bottle, which I saved for Chris Y. to try the next night. We were both very impressed. No oxidation nor degradation, after 24 hours of air this '01 Yquem is showing bright citrus fruit, with moderate sweetness balanced by firm, racy acidity, all on a lightweight frame, seemingly dancing very nimbly. Lots of energy to this dessert wine, not ponderous, not thick. Complex, multi-faceted, very energetic and very impressive.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/18/2013 - mdefreitas wrote: 96 Points
Burdundies @ Asher's (Westport, CT): I am not a big Sauternes drinker, but I cannot deny the greatness of this wine. Perhaps because it is more tension-filled, crisper and sleeker than most other Sauternes I am exposed to. Such power and concentration, but this is lifted by lighter flavors of earl grey tea, citrus and florals. Long, lingering and profound in the finish. Much better than a bottle I had a few months ago, where it seemed a bit more closed. This is a wine for the ages.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/31/2012 - charleshetzel wrote: 100 Points
absolutely amazing d'Yquem. perfection in a bottle.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2012 - Collector1855 wrote: 97 Points
I am not a great lover of Sauternes, especially when young, not a big lover of desserts period, just not into sweet stuff. The 01 Yquem like all great Sauternes stands out for being light and fresh at the same time as unctuous and sweet, very complex too. PS: Since there are only two Yquems in the last 50 years with 100 RP points, the price is off the charts too.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/20/2012 - Ljuay Likes this wine: 100 Points
Love this. It is flawless! Excellent nose - apples, peaches, apricots, cherries and honey. Intense finish with all the right acidity. Just awesome.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/18/2012 - PC73 wrote:
Tangarine, apricot. Rich.
Sweet, syrupy. Not too much acidity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/12/2012 - Jeff Leve wrote: 100 Points
It's funny. I taste this wine at least a few times a year and I seldom take notes, thinking I've already posted a current view on this sexy, sweet elixir. I was surprised to see only one note published. Time to fix that situation. If aromatics are your thing, the blast of fresh green apples, apricot, smoke, caramel, white peach, molasses and pineapple slathered in honey is the right place to start. Thick, rich, intense and packed with countless layers of ripe, and over ripe fruit, the wine ends with a dense, silky, fat, opulent finish. The zippy acidity keeps everything where it should be. Drink this now, or save for your kids, kids and let them taste their first 100 year old wine.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/8/2012 - Blake Brown Likes this wine: 100 Points
Truly remarkable and considering it was paired with foie gras, it was the match made in heaven; creamy thick righteous nectar loaded with gobs of honeyed peach, nectarine, mango and pear; amazing d`Yquem and the best of many bottles recently enjoyed in the past few months.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/3/2012 - Seth Rosenberg Likes this wine:
Acker BYO 2012 (Tribeca Grill, Tribeca, NY): Partial note: nose only. Very sweet and young. Waxy and thick nose of creme brulee, marzipan, nuts, vanilla. Very creamy but clearly needs time. Seems to have the right stuff however. Nose - 5.5/6.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/14/2012 - BradE wrote:
A perfect wine, that will rival all Y'quem's over time. Perfect.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/15/2012 - salil wrote: 95 Points
A remarkable combination of intensity and lightness; a core of ripe apricot, nectarine and pineapple fruit framed by sweeter honeyed, floral and butterscotch flavours. This has a lovely purity of flavour and stunning balance and length, but seems to be holding a lot in reserve and not showing the aromatic complexity or depth that I'd usually expect from Yquem.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/13/2012 - lepetitchateau wrote: 97 Points
Not much to add to others' comments - this is totally too young but still brilliant wine that will last 100 years. Leave it alone until about 2025 or so.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/20/2012 - Wine Gopher wrote:
Honey, apricot with secondary flavors of pineapple and lemon. Nice long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/8/2012 - Rosengoo Likes this wine: 98 Points
I drank this at home while catching up on old episodes of "it's Always Sunny In Philadelphia". It seemed the right thing to do at the time. The last time I tried one of these bottles, I wasn't as fully impressed as the first time that I had one. Now, it seems to have come out of a dormant stage and it's showing quite well. Lots of honey with some mild apricot thrown in. If I have any small complaint, it's that the wine is still a slight bit "thin". I think a few more years will only fatten it up for the better.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/25/2012 - clairenclarence wrote: 92 Points
i tink i hve nt drnk enuff of sweet wine yet.a nice bttl but nt impressive.the fruits nt complex enuff.its rather bright tat nd time to age.it finish off with some oakiness.the plus point of tis sweet wine is it doesnt.taste syrupy.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (1)
6/17/2012 - bon vivant wrote:
What a joy. Big tasty and intense. Still young but with incredible balance and long finish. (from 375)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/12/2012 - sandwich wrote: 100 Points
Tasted from a 375ml. Unbelievable Sauternes. The best d'yquem I've tasted. Melon and honey dominated the explosive flavors.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/8/2012 - Jamie Manley wrote: 100 Points
Day 1 01 - Right after both corks were pulled, the 01 asserted itself. Beautiful aromas wafted from the bottle. In glass the magic began. Toffee, pineapple, pear, beeswax, lemon curd, and honey are all delineated on the nose. The palate takes it to a whole new level. My goodness, what a wine! All of the above flavors with the addition of grapefruit and creme brulee. Overwhelming richness and tongue searing intensity, all with perfect lift from the laser like acidity. On bended knee!!
03 - This is no slouch, and IMHO it is already a great Yquem and will only improve. A little muted next to the 01, but the nose still delivers. Citrus fruits, lanolin, thick beeswax, lemon curd, and prevalent oak. The palate follows a similar flavor profile, with maybe just a bit too much oak. Still incredibly rich and absolutely Yquem. I expected the lower acidity to be exposed, but the finish acquits itself very nicely. Very impressive.
Day 2 - Both benefitted from the additional air, especially the 03. The oak really subsided on the 03. The 01 is just in a different league, speechless. And this is not a knock on the 03, it is a superb wine. But on day 2, the 01 has sealed its legend status. All the flavors on both wines were more pronounced and intense on both wines.
Days 6 & 7 - Skipped 3,4 and 5 to make sure that I had plenty for the last two days (both wines from 375.) Not surprisingly, there was not any profound change in either wine from day 2 to day 6 and 7. A little softer and maybe the addition of quince and apricot to further the complexity. The 03 still had crisp acidity and I did not find it cloying at all. The 01 just had me muttering with amazement.
Conclusion - What a great week! You will see a 3 point differential in my scores, and these are very significant points. The 01 is one of those special wines that seem to appear every 20 to 30 years. The 03 is a great Yquem and deserves the accolades that it receives. On all tasting days I used Jin-na as a test subject. She was served both wines blind and picked the 01 every time. My buying advice is this: if you can afford it, the 01 is worth every penny that you will spend. If your budget is tighter, the 03 will still give you the pleasure of Yquem in a brilliant (if hot) year.
2001 Yquem - 100 Pts
2003 Yquem - 97 Pts
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/2/2012 - Milos wrote: 96 Points
Drank at dinner with Heinz and the gang. Beautiful bright full yellow. The nose is inviting with lots of peach, orange peel, butterscotch, apricot. The palate was little disappointing with lack of acidity to support the sweetness of the wine; very pure flavours but little cloying.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/2/2012 - cab blends wrote: 97 Points
100 Point Wine Dinner: Maybe just not my night tonight. While a great wine, it was not perfect as I had experienced previously. The finish specifically seemed a little short. The almonds, peach, pear, apricots were great.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/1/2012 - -E- wrote: 98 Points
Bordeaux Søskenparsmaking (Moss, Norway): Hinsides nese! Enorm, kompleks og intens. Mørk, tropisk gulfrukt. Plastlim og kokos. Rik, ekstremt intens og med vanvittig sødme. Super syre. Uendelig ettersmak. Benchmark.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/1/2012 - LWI wrote: 97 Points
Bordeaux Siblings (Moss, Norway): A little reticent on the nose, however leaves little doubt concerning which wine this is. Multifaceted, lightly spiced, elegant, fresh, very long. However, slightly less impressive than a bottle a few months back. Too warm storage?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/1/2012 - Jamie Manley wrote: 100 Points
How do you even begin to describe a wine like this? Let me start by saying that I had lowered my expectations - no way was this wine going to ever live up to the hype. Not only did it live up, this Yquem smashed right through my expectation point, and just laughed at me as it blew past with seemingly no effort and a full tank of gas left. Wow! As soon as I pulled the cork I knew that I was in trouble. Though primary, the aroma was penetrating. I tried to not touch the bottle for 4 hours, but this was futile. Let's get right to it. The nose has haunting, dynamic aromas of pineapple, lemon, beeswax, creme brulee, lanolin, and honey. Constantly changing, I was also sensing some mango and pear. As incredible as the nose was, it was the palate that did me in. This Yquem may become habit-forming; not a good thing on my salary. All the aforementioned flavors of the nose are there on the palate, but with this searing intensity. I mean, they are literally burned into your tongue. And the amazing thing is the lift of the wine and its lightness of foot. I was studdering with glee by this point. The finish goes on forever and you cannot stop thinking about this wine. How often does such a highly heralded product exceed expectations these days? Not much. I had contemplated trying this wine for well over a year before finally pulling the trigger. I just returned from buying as much as I could afford. It is that good! 100 Pts
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/20/2012 - pacificoast wrote: 100 Points
This wine is likely to remain the reigning champion of Yquem for quite a while. Probably not since the 1959 has there been such a result from the chateau; I am confident this is easily superior to even the 1967. Nothing in between, or since, is in my view a candidate to seriously compete with this magnificent effort.
Superlatives seem to be a bit silly to describe this monumentally elegant, complex, rich and rewarding wine. The initial experience of the nose is almost preternaturally psychedelic; I swear I can detect dozens of aroma notes, all arranged in a 3-D space in the glass and each sporting a spectrum of colors. If that's an aspect of a psychedelic experience, where sensory input gets criss-crossed to where you can see music and hear colors, well, that's a bit of what's going on here. Close your eyes, let the aroma capture you, and a rainbow of colors may present themselves on the nose in the glass.
On the palate, it goes without saying that the experience is one of magnificent balance, elegance and richness without the slightest bit of cloyingness or over-sweetness. I feel it impossible to single out a single flavor, or group of flavors, that stand out, since none really do, yet all the typical notes of a good Sauternes are there. You've got the apricots, the almonds, the honey, pears, pineapple, and all the rest, all interwoven in a most exquisite harmony that serves a standard to which a great Sauternes should aspire.
This was one of the last vintages overseen by Comte Alexandre de Lur Saluces, who produced this wine and left the estate the year it was bottled. What a magnificent legacy to have left; I have no doubt this wine will thrill wine lovers and be talked about for decades, generations, and possibly even centuries to come. Bravo!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/30/2012 - ralphie9677 wrote: 95 Points
Amazing wine. Exploding with so many varied sweet flavors that went on and on. Finish lasted for a good 30-45 seconds. Nothing short of a fantastic wine that deserves all credit it has received. Fig, caramel, almond, and candied citrus fruits stand out.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/27/2012 - Goldstone wrote: 97 Points
Kracher vs. Yquem (Scala Restaurant, Renaissance Hotel, Wan Chai, Hong Kong): Tasted blind but knowing it was in the pack. Light bronzed gold colour with just a touch of burnish. Nose is drop-dead silence creatingly lovely...... supremely elegant yet rich and heady acacia flowers and acacia honey and warm summer-night garden air....gosh, this is almost reverberant and head-resonating on the nose, which is very rare indeed. Palate is just drop-dead gorgeous......coffee roasting oils and several variations on a fugue of honey and tons of Bot followed by deep, deep and mounting resonance but balanced by tons of acidic freshness. The pleasure was not in correctly spotting this blind but in being so completely transported by it. I didn't think that the Ch. Rieussec 2001 I have drank on many occasions could have been so comprehensively bettered.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/27/2012 - sharonandroland wrote:
Yquem vs Kracher tasting - Group ranking 4th with 2 first, 1 second and one last, my rank 8th.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/6/2012 - Tavastgatan wrote: 100 Points
So we meet again. This is my reference for a hundred point wine. This is seamlessly balanced and absoultely delicious in every sense. To say that this wine is long is truly an understatement, the flavours lasts forever. Perfect wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/18/2012 - salil wrote: 95 Points
Incredibly fresh, complex and layered, combining all sorts of floral, tropical fruited, honeyed and more savoury elements into an enticing scent that slowly keeps developing with air. There's fantastic richness and depth here, but it doesn't come across as sweet as I'd expect - there's a sense of restraint and remarkable acidity beneath that moderates the sweetness and keeps it very light and refreshing at the same time. A superb wine though it seems to be holding a lot in reserve now, but I'm glad for the chance to try it. Thanks Mike.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/17/2012 - indiscriminate palate wrote: 94 Points
Old Haut and Young Yquem (Vernon): Perhaps it was the hype and the multi-100 point scores. Perhaps it was a friend telling me this wine can inspire religious faith in the masses. It is a superbly balanced wine, with excellent acidity, good concentration, lightness, and a long finish, but lacked the blow-me-away aromatics and complexity I would expect from a "perfect" wine. Very very good, yes, but not (yet) deserving the additional superlatives.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/15/2012 - alittle wrote: 98 Points
Popped and poured, followed over the next 6 hours. Beautiful deep golden colour in the glass, and quite viscous. A powerful nose of honey, clove, roasted almonds, apricot, florals, beeswax, lemongrass, white peach and fresh grated ginger. Every time you stick your nose in this you get something different; constantly evolving and adding layer upon layer of complexity. With air, some tropical components came out on the nose, showing pineapple and coconut. On the palate, luxuriously textured, showing apricot, marmalade and spice. Beautiful balance with complimentary acidity, which paves the way for an extremely long finish. There is a touch of botrytis bitterness on the finish, as well as a slight greenness that I’ve never encountered in Sauternes. I was worried that this wouldn’t live up to the hype, but this truly is liquid gold. Worth every penny.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/22/2012 - Remony wrote: 98 Points
Celestial? Ambrosial? I have only had three other vintages of Yquem, but this certainly is in a class apart from them. I have drunk a couple of top class Mosels of similar complexity, but different flavours of course. This half bottle seems smoother and richer than our last one two years ago, and has darkened slightly but perceptibly. A distinct note of very fresh Moroccan orange peel, and some peaches and spices. Very light on its feet and very intense at the same time. Extraordinary complexity. A bit of a bite at the back this time, but no harm in that. One small glass lasts an hour or more -- sipped, salivated and savoured ever so slowly. Each sip stays with you for minutes. The half bottle should see out the week. Probably both celestial and ambrosial, but I will settle for the most interesting and delicious wine I have yet encountered.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/21/2012 - LWI wrote: 99 Points
A Weekend in Excess; 1/20/2012-1/21/2012 (Trondheim, Norway): My first one. I was most anxious if this would live up to the hype. Worried when sniffing it. Yes, it was good, but not extraordinary. Tasting it, I just had to laugh. Such a combination of intensity, richness, lightness, and balance! It is somehow almost cool. Imagine what this will taste like in 20-50 years!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/15/2012 - aagrawal wrote: 97 Points
2001 Yquem Dinner: Popped and poured with a slight chill. Very light, yellow-gold in color; the nose is a bit closed with decent fruit; the palate shows explosive flavor and has fantastic complexity and balance between sweetness and acid, there is purity and linearity normally only found in the best balanced icewines and the complexity found in great sauternes, great white fruits; finish is long. This wine is very young, almost as if it was just released and not like it has been aging for 10 years. I suspect that it is also a bit closed right now from the nose's reticence. I have some left and will see what it turns into in a few days. For now, excellent but not perfect although it certainly has potential a few decades from now. 95++
Day 3: Nose is showing more today with a waxy/lanolin component and some white peach, cinnamon spice, definitely a classic young sauternes nose but with more complexity; palate is absolutely explosive, even more than on day 1, with fantastic density of fruit, spice, clean and fresh acidity throughout but especially in the midpalate and finish; finish is very long. This is certainly improved from the day it was opened, but it is still painfully young and will likely open up even more with more air. Though this is excellent now and I'm glad I tried it (and look forward to trying it again far in the future), I would recommend HOLDING for as long as you can bear (at least a decade). Right now the other 2001 Sauternes offer comparable drinking at much better value. 97++
Day 6: Holding up well, even improving from three days ago. Sad to see the last of it go.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2011 - cardsandwine Likes this wine:
Classic d’Yquem. Apricots, peaches and vanilla on the nose. Lovely on the palate. While I like this wine on the palate, the finish is always disappointing to me as I find it very medicinal.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/18/2011 - peternelson wrote: 93 Points
Classic petrol, apricot, creme brulee; intense all around with great balance, concentrated elegant flavors and long finish. This is very classic and perfectly proportioned but a little staid and very young. Not flashy or super exciting, but very good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/18/2011 - WetRock wrote:
EWG - 2001: A Taste Odyssey (Conrad Green's Abode): Tropical fruits and apricots on the nose. Very focused and well put together. Driving acids behind fat fruits. Pretty with notes of vanilla. Lovely with loads of potential.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/12/2011 - Greg Munyard wrote: 98 Points
When a dear friend turned up with an 83 Latour I just had to try another 01 Yquem. (With hindsight I'm not sure you should drink 2 wines of this calibre and emphasis, one after the other, since each deserves to be what your palate remembers most clearly).
Oh my! You can't overstate how good this wine is. Nose has a really penetrating apricotty, orange marmalade botrytis with a touch of pineapple and vanilla and that orange coloured honey fungus you get on tree trunks, plus some lovely sweet orange blossom character as well. My nose was still hyper sensitive after the overwhelming nose of the 83 Latour, and the Yquem nose had a bit of bite in the back of my nostrils. This is a very, very concentrated wine!
Palate: The flavours are dried apricots(!), some dried peaches, mango, marmaladey orange rind, pineapple and some vanilla. There's a hint of honeyed toast, too. It's luscious and very sweet but has perfect balance because of lots of lovely acid. I keep saying this when I drink this wine but you constantly find yourself licking your lips, even after a small sip. The botrytis is fabulous, with tremendous concentration. Even a teaspoonful fills the mouth with flavour and does not get diluted however long you swill it around or draw it through your teeth. Our winemaker friend said it was "very well defined, with urgent intensity, sustained attack and an assertive final statement". Truly magnificent.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/20/2011 - Burgundy Al wrote: 97 Points
Acker Merrall BYO (Sepia - Chicago IL): Just a tiny sip. Magical. Thank you, David.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/20/2011 - Greg Munyard wrote: 98 Points
2nd bottle we've drunk in the last 12 months and makes me think about the evolution leading to man (or woman, sorry Sandrine) creating such a masterpiece.
Colour: Light, fresh and very youthful; years off its best. No comparison to a 99 drunk last month, which was way more advanced (and nothing like the 01 in any other respect either, by the way).
A beautiful complex nose, with fabulous integration of apricots, orange rind and pineapple in a glorious botrytis cocktail. And then there's the palate ...!
Wow! Is this wine for real? Amazing flavours had the 3 of us licking our lips and "ummm"ing every time I looked around the table! Yes, it's that delicious. Exquisite. Lovely thick, syruppy texture but is not heavy because of beautiful pineappley acid character running through an intense and thick apricotty base, with honey, and faint hints of champignons, all finishing with a slightly astringent orange rind character. Gorgeous (distinctively Yquem) flavours but this is one special vintage; with fabulous acid, fantastic balance and vitality and amazing length - a magnificent contribution to mankind.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/8/2011 - Vintomas wrote: 98 Points
In the nose some tropical fruit, botrytis with a hint of characteristic acetaldehyde/solvent notes, mature citrus fruits, some spice, great concentration of aromas and elegance. A very good Sauternes-typical nose that gives a young impression, very well integrated oak barrel notes that are hardly discernible. Enormous concentration on the palate, very fresh acidity that gives an almost "fizzy" impression mid-palate. Massive and concentrated fruit notes of mixed citrus fruits, passion fruit and dried apricot, together with some spice. It is the palate that really gives this wine its lift! At this stage the nose is similar to many other 1er cru classé-level Sauternes wines that I would score low-90s, while the palate is very concentrated, with razor-sharp acidity, which together with the dominant citrus notes gives a very fresh impression. However, the wine is still quite young, and while impressive, still needs a very long time to peak. I tasted it from half bottle, rated it "97-99?" at the moment, and would guess that another 10-20 years would be needed for half bottles to peak, around 2020-2030. Perhaps 2030-2040 for full bottles in perfect condition.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
9/23/2011 - soyhead wrote: 95 Points
nose - rich, raisin, floral, maple, peach, coconut, lots going on
mouth - impressive breadth and depth, extremely long finish. on the attack, vanilla gives way to raisins, honey, flowers, and after one minute or so peaches and melons. Even at five minutes a slightly saccharine flavor persists. This is some very concentrated stuff.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/10/2011 - ricknat1 Likes this wine: 98 Points
A wonderful wine, which is drinking extremely well now. Light gold, very fresh and gorgeous. Dense and concentrated on the palate and uniquely Yquem.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/30/2011 - dcwino wrote: 97 Points
Don’s 50 50th birthday bash (Don's house): Complex nose indeed, ginger, peaches, apricots, pineapples, perhaps a hint of fresh dill and etc. Such a precision and so light. However it has lost some baby fat and seems a bit more structured. Perhaps one of the greatest wines every made.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/18/2011 - pakabear wrote: 98 Points
Great Grapes for a Great Cause (Mandarin Hotel, Washington DC): it needs so much more time, the complexity alone merits this score!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/18/2011 - ews3 wrote: 99 Points
Great Grapes for a Great Cause SQN Tasting -- 4th Annual; 6/17/2011-6/18/2011 (Mandarin Oriental, Washington DC): apples, honey, peach. i only got a sip, but the finish just went... the gift that keeps on giving. a ridiculous wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
6/11/2011 - rcl1 wrote: 98 Points
Yellow gold in color. Medium legs. Honeydew, Honeysuckle. Medium bodied. Smooth texture. Long finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/15/2011 - fhirsch wrote: 98 Points
Incredible nose, straight from the opening. Very rich, complex, layered and a never-ending finish. You could sit for an entire evening with this before even thinking of taking a first sip. Gorgeous!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/1/2011 - numen wrote: 96 Points
Simply a fabulous wine. Drank from a 375 with roquefort, after a healthy soft-decant. Perfect balance of acidity and sweetness. Very light. Docking a few points for the relatively brief finish, not as rich as the '83.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/27/2011 - kelpcowboy wrote: 100 Points
There are such things as 100 point wines and this one is near the top of the list. Spent several minutes with my nose in the glass before the first sip. Floral, citrus and notes carmelized sugars. Each sip contained a complexity of flavors that were in harmony with each other. The finish lasted longer than any wine in memory. Must find more.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/23/2011 - Faryan wrote: 100 Points
Old Bordeaux: (served blind) Decidedly lighter in color but unmistakably Sauternes. With some swirling and a whiff you get the same Yquem texture to the nose with that waxy depth and almost unstable nrevosity, like a nuclear reaction.
This wine engulfs the nostrils with such depth of pitch. This might have been the deepest, most structured white wine I’ve ever smelled. Upon first sip, it is almost a rapturous emotion that overcomes. It is like a deluge of lavender, botrytis driven honeycomb and above all else essence de apricot, like an ethereal concoction of Ferran Adria. This wine is endless, overwhelming my senses and throwing me into near physical shock. It is the legendary 2001 Yquem and it will surely last forever in immortality, barely unclinching its true potential. An epic experience. Kudos to Matt for adroitly guessing it blind!!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/23/2011 - tooch wrote: 97 Points
Older Bordeaux (Chez Glowa - Bethesda, MD): Darryl brought this bottle and served it double-blind after the 1983 D'Yquem - I whispered to Faryan that I thought this could be the 2001. It had an underlying commonality to the 1983, maybe it was the richness or the dense apricot and coconut on the palate This, however, was an entirely different animal than the 1983. Incredibly dense and powerful nose of coconut, white flowers, lanolin, apricot, and vanilla bean. Best way I can describe this wine is this; it's a sleeping giant. Brutally young, and I'm talking decades too young. The palate was incredibly deep, with explosions of dense apricot, and white peach fruit. The finish had nice minerals and balance. Hard to find anything wrong with this...there was a touch of heat on the finish...but that'll go away with age.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/31/2011 - Mr. Muga wrote: 100 Points
Q1 Epic Wine Dinner at Palena with the Wine Guys. WOTN!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/14/2011 - Raynor Likes this wine: 100 Points
Je suis subjugué par la complexité, la richesse ainsi que la finesse de ce vin. Un nez moins "sauterne" qu'habituel, beaucoup de fruits (pamplemousse, pêche, poire, marmelade). Un vin onctueux au goût de miel léger. Une longueur extraordinaire. Le pilier de cette soirée de St-Valentin au Toqué à Montréal.
J'abonde donc dans le camp de Parker avec une note parfaite.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/17/2011 - jeff nowak wrote: 93 Points
why have i been underwhelmed by this wine recently when my drinking companions remain gaga? first, i've got to stop being goaded into opening one. ha! but it has shown shut down to me of late. i know it's splitting hairs, it's still a great wine, but the suduiraut gave it a strong run tonight.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/17/2011 - kstoddard Likes this wine: 94 Points
G6 (Jeff): Deep golden color. Honeyed tropical fruit nose. Tastes of apple, pear, melon, lemon, and lime. Incredibly well balanced with great freshness. Rich honeyed finish that has nice elegance and complexity. Seems to be shutting down or going through a dumb phase as this wine has shown much better in the past. 13.5% alcohol.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/14/2011 - darvid wrote:
From a 750ml opened the previous day. Medium yellow-gold. Initial aromatic impression of very fresh fruit medley. Not especially viscous or unctuous in appearance. Mouth impression - this is WINE, not "sweet wine." Thick, intense texture and forceful presentation without any sense of weight. The depth, breadth, and height of material mask a mighty fortress of acid and tannic structure. Hallucinogenic complexity of aromas and flavors. Orange marmalade; Asian and Indian spices (e.g., curry, cardamom and papadum notes); cranberry compote; ginger; pear; bergamot; mint; carob; brined (smoked and saline) pork chop; crispy bacon; fresh cantaloupe ... immensely long finish, truncated only by the fact that this wine is very, very young and it's easy to see it lasting for fifty or eighty years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/3/2011 - Uruny wrote: 98 Points
Fairly subtle nose with scents of honey, botryits and coconut.
On the palate however it explodes and leaves a 5 min. aftertaste that makes you feel floating on botrytis clouds!
Fantastic complexity and the absolute winner in our 2001 tasting.
Kicking ass and leaving great wines like Rieussec and Suduiraut easily behind.
Merci bien Chateau D'Yquem, our next bottle will be in 2016!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/1/2011 - mygrogro wrote: 99 Points
great finish to a great night
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/31/2010 - BradE wrote:
This is a rock star d'Yquem, and for my palate the best since 1921. This is and will be a historical wine. Every time I drink this, I buy more. Simply amazing.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/4/2010 - St Paul wrote: 100 Points
I just had to rate this wine again after been tasting this glorius wine yet another time. Pure love out of a nectar from gold. This is the best sweet wine I have ever tasted together with an amazing bottle of 1989 Trockenbeerenauslese from my friend Egon Muller.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/3/2010 - Tavastgatan wrote: 100 Points
Yes, yes, yes! I'm treated with this wine yet another time. One word is enough: glorious!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/11/2010 - Rafal wrote: 98 Points
What an experience to taste this perfect balance. The aftertaste stayed in my mind hours later and it seemed way too complex to describe in words. The nose was that of usual suspects: orange, honey, rose, and peach, but all rather gentle and subdued, not heavy at all, yet highly perfumed. And whether you like me to say this or not, I was blown away by the scent of a linden tree in full blossom that somehow conjured memories of happy sunny days in the months of May... The palate was delicate, graceful, and completely in accordance with the nose. I could not discern any flavours in my mouth that I did not smell. My only regret was having to drink it so young, but what an experience it was... I am giving it 98 because I just have to keep 2 points aside for those statistically possible exaltations later in my life. Otherwise, it would be a 100 so-far.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/30/2010 - balassis wrote: 100 Points
By far the best of Yquems I have ever tasted. Unbelievable wine. Absolutely faultless!
A real masterpiece.
Golden with amber hues.
Layers of quince marmalade, passion fruits, pears, apricots, creme brullee, rubber and nail polish.
A perfection.
To enjoy on its own!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/24/2010 - efc wrote: 93 Points
It reminded me of a line from Bull Durham where Crash Davis said that he believed in "long, deep, slow kisses that last for three days." That pretty much sums up the length of this wine. It went on and on. Nothing like the other Sauternes we had that evening. What did it have - apricot, marmalade, a little petrol, pineapple and a tinge of petrol both in the nose and on the palate. A complete package that wasn't too sweet or thick. Such a little bit went such a long way. To complement the wine, we had a napoleon with orange pastry cream, on a bed of cranberry syrup with candied cranberries on top. Perfect!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/9/2010 - BradKNYC wrote:
The Kesslers visit NYC and I roast a little piggy to go with some terrific wines. (Dougherty's): Finally got to try this legend. My first impression was, you know, I think the ’01 Rieussec is going to be the better wine for the first 40 years or so as it offers so much more right now. After that, however, this wine will run away with it for the next 100 years. There’s a lot to this wine that’s hidden. Yes, there’s plenty of upfront pleasure to enjoy now, but you really get the sense that this is a densely packed wine that’s going to need a lot of time to evolve to eventually show all its layers. In the present, there’s wonderful ‘nilla wafer, cream, butterscotch with tropical fruit and orange citrus flavors and aromas with terrific depth and balance, but the wine is so primary. If you’re young and have this wine, be very thankful. If not, your kids will love you for it. Solid A now with A+ potential.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/9/2010 - Greg Munyard wrote: 99 Points
I’ve had many Yquems but this is by far the best (although I haven’t tried the 1967). Colour is bright pale gold, showing no signs of age. The nose is very intense and penetrating, with a beautiful amalgam of honeyed orange blossom, pineapple and marmaladey desserts aromas.
The palate is spectacular. Very complex, very intense but tightly coiled with fantastic natural acidity which makes it really bright and lifted. The flavours dance across the palate. And what flavours they are! It tastes like dried apricots crushed up and blended with mango, honey and orange marmalade and citrus flavours that give it a beautiful cut and amazing persistence, while being extremely refined, vital and lively. Is by far the longest palate I have ever experienced. Reminded me somewhat of sipping Grand Marnier, with some of that mouth filling sensation and lift – albeit more subtley - long after being swallowed. Incredibly, I could still taste hints of it more than 20 minutes later.
OK, I'm a "stickies" fan but this is the best balanced (and most enjoyable) wine I have ever drunk. No other wine has had me smiling so much of the next day just remembering it! I have never given any wine 100 points, and reluctantly will not do so now, but I feel a bit mean spirited giving this astonishing creation (only) 99 points. Wow!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/3/2010 - KSWinegeek wrote: 99 Points
I never have had a d'Yquem before and until Mike and Ann brought one to our house, I really didn't understand what all the fuss was about. Now I know. Rich, opulent, elegant and complex. After our guests left, my father and I licked our glasses - it was just that good.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/26/2010 - bubbachumps wrote: 100 Points
Aged Bordeaux, Champagne, Chef Toby Joseph and a few miscellaneous wines (Casa Covolo): Off the charts ethereal nose of tropical fruits, sugar candy, orange peel and on and on and on - just gaining complexity for me. Stunningly delicious in the mouth. Seamless with precision and grace just begging to be consumed. I could smell this wine all night and be happy! Impeccable finish and nose! What a treat for Chris to bring this out. The wine of the evening for me and what a 100 point wine is supposed to be like. The first time I've assigned this score to a wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/23/2010 - clericjohnbrown wrote: 100 Points
Much the same as everyone else. We were so anxious to try this wine so we popped a half bottle and found it to be a beautiful, opulent, rich, powerful wine that at the same time has brilliant finesse and elegance that requires so much more time. Like everyone else has stated, it's almost a shame to open this wine so young, but the opportunity to try it overwhelms. Can't wait to try my first truly aged d'Yquem.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/22/2010 - Burgundy Al wrote: 98 Points
Birthday Dinner (Inovasi - Lake Bluff IL): Great tropical fruit aromas accompanied by candied ginger and candied orange rind. Cornucopia of flavors continue onto the palate with some great toasted macadamia nuts. Great acid and great minerality make this even more exciting into long, energetic, textured finish.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/22/2010 - MatthewF wrote:
Celebration Dinner (Inovasi, Lake Bluff, IL): 750ml. Intense aromatics of apricot, ripe peach, vanilla, and honey. The palate is rich and full of the same ripe stone fruits. Fantastic mineral backbone with outstanding acidity. Medium body with a very long finish. A fantastic wine that has a very long life ahead.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/18/2010 - Tavastgatan wrote: 100 Points
An absolutely magic bottle! Thanks 'Wine Gunner' I love you!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/13/2010 - plhew wrote: 98 Points
Well I was looking forward to tasting this double 100 point wine and it did not disappoint. Definitely the best sauternes I have ever had. So vibrant powerful and complex in it's youth. Seems a shame to open another for 10 to 20 years. Such a future.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/4/2010 - DOCTA WINE wrote: 100 Points
Had several different bottles of this great Sauternes! The taste was nothing short of stellar! Apricots, vanilla, peaches, only begin to describe this full bodied wine. The after taste stays in your
mouth over 2 mins........too good!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/1/2010 - Remony wrote: 98 Points
Julia's 50th (Old Rectory): Infanticide, but we could not resist opening a half bottle (our first) on such an occasion. For all of us, the finest glass of sauternes/barsac we have ever tasted. Still primary of course, but so complete, rounded and extraordinary already. Orange, pineapple and honey, yes, but much more than that. And no hint of the slight bite so often present even in the finest wines of the region (in Yquem '90 for example). Marvellously balanced, long & satisfying. 98 points only because there must still be room for development well into the future. Apart from four 2005 FGs tasted with Farr in October 2008 when newly in bottle, the only probable 100 point wine I have had to date.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/29/2010 - flerve wrote:
I have had 2 other vintages of d'Yquem (1995 and I forget) and they were both good. This wine was unbelievable. Viscous, mouthcoating, so concentrated, so complex, so delicious. Others are saying this needs age, but I thought it was absolutely perfect.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/4/2010 - jeff nowak wrote: 90 Points
from 375 ml, my bottle. others raved, i was underwhelmed. i have had this pushing 8-10 times, and this was clearly the worst example i've tasted. seemed washed out, lacking the unctiously expressive apricot and sweet mineral fruit i'm used to. i will also be contrarion to my great friend who says this is a shame to drink. i don't agree because every other time i've had it the wine transcends probability, drinking beautifully young, and displaying itself as ready to drink now-2100.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/4/2010 - Winevestor wrote: 98 Points
I was lucky to drink this at a friend's house recently. I've also been lucky enough to have had three other d'Yquem vintages. This was in a different league. The nose of this was un-***-believable. I could have siniffed it all night. Big, strong, exotic, tropical nose; passiion fruit, honey, kiwi and star-fruit. Big, big, big. This was very early in its life. The wine is an infant, but still an amazing drink. One of the fascinating things about wine, is seeing how it ages. I was very lucky to be in on the very start of the life of this wine. The wine is clearly a juggernaut, that has many years of aging and evolving to go. I'm looking forward to tasting this wine over the next two or three decades (all that I have left) and seeing where it goes. As you can tell by the gushing, one of my wine high-points!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/4/2010 - rnellans wrote: 99 Points
Exceptional wine. Such balance and length! Drinking beautifully.. Honey, orange, crème brulee…Great acidity on the backend. A shame to drink now however, as it’s just a baby.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/20/2010 - MauriceE wrote: 100 Points
From 0,375 l. Decanted nearly an hour before drinking. Right, we already had some great wines this evening (like Montrachet and an old red label of Bruno Giacosa), but when this juice hits the glass... you're blown away. The sheer intensity of the wine is incredible, when you've not drunk this wine you don't know what I'm talking about. The nose: heavenly. The finish, everything, just perfect. Another 100 points here.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/11/2010 - Khamen wrote: 100 Points
Welcome to the pleasuredome. D'Yquem, a candlelit room, soft background music. I'm all in a tizzy. What a wine. Perfect status confirmed,it gets no better than this.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)
2/20/2010 - Baeyens Cellars wrote: 96 Points
Rich and concentrated with so many different fruits, orange rind, honey, apricot, etc. The extremely long finish would all of a sudden then reveal another layer of different fruits. Never experienced that before. Great acid, structure, balance. I really do think it is too young and powerful now to be at its best though. It needs many more years to really show all its complexities that are to come for those who can be patient. I have no doubt this will be a 100 point wine in my book when it matures.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/6/2010 - KiteHillWines wrote: 100 Points
Truly extraordinary, with an incredible minutes long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/11/2010 - Wintervest wrote: 96 Points
2001 Yquem - Private Tasting - Will be extraordinary. Resounding botrytis notes, while very young and a bit tight and green. That said, an extremely graceful Sauternes with essences of honey, apricots and dates already well evident. Has a long way to go to reach Yquem nirvana, but will be well worth the wait! Drink 2020 - 2050.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/3/2010 - jasonh wrote: 97 Points
EWG - Church & State - Cabs - Jan 3, 2009: Oh my word. This was outrageous. Obviously this will be around for a long time but it is drinking so well right now. This is a wine you can just keep drinking. Having all that sweetness with no cloying elements. Wow!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/27/2009 - CMCLR wrote: 100 Points
This stuff is amazing.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/9/2009 - Khamen wrote: 100 Points
Drank from a 375ml last night and i have to say my senses still haven't fully recovered. Absolutely perfect balance and acidity providing an almost ethereal structure to the total richness and concentration. Have had my share of good d'Yquem over the years but this one really stands out. I may even go as far to state that this was the single finest wine I have ever tasted. A legend in the making - I know that it will improve in the bottle but talk about setting a high standard to start from!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/2/2009 - MauriceE wrote: 100 Points
Yquem "great years" tasting (Seinpost (Scheveningen, The Netherlands)): I must admit I was a little skeptical when reading all the halleluja-notes on this wine. But when this wine was tasted last in an impressive line-up of d'Yquem (55, 67, 71, 75, 76, 86, 88, 89, 90, 97, 99, 01) I just had to admit this vintage is other-worldly. Before drinking this wine my top-3 was 67 - 88 - 90, after drinking 01 - 67 - 88. This wine is just great, one of the best I ever had.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/2/2009 - WildeMeeuw wrote: 100 Points
2001 Château d'Yquem (Frankrijk, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes) Kleur: Vol goudgeel Aroma / bouquet: Een jaargang die zich overduidelijk nog niet geheel wil geven en om geduld vraagt, zowel in het glas als in de kelder. De frisheid verraadt zich al in de neus, waarin naast Botrytis, rozijnen en overrijp tropisch fruit zelfs wat citrusfruit waarneembaar is (zowel geel citrusfruit als sinaasappelschilletjes). Smaak / Afdronk: Superieure balans tussen zoet, prachtige zuren en een subtiel bittertoontje. Een lengte die ook nu al gigantisch is. Door sommigen niet voor niets 'één van de topwijnen van deze eeuw' genoemd. Algemeen / potentieel: Eén van de absolute toppers uit de proeverij van de jaren 67, 71, 75, 76, 86, 88, 89, 90, 97, 99, 01 50 + Kleur: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 15 + Smaak / Afdronk: 20 + Algemeen / potentieel: 10 = 100/100
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/26/2009 - Miceri wrote: 99 Points
Light golden colour; rich rich rich; nose of thick abricot; strong, lots of acidity; eating more than drinking. So powerful right now.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/1/2009 - kylebragger wrote: 99 Points
To say I feel privileged to have tasted such a magnificent wine in my lifetime would be an understatement; apricot and honey, lots of honey, with a finish that lasted for minutes and had be still thinking about it hours later.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/21/2009 - ews3 wrote: 98 Points
Cabernet Tasting at Chez Bonner (Annapolis): this was amazing, as before. ridiculous finish, perfect acidity. this is going to be an expensive habit! (from split)
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/12/2009 - KSC02 wrote: 99 Points
Bright yellow in color. Absolutely intoxicating aromas of honey soaked bees wax, coconut and pineapple. This wine is incredibly delicate, even elegant, covering the palate with an unctuous, though incredibly light, coating of apricot and hazelnut with a secondary of almonds. It is completely ethereal in the mouth and never, ever, cloying. I continuously felt remorse while finely allowing each savored sip to slide down my throat, however the finish seemed never-ending. When eventually finished I could still taste it hours later. Absolutely amazing and can only think that age will increase some amount of complexity. However this will not necessarily improve the wine experienced presently. Surely one wine I feel priviledged to taste relatively young while looking forward to experiencing as it ages over the next decades. Amazing.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/11/2009 - vinaigre wrote: 99 Points
Beautiful golden yellow, clear rim. Enchanting nose of Honey bee wax, apricots, pineapples, coconuts. Simply great mouth-feel only D'Yquem can get right. No part of this wine was out of place. This was just stunning in aromas, texture and finish. And the finish just didn't... It's nice to have good friends to share these pleasures with.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/12/2009 - Jeff Leve wrote: 100 Points
This perfect Sauternes gets better every time I taste it. Thick, rich, ripe, extremely concentrated with honeyed, tropical fruit and the right jolt of racy acidity to give it lift and keep everything in balance.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/16/2009 - CMCLR wrote: 100 Points
Jean Jeorges. Perfect complement to an apple themed dessert at Jean Georges. The finish goes on forever. Totally seamless.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/16/2009 - ews3 wrote: 98 Points
Bordeaux Tasting ("Chateau McClure Roberts", Philadelphia PA): apricot, peach, toffee, creme brulee, apple, tropical fruit, marmalade, truffle. remarkable wine, and lived up to my absurdly high expectations for it. absurdly long finish... in fact, long enough that i found myself justifying the cost of splits since it lasts so much longer than full bottles of other wines! I will be buying more, for special occasions. Any occasion where you open this will become special.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/16/2009 - jrobs7777 wrote: 98 Points
Survey of Bordeaux (Our House -- Philadelphia): This is an absolute WOW wine. Still so young. I would love to be around to try this in 75 years. What a tremendous way to cap this tasting. Pale lemon yellow color. This nose is stunning. Creme brulee, sweet dough, smoke, sweet tropical fruits and even a touch of mineral. It is a concentrated incredible explosion on the palate. Smoky sweet dough. Amazing crushed tropical fruits. Amazingly long finish that keeps going. This is so sweet and concentrated that the finish may never end. This is a jaw dropping effort that left everyone at the table in awe. The pairing with the incredible Roquefort made it even better. Just a final note. These wines are so expensive. On a price "does not matter" basis, this is amazing. When price is considered, I'd recommend looking at either an off vintage or another highly regarded producer. It's just hard, absent a truly special occasion, to justify the cost of this. But wow. It's incredible.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/2/2009 - JJL wrote: 95 Points
The Big "Four-O": 40+ Wines for 40 Years: This was one of the sweetest beverages of any kind that I have ever had. The nose had apricot and orange peel. The palate had lots of sweet fruits including candied apricots and peaches, along with honey and a touch of lemon on the finish. There were chunks of sugar crystals in the bottom of the bottle. This was clearly sweet nectar, but almost too sweet.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/30/2009 - goofy Yno wrote: 96 Points
nice complex nose- bee wax flowers, nice sweet mouth good acidity, peach apple long finish
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/30/2009 - ScottS wrote: 98 Points
Backstreet Bordeaux Tasting (Backstreet Wine Salon - PHX, AZ): Out of 1.5 liter. Full bodied and concentrated with wonderful complexities and nuances. Such a treat to drink. What a way to cap off an evening after drinking over18 first growths. Thanks Dave!
50+5+15+19+9=98+++
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/30/2009 - jivey wrote: 95 Points
Offline Backstreet - lightning in a bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/30/2009 - jeff nowak wrote: 97 Points
dave's bordeaux blowout (backstreet wine salon): from magnum! showy for the format. seemingly bulletproof to time and/or format. no additional useful thoughts on this wine which i've now had countless times.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/30/2009 - Alex G. wrote:
From magnum. HUBBA HUBBA there's a lot of complexity on this nose. Underneath the layers of honey and flowers I got some curry. Lovely color and texture. This doesn't suck. B+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/30/2009 - mattiasjansson wrote: 98 Points
Backstreet - Bordeaux (Backstreet Wine Salon, Phoenix, AZ): What can I say? Always so impressive.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/20/2009 - pakabear Likes this wine: 98 Points
Needs so much time, it's an incredible wine that will last for decades.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
2/22/2009 - Margauxguy wrote: 98 Points
Most impressive young D'yquem I have ever had. Soft elegant, sweet, subtle, blood orange sweet pear, but not over powering.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/31/2008 - Arcturus wrote: 100 Points
New Year's Eve 2008 with Friends: Caymus 1996.97.98.99 plus a few special guests (B & N Ranch): Wow. This was a rock concert in the mouth. Wonderful experience. I was going to score it a 99 since it is supposed to improve but it seemed as close to a perfect wine as I can imagine. 100
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2008 - kidsmurf2000 wrote: 100 Points
The most amazing wine I have ever tasted. Simply put, this Yquem condenses the aromas and tastes of the most idyllic British summer's day and condensed them into a glance... drinking this wine is an amazing experience, that longs to be repeated.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/20/2008 - rsepulve wrote: 99 Points
What can one say about this wine? So gorgeous and complex, perfect balance. Elegant but powerful. I want to say this is a perfect wine but this wine will only get better with age so 99+.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/1/2008 - kstoddard wrote: 96 Points
G7 (Jeff): Intoxicating nose of tropical fruits and flowers. Honey, lemon, pear, orange and peaches. Very light on its feet. Expansive mid palate with tremendous purity of fruit. Tremendous complexity and elegance. Impeccable balance. A finish that literally lasts for several minutes. A baby of a wine that will easily outlive me and possibly my offspring.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/1/2008 - jeff nowak wrote: 96 Points
from 375 ml. the 800 lb. gorilla in the room.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/1/2008 - Alex G. wrote:
From 375 ml, pop and pour. Utterly majestic nose, but not giving as much on the palate as the '99. To be fair, these both deserved to be contemplated for hours. But if this experience is representative, I'd say open your '99's now and let these sleep. B
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/25/2008 - mmyette wrote: 100 Points
Liquid Gold. See previous note.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/16/2008 - idrinkvino wrote: 100 Points
This is the first and only wine that I've tasted that clearly, without any question, deserved a 100 point rating. I would have given it a 115 point rating it was so remarkable. This was shared at the end of the night with eight friends. Stunned silence filled the room as we tasted, and then looks of astonishment and finally people began to talk about what was happening. The intensity, power, finesse and wonderful flavours simply took the breath out of everyone. I've tasted other d'Yquem vintages and they were great, but nothing like the 2001. Drinking this wine is similar to witnessing a remarkable and powerful work of nature unfold before you. It was a thrilling experience, and definitely worth the $600 paid for that experience.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/8/2008 - futronic wrote: 100 Points
Wino Guys Weekend (WGW) #2; 11/7/2008-11/8/2008: From 375mL. Medium-gold colour. Gorgeous aromas of foie gras, peaches, honey, lychee, dragonfruit, jasmine flowers, cream, and vanilla. The nose is utterly explosive and its aromas burst from the glass. Not as botrytised as some d'Yquems I've had. Full-bodied, ridiculously unctuous with perfectly balanced acidity and amazing purity. The finesse is unreal and shows seamless replays from the nose that are joined by some crystalized ginger notes. An unbelievable finish that goes on for minutes and has some touches of caramel and orange oil. This is a wine that leaves me utterly speechless. It has the texture of foie gras in a glass. Simply stupendous. Absolute perfection. Easily 100 points - you can't ask for anything else in a wine. I think this is the type of wine that will always be perfect - it won't necessarily be better with time, just different.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/8/2008 - mimik wrote: 100 Points
Wine Guy Weekend Chez Doktas Take 2; 11/7/2008-11/8/2008 (Collingwood, Ontario): Pure apricot nectar, honey, pineapple and bananas on the initial nose. The palate is filled with oily apricot liqueur but without ever being cloying. Long long everlasting fruit flavours as each sip is permeated with a biting but well integrated acidity that makes your mouth salivate for more and more minutes after having swallowed the nectar. What can I say? Perfection in a bottle. Second time tasting this gem with another perfect score. Can't get better than this.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/25/2008 - bubbachumps wrote: 94 Points
I know this was infanticide, but my friend asked me to pick out another bottle to drink at the end of the night and I couldn't resist. Absolute pure apricot marmalade on the nose with a touch of orange peel. In the mouth, completely balanced. Perfect fruit and acidity, non-cloying. The one thing about this wine is it definitely was hiding something special. All the parts were there and I am certain it is going to improve. Awesome wine!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/29/2008 - Miceri wrote:
Full-bodied fat, but also with acidity; strong taste of abricot etc; totally different "weight" than more "thin" Sauternes
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/29/2008 - jeff nowak wrote:
contributed to the napa valley reserve dinner; but, now i have to seriously guard my remaining bottles.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/29/2008 - jeff nowak wrote: 99 Points
contributed to the napa valley reserve dinner. one of the greatest wines i'll probably ever taste.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/13/2008 - mmyette wrote: 100 Points
Perfection in a bottle. We opened this for Desert after 03 QC, 02 Insignia and 95 Ducru. Accompanied by Creme Broulet and Lemon Tart. This was unbelievable. How can one wine have so much going on? Sweet honey, pineapple and tropical fruit, mango, and vanilla on the nose. Mouthfeel was unctious with tons of glycerin, and the lively zip of healthy acid. Too much to list! the palate was filled with honey, brown sugar, apricot, peach, pineapple, coconut, mango, other tropical fruit, kiwi, cedar, creme broulet, lemon curd, and more! Finish was for minutes. I am probably forgetting something, but this was the single most incredible wine experience I have ever had. I said i'd never give 100, but this merits it.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/4/2008 - sosgoodjhu wrote: 100 Points
perfect elixir. believe the hype.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/24/2008 - quigley13 wrote: 97 Points
Great balance. It all comes together so gracefully. I can't wait to revisit this in 10+ years as it has a long life ahead of it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/6/2008 - Burgundy Al wrote: 98 Points
Mango, papaya, candied orange peel on the nose with lots of floral charm. Same flavors come through on palate with roasted nut flavors and everything tasting of a sensational floral honey throughout. Really good acidity helps make an incredibly powerful wine even better textured and longer.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/6/2008 - winefool wrote: 99 Points
LdC Causal Italian Dinner (Prosecco): Just keeps getting better. One of the profound wines of our time. Showing incredible coconut on the nose and wonderful mouthfeel. Will be a 100pt wine with time.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/15/2008 - Rosengoo wrote:
Tasted February 15,2008 at Lake Louise Post Hotel Yquem tasting. This one had a medicinal smell to it with some honey as well. It was smooth and balanced and very fresh but seems to have entered a shut down period. I would wait at least 3-5 years until trying another one.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/14/2008 - joshwoodward wrote: 96 Points
Nose: flowery, very honeyed, pears, light raisin. Greenish straw color. Medium thickness. Honey, but not at all raisiny. Flowers, incredibly rich and luscious. Perfect acidity. Mouth-coating! Lavender? Apricot. Huge, but subtle. Lt banana. I'm not worthy. $300/375ml
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/2/2008 - kehoutek wrote: flawed
Wife decided she didn't like the hotel room we were in, she wanted a better view. So she switched rooms while i was out and left the d'yquem in the mini bar where i had left it to chill..Housekeeping tossed it in the compacter...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/26/2007 - ChinonRouge wrote: 96 Points
Ain't nothing wrong with this fine Sauternes. It has everything that I look for. Particularly well done is the absence of too much petrol that plagues many Sauternes. It is really good. Having said this, I must also say that I prefer the 2003 Rieussec. Call me crazy.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/19/2007 - Zweder wrote: 97 Points
The 2001 has it all. Very good concentration in combination with complexity and elegance. There are Sauternes 2001 wines which are more voluptuous at the moment, but the overall complexity and harmony in this wine will almost certainly be the winner in the long run. This is really a treat! For now 96 or 97 seems to be a correct score, but because of the whole structure, harmony and potential this score can even be too low. Future will tell.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/18/2007 - CMCLR wrote: 100 Points
It really is that good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/9/2007 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 100 Points
A superb nectar, completely integrated oak, multi-dimensional, astounding elegance, incredibly concentrated but lithe, magnificent. I cannot imagine a better Yquem.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/23/2007 - Stephan O wrote: 97 Points
(Drank at the Antrim 1844.) I don't even really know how to evaluate this. Under so-called "perfect" tasting conditions, I would've paid more attention to the wine, but the company combined with this artifact made the occasion what it was. Truly special. I'm sure it's a 100-point wine even if I can't taste it yet and even if it won't spread its wings for another couple decades. It's more balanced and harmonic than any other dessert wine I've ever had, and possibly any other WINE I've ever had. It's smooth as silk but somehow still bracing. And it shows that alluring spicy nailpolishy citrusy frosty nutty essence that I can never quite describe but absolutely love. The finish is eternal. For now, I can't find the complexity, but I know it's in there somewhere. I'm guessing that the next time I have this -- hopefully at least once in the next five years -- it'll get two or three more points out of me.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/22/2007 - mfkidd wrote: 98 Points
My first Yquem. Hard to describe as anything but otherworldly. I leave 2 points open as everyone says these get better. Is that possible?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/10/2007 - beatles wrote: 98 Points
Beautiful and extremely concentrated, layer upon layer. Young elixir with orangepeel, canned fruit, fine acidity and an immense balance. WOTN.
#Charity#SøllerødKro
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/30/2007 - BGOE wrote: flawed
All 3 bottles were bad - cooked, most likely en route to us. Kudos to WineBid for honoring the sale and refunding most of the purchase price.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/15/2007 - Weinlakai wrote: 98 Points
If I wouldn't have saved a few drops to taste 2 days after opening the bottle, I would have probably rated it lower than the 2001 Suduiraut (98 points). These wines are just amazing. You can get lost in smelling it... it is so complex and offers layers and layers... unbelievable. On the palate it is amazing: the different aromas and nuances continue – the literally spread out. The finish is really long and leaves you with an aftertaste that continues to develop more and more layers of aroma. The finish could be more harmonious and elegant... so same sign of youth as with the 01 Suduiraut. Is the Yquem better? In my eyes clearly NO! But what I know...
When comparing this with the Suduiraut, you have to keep in mind that the Yquem is 5 times the price (at least)... is it worth to buy Yquem? Hard to say... if you want to drink in 100+ years you are probably better of with the Yquem ;-) But IMHO you should buy as much of the Suduiraut as you can (like I did). Although I know that its price increased a lot, it is still a steal compared to the Yquem.
So or so: Sauternes on this level is without a doubt one of the few best (if not the best) wine experiences.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/27/2007 - BGOE wrote: flawed
Just found one of the bottles with little black mold spots on the lead cork cover. Pulled it off to find that the cork is leaking. ARGHHHHHHHH!!!!. Well I guess we will be trying a bottle this weekend with friends about 20 years earlier than planned.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/6/2007 - dream wrote: 97 Points
Still way too young but after breathing for a couple of ours, it began to show the most gorgeously complex fruit and classic flavors of the vineyard. Perfectly balanced, perfectly ripe and while its a powerful wine, its not outsized or rustic and is supremely elegant. This bottling of Yquem is rated so high (100 by everyone and their mother) because of the balance and elegance. Should age fabulously. 97+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/4/2007 - rob1869 wrote: 96 Points
At The Sampler: for me the nose is initially the same as other d'Yquem's I've tasted - it's once on the palate an extra-ordinary full spectrum of aromas and balance develop - it seems to touch all the sensory bases; also a high petroleum spirit note I had not expected. Maybe what makes this wine so good is that even though it has been incredibly hyped I was not expecting it to be, frankly, exciting - which it was; several previous Yquem's were very good but this is different class. By exciting I mean that apprehension of the wine in the mouth and as I swallow: it seems to uncover new "angles" (aromas/tastes) every time I "look".
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/16/2007 - zimmy07 wrote: 97 Points
pure gold color with amazing aromas of apricot and other tropical light fruits. Very young, great concentration and depth but, too sweet. This needs many years, I prefer the '01 Rieussec at this stage over the d'Yquem
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/9/2007 - psmith wrote:
Really good stuff. Manages characteristic d'Yquem concentration with Climens finesse. Big, thick, and gummy mouthfeel with great purity. As I think most of the '01s are, may lack a little vibrancy that more acidity could help with, but this is so good now that it's a minor complaint.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/4/2007 - buckeye76 wrote: 100 Points
INCREDIBLY INTENSE RICH BUTTERY FRUIT, CITRUS, MELONS IN THE NOSE AND FLAVOR. NICE ACIDITY, GREAT COMPLEXITY AND A VERY LONG LINGERING FINISH.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/18/2007 - GreatLibations wrote: 100 Points
The deep golden yellow sunlight color is astounding. Aromas of sweet citrus, honey, and tart tropical acids spill into the air as if an orchestra had just begun playing softly. Imagine sipping from a fully decorated Christmas tree with the lights on. Stone fruit, honey, wild green apples, and tropical nuances collectively embracing eachother with a defined crisp acidity to bring order and balance to this fine ensamble. d'Yquem is so delicious that words cannot justy. She is sweet like the most beautiful nectar yet balanced to perfection. The finish is sublime and lasts forever. I was smiling for a whole week after this glass. This wine really lives up to it's reputation. It seduces me completely.
Footnote: I sampled this in a flight consisting of 01- d'Yquem, 01-Suduiraut, 01-De Malle, and 01-Coutet. With no exageration, the d'Yquem blew away the others by a mile in every way, shape, and form. Hands down d'Yquem is king.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/9/2007 - godx wrote: 95 Points
375ml. Opened and served right away. Nice light honey/golden colour. Very intoxicating nose of apricot, papaya and candy coated nectarine. The nose is enough to give this wine 95+ points, and then you taste it. Silky flavours of dried pineapple, candied apricot, mango and papaya which I can taste 2-3 minutes after I swallow. Completely coats the palate. Your mouth is filled with seductive and velvety flavours of tropical fruit that immaculately integrate with the balanced acidity. The only flaw I can uncover is some slight heat on the mid palate. The flavour profile is great, but it’s the complexity and multilayered flavours that make this young Yquem such a remarkable wine. The potential is endless. 95+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/17/2007 - dream wrote: 98 Points
After all the hype over this vintage of Yquem, I finally decided to open a half bottle. First of all, it needs to breathe and open up as much as possible...several hours would be best. It's not necessarily a huge Yquem although the sweet fruit flavor does remind of the taste of the huge '83. What I think sets this vintage apart is the incredibly transparancy of the purity of the vineyard as the luscious minerality of the site is so vividly apparent. This young, balanced beauty is certainly the finest and purest Yquem I've ever tasted and it actually is wonderful to drink even at this young age. 98+
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/10/2007 - mattiasjansson wrote: 99 Points
The Wines of Mark Aubert (Pinot Provence, Costa Mesa, CA): Third time I've had the pleasure of drinking the '01 and it's been consistently stunning. The fruit is incredible, the acidity marvelous, the balance impbeccable and the finish out-of-this-world. Why not 100 points? The nose and the finish are clearly there, but it wavers ever so slightly on the mid-palate.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/10/2007 - Paul Lin wrote: 98 Points
The Wines of Mark Aubert (Pinot Provence, Costa Mesa, CA): I think this wine stole the show. Even days later, I can't stop thinking about it. Hypnotic and seductive. This is the Salomé of wines.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/3/2007 - Wine Bill wrote: 98 Points
Y2 day in the Librije, Zwolle, Netherlands. (Yquem tasting) (De Librije, Zwolle, Netherlands.): Light yellow.
Boinggg!!!! Enormously complex bouquet of all sorts of tropical fruits. The same goes for the taste. The good balance is what hit me most. Concentration and elegance at the same time.
Wow, what a wine. (Drank this wine about a year ago as well, striking in this case is that in this last year the wine has developed a lot. Eventually this wine can score even higher I guess.)
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/24/2007 - trankin wrote: 97 Points
"Very Special" Dinner at Picholine OL (Picholine Wine Room, NYC): Nose of bananas and caramel. On the palate, this is a lovely, harmonious wine. Notes of honey, lemon merinque pie, bananas. Really lovely but OH so young. Definitely not strutting what it will be capable of in a few years time, but very enjoyable today. Probably a 93-94 showing in my opinion, but undoubtedly will improve. My #3 WOTN, Group's #3 WOTN.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/14/2007 - buckeye76 wrote: 100 Points
RICH INTENSE FRUIT, MELONS, CITRUS, PINEAPPLE AND BUTTER IN THE NOSE AND FLAVOR. LONG FINISH.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/12/2007 - keithgg wrote: 100 Points
Remarkable wine. Drank after an evening of 25 burgs. It outshone them all and the 1990 Yquem which we drank at the same time.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/8/2007 - srosenblum wrote: 98 Points
Incredibly sweet. Too young. This wine will last forever in your cellar. no need to rush at all to open this wine. I think that it is not a good idea to open this bottle before years. i would take another one in 5 years minimum.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/3/2006 - vinaigre wrote: 99 Points
Montreal Offline: MWP End of year (Restaurant Forchetta): Sex in a bottle, what can I say more. This was spectacular. As Steve said, a finish that well... never finished. Still had memory impressions the next morning. Descriptors are lacking because there's is no way to really describe it except as "perfect".
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/2/2006 - mimik wrote: 100 Points
Yellow pale gold liquid. This wine transported you directly to the vineyard as they were cutting the grapes for this wine. Palate of some coco, bananas, honey and pinneaple on a long long complex everlasting 1 hour finish. Is this a wine or a drug? I'm not sure. Great!!
100 points.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/24/2006 - Russell Faulkner wrote:
Yquem Tasting (Robersons Wine, London): Very light lemon, sweet spicy oak, very fragrant, perfumed with complex light fruits, well balanced, not overly concentrated. I am still to be convinced by this, the balance is superb but I find a lack of density. Very long finish though, of candied fruit, could still taste it an hour later. Not rated.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/4/2006 - mattiasjansson wrote: 99 Points
Robert Parker 100-point dinner (Bellavino, Thousand Oaks, CA): The nose started out muted, but opened up marvelously. Great on the palate with a flawless finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/22/2006 - CMCLR wrote: 100 Points
My first one from a case. Defies description. This will be one that people will remember for a long time. I don't have a lot of experience with y'quem but the hype does not exceed this wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/21/2006 - winefool wrote: 98 Points
WS California Wine Experience Top Ten Tasting (San Francisco Marriott): Full deep electric yellow color. Incredible big botrytis yellow fruit with clear bright lemon notes on the nose. Incredible unctuous rich mouthcoating sweetness with layers of complexity on the palate, but not cloying in any way. Long lingering finish - ethereal. This is an absolutely stunning wine that I would be tempted to give 100 pts to if I didn't know it was going to continue to improve! 98+ pts.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/22/2006 - mdefreitas wrote: 98 Points
Dinner Party at Home w/ Pinots & d'Yquem (Milford): I didn't want to believe the hype, but man was this good. The clarity of a fine German Riesling and the intensity of a great Sauternes. No evident oak notes (a plus in my book). Almost painful acidty to compliment the intense fruit. A baby with a stunning future.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/28/2006 - rcl1 wrote: 97 Points
Had with John Deitch and Gary at WD 50. Was superb! Will be interesting to see how it evolves. Consumption date approx.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/24/2006 - DAN BAILEY wrote:
A half bottle. Opened and decanted into a wide bottomed ship's decanter. Drunk over 5 days. Throughout it remained somewhat reticent on the nose. Initially in the mouth it showed considerable amounts of body/glycerin backed up by lots of acidity. Hardly budged over the 5 days! Just a very tightly wound ball at the moment and I would advise others to leave for several years before trying. By no means an unpleasant experience (!!) but not as flashy or open at the moment as the 01 Rieussec I tasted last week.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/25/2006 - Bob Fyke wrote: 100 Points
Patrick's '01 Sauternes Horizontal in Rego Park. (Queens , NY): If this isn't a 100 point wine, I don't know what is. I am by no means an experienced Sauternes taster, but this just showed soooo much complexity and magic, that I don't know how it could improve.The wonder is that it WILL improve for decades to come. The Nose: carmel popcorn, coconut, spicy tartness, apricot and much more that I could not put a handle on. All presenting in a subtle and unassuming wave of aroma. The Palate: Weightless and thick at the same time. Carmel, Apricot, orange peel & honey with an incredibly long finish of honey sweetened croissant. Along with all of this there is a backbone of good acid to tie it together. Every facet of this wine flowed seamlessly into the next.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/24/2006 - dougsmith wrote: 99 Points
Friday night with Patrick Stella's Sauternes (The Count's House): This is an extremely difficult Sauternes to describe properly. The hugely complex flavors were more blended than in some of the others we tried. Although there were clearly notes of coconut, honey, creme brulée, brioche, apricots, et cetera, they were completely harmonized. However for me the real stand-out for this wine was on the palate that had an unmatched and almost unbelievable contrast of full-bodied weight with etherial silkiness, as well as a finish that went on forever. Extraordinary stuff!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/24/2006 - Mlermontov wrote: 99 Points
Patrick Stella and the '01 Sauternes Show (Count's Mannor): i cant believe it...its sitting right in front of me....empty... :( BUT i did get the chance of a life time during this dinner... i had the chance to utter the most amazing sentence: "Patrick, pass the d'Yquem please..." :)
this is a wine thats in a class by itself, even on the nose - it doesnt assault you with tropical fruits and botrytis, its elegant....there was something of a white burgundy on the nose... i didnt write notes last night.... there was nothing i could write down...to talk about fruit and finish would be to ruin it... you cant pinpoint this wine... its elegance in a glass... BUT i gave it 99...why? 2 reasons...1) it needms time to show all its got... its nowhere near ready. 2) i had only 1 100point wine - the moscatel from Valdespino...and i wouldnt trade that moscatel for this wine. nor would i trade a donhoff eiswein for this...
BUT this is trully a class above all the other sauternes and an honor to drink such amazing juice.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/20/2006 - Eric wrote:
The Grand Finale with Leve at the French Laundry (Yountville, Napa Valley, CA): Well, Leve called this "thin", but I loved it. Unctuous and powerful yet with amazing acidity. It doesn't have quite the weight of the Suduiraut or the sheer focus and precision of the Rieussec, but it seems like a perfect cross. Undoubtedly this will take decades to really strut its stuff, but it's pretty fun right now as well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/10/2006 - burningstarIV wrote:
Light gold flecked with very pale green. Initially hot, slightly medicinal and reticent nose opened up to reveal moderately generous but still tightly wound aromas of clean botrytis, banana, pineapple and orange candy. Immense flavor and coating along with an ethereal lightness - wine at zero gravity. Finishes with well-delineated honeyed citrus and tropical fruits.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/5/2006 - Zweder wrote: 99 Points
Beautiful sweet stuff (@ HS): Not many notes, but when tasted this it was on the same level as Rieussec 2001. Complexity and an enormous length.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/27/2006 - jrufusj wrote:
TTG#4 (Salon, Coche, Jasmin, Pape Clement, HSS, Yquem, Joly...) (Rico's Kitchen): Attractive deep and concentrated yellow. Nose is absolutely bursting with honey, citrus, tropical fruit, stone fruit, brulée, sweet cream. Palate shows all of this and more in an amazingly delineated, detailed, balanced, and quite structured form. How many flavors or aromas are there? Well, how long do you have to sit with it? Every few minutes represents a shifting and swirling of accent that reveals something new. Even the long and concentrated finish evolves as it fades away ever so slowly. Enough conventional notewriting. This is simply too young and intense and packed with goodness to describe that way. This is like a hand grenade with all the chemistry and power and material to overwhelm a large area condensed inside a compact package. However, while the fuse on the grenade lasts ten seconds or less, the fuse on this Yquem is bound to last seventy-five to a hundred years or more. Like a Noah’s Ark of wine, it’s got two of everything. There go the lemons, and the limes, and the apricots… You get the point. Monumental wine with amazing balance and complexity. Believe the hype.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/17/2006 - Zweder wrote: 95 Points
Impressive wine!! This wine, which was given to me without knowing what it was, reminded me of the Rieussec I tasted some weeks before. At first it seemed just a hint lighter. And after reading my Rieussec note back, I think it was. But in elegance this wine was the winner. My score is the one I gave tasting it blindly (the best way to score I think), but the future might prove I was wrong. I’m not 100% certain yet. (And I do not taste these wines on a daily basis.)
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/3/2006 - Cilantro wrote: 100 Points
Post-New Year dinner (Home): Start to finish, a perfect wine. All dessert wines I've had before, however delicious, have had flaws (i.e. slightly too sweet and cloying or just a tad too acidic or slight chemical taste on finish etc.) that could be identified. Not here. Perfectly balanced and tasting of honey and citrus, we literally sucked out the last drops from the bottle!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/1/2005 - winefool wrote: 95 Points
Medime light yellow. Medium clean aroma of yellow fruit wit hclear botrytis. Rich lovely mouthfeel. Nice and balanced yellow fruit and sweetness and acidity. Hints of banana. Lovely caramel botrytis on the finish. Lovely 0 just disappears into your mouth. Will be a classic. 10/05
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment