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| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 95.6 pts. and median of 96 pts. in 358 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by NoTrollingerPlease on 4/27/2024: Mystery wine evening (@Private location): *** only for my memory, no detailed note or rating ***
Glass: Spiegelau Definition Bordeaux
Tasted double blind, decanted. From 0,75 bottle. Probably not the best bottle, nose not that expressive. On the palate classic Yquem elegance and length, but not the usual tension. Nevertheless very joyful 👍 (696 views) | | | Tasted by oxwombat on 4/5/2024 & rated 95 points: Opened at Noble Rot Mayfair. End of dinner wine and served from Coravin.
I've always been perplexed by this wine - I just don't think it's as good as what a lot of people say, or at least it's inconsistent, because I've had this wine a few times now and it's always varied. Beautiful toffee colour now, and classic Yquem nose, but I found the palate to be somewhat lacking, and it's definitely not as rich or unctuous as say the 2001. Clear step down for me... but then again you could just say I'm being incredibly picky.
With this in mind, this is not worth the price. Seek out good vintage 90s Yquem (thinking 96, 97 etc.) which has much better value and will perform just as well. Still, always a treat, and this note needs to be taken in context of what is still a very good wine. (1484 views) | | | Tasted by DCHawkeye on 3/16/2024 & rated 99 points: The d'Yquem did double-duty at a milestone birthday dinner at the Inn at Little Washington, paired with first the foie gras course and then again with desert. Absolutely stunning, the sweetness balanced perfectly by that incredible d'Yquem acidity. Tied with the '89 Montrose for my wine of the night.
Wines:
Krug Grande Cuvée NV;
2010 Bonneau du Martray Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru;
2010 Clos des Lambrays Grand Cru;
2009 d'Angerville Volnay 1er Cru Clos des Ducs;
1989 Chateau Montrose; and
1988 Chateau d'Yquem (750 ml). (785 views) | | | Tasted by shifter on 2/16/2024 & rated 98 points: Jon's 50th Birthday Dinner: PnP from 375. Always one of my favorites and this did not disappoint. Stunning melange of vanilla, honey, apricot and tropical fruits. Supreme length and depth with a finish that goes on and on. (2337 views) | | | Tasted by essenceofreal on 1/20/2024 & rated 92 points: Touch oxidized or would warrant a higher score.
Usual kaleidoscope of flavor just came off a tad thin. Or seemed past its prime. Although this was a 375ml which was re-bottled from a 6 liter. Certainly drinkable and a nice wine but started to fall apart the longer it was in the glass, not a good sign for a Sauterne that was PnP!
I'm sure there are better bottles out there. (2423 views) | | | Tasted by DonDon on 1/20/2024 & rated 96 points: My 6th bottle of the case and I think it was the best. Gorgeous caramelised apricot and pineapple/ tropical fruit. Really bright acidity so this doesn’t taste cloying or honeyed. Fab colour and nose too (2166 views) | | | Tasted by bromion on 1/13/2024 & rated 95 points: Packed with flavor and mouthfeel. A viscous blend of citrus, apricot, spices, sweet, sour, and acid. Sweetness level not too high anymore but strongly felt. Did a slow-ox for a few hours after initial tasting which helped open it up. Excellent! (2427 views) | | | Tasted by stephanearque on 12/28/2023: For me
Was too much on the acid side than the sugar side
I agree that the wine is less on botrytis and strong
Its more light for me than many of younger
some find walnuts
I find more dry grape but largely less than stronger sauternes
Balanced yep and no
I would prefer less acid more sugar
But yquem can be like that especially years like that
I agree will stay young like 20years more without problem with this acidity
Color was not to dark for this bottle (2265 views) | | | Tasted by Jonathanmustang on 12/16/2023 & rated 91 points: Un très beau yquem, tout en finesse, orange, caramel, amandes (2116 views) | | | Tasted by acyso on 12/5/2023 & rated 93 points: Good vintages of Yquem (Chicago, IL): From half-bottle. Fresh, but overall showing quite lean relative to the other two vintages in the trilogy. More mineral and racy, with acidity being a key player here; the botrytis plays a backseat role here. This definitely feels more stern and less exuberant and expressive; it ticks the boxes but doesn't really go very much beyond that. (2656 views) | | | Tasted by cephomer on 10/12/2023 & rated 97 points: Finished off our Bucket List wine dinner in RB with this fabulous sauternes. I'm sure I've had this vintage b4 but I don't recall it being in such a stellar and memorable condition--might very well be the best I've ever had, & I've had many! Absolutely perfect on this occasion: Wonderfully aromatic nose of honeysuckle and botrytis, silky smooth, elegant, yet rich palate, intensely concentrated and integrated elements including luscious white and yellow fruits, with just the right touch of acidity and grace. This wine is in the perfect spot right now, and seems absolutely ageless. I'm praying I have a few more bottles in storage! What a great bottle of wine, and what a great way to finish off a night full of fabulous wines. (see my other notes from this evening of all-time greats...). Superb!!! (2703 views) | | | Tasted by fclarity on 10/8/2023 & rated 94 points: Served blind from a half bottle, this wine was light for a Sauterne and gorgeously balanced. It was rich and long. This will last for at least a decade or two and may well improve. (2688 views) | | | Tasted by jlgnml on 8/1/2023 & rated 93 points: Sons 34th with Palmer, Penfolds and Yquem (Our backyard): Darker color, traditional flavor profile of an aged Yquem. Still delicious and great. (3391 views) | | | Tasted by finediningnyc on 6/16/2023 & rated 97 points: ’88, ‘89 and ‘90 are probably my favorite consecutive trio of Yquem vintages and 88 starts this trio in fine fashion, absolutely perfect tonight and infinitely aromatic in its layered, complex and intensely forward bouquet. The palate is wonderfully rich, silky, racy and viscous with the most perfect balance of primary and secondary character. Still so young! But in an incredible spot. (3212 views) | | | Tasted by Eric on 6/16/2023: M&PD Tasting: Lark (Seattle, WA, USA): Unreal power, deep, orange marmalade, white pepper. This is like Yquem on steroids, just a massive example. (3330 views) | | | Tasted by shifter on 4/21/2023 & rated 97 points: Atlanta Musigny & Chevy Dinner: Supremely dense and delicious and a wonderful intermezzo. (3529 views) | | | Tasted by fcxj on 4/13/2023 & rated 92 points: Sweet and dense. (3344 views) | | | Tasted by bobadopolis on 4/13/2023 & rated 96 points: After dinner tasting from 375 mL bottle. Ridiculously delicious. (2793 views) | | | Tasted by mxpbuy on 4/7/2023 & rated 96 points: The color had not changed during the past 14 years I've had this in the cellar. A honeyed richness that envelops but not hides the overripe apricots, peaches and melon flavor. Not too high in glycerin. Wonderful balance with a 40 second finish. (2447 views) | | | Tasted by burlingtonm on 4/3/2023 & rated 94 points: D'Yquem never disappoints and while this was not as good as 1989 & 1990 from past experience, this was still a pleasure to drink with good acidity and intensity. (2413 views) | | | Tasted by ubercuvee on 4/2/2023: A lovely Yquem, but for my palate missing the precision of the modern (post-2000) vintages. Again outshone by a 1998 German Eiswein. (2317 views) | | | Tasted by oxwombat on 1/18/2023 & rated 96 points: Rogue night at Mato in Hong Kong. P&P with friends.
Last wine of the line-up, and what a way to go. Delicious, unctious, timeless Yquem. Didn't take any more notes than that for this wine apart from it being very very good, and better than the last time I had it many years ago when I first found myself doubting the scores for this vintage. The hype is indeed real. (3046 views) | | | Tasted by cephomer on 1/16/2023 & rated 94 points: Drank over the past few days at Copake. Nose of orange peel and apricots. Darker in color than I expected of this bottle. Wonderful freshness, and bright acidity up front. Molasses, orange marmalade and apricot fruit are prominent. Also notes of creme brulee, mango and honey. I got a taste of burnt fruit as the wine opened up over time, and I did not find the wine to be overly sweet; more bittersweet actually. Perfect acidity level, great concentration, not particularly unctuous and certainly not cloying. Really tasty sweetie! Went really well with my Stilton cheese as I watched the NFL playoffs yesterday. (2987 views) | | | Tasted by Thoughtful on 12/30/2022 & rated 98 points: Stored in a cold cellar since release. Beginning to develop greater complexity. Wait of seven years was worthwhile! The colour is verging on deep gold but not quite there. Tones of restrained barley sugar, slightly burnt orange and botrytis. Still improving. Many decades of life remaining. (2938 views) | | | Tasted by VinoGeeko on 12/24/2022 & rated 95 points: My first d'yquem! Wowza, medium+ alcohol (with respect to other dessert wines), lower acidity than the comparable premium botrytis wines that I've had before (Tokaji, Moselle, and Alsace). Honey and stone fruit predominate with orange peel and ginger notes underneath.
Dark amber, color (clean, but bordered on cloudy), a tartrate crystal or two.
Overall, my impression was that it was one of the best dessert wines I've had to date. IMHO not as good as the 2001 Sine Qua Non-Sémillon Mr. K The Straw Man I tried last year. And yet, undeniably profound. At this point in my life, I'd be willing to pay up to $200 for a half bottle.
Drink up in the next 5 years. (2727 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Neal Martin
Vinous, Vinous Table: Zoldering, Amsterdam, Netherlands (Feb 2024) (2/1/2024)
(Yquem Yquem Sweet White) Subscribe to see review text. | By Neal Martin
Vinous, Unrivalled/ Unequalled: Yquem 1921–2019 (Apr 2022) (4/1/2022)
(D'yquem Yquem Sweet White) Subscribe to see review text. | By Neal Martin
Vinous, A Century of Bordeaux: The Eights (May 2018) (5/18/2018)
(D'yquem Yquem Sweet White) Subscribe to see review text. | By John Gilman
View From the Cellar, Jan/Feb 2018, Issue #73, Recently-Tasted Sauternes and Barsac February 2018
(Château d’Yquem (Sauternes)) Login and sign up and see review text. | By Chris Kissack
Winedoctor, June 2008
(Chateau d'Yquem Sauternes) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (2/13/2008)
(Ch d'Yquem Sauternes White) Subscribe to see review text. | By John Kapon
Vintage Tastings, Happy 90th Birthday Thierry (2/5/2008)
(Yquem) Login and sign up and see review text. | By Chris Kissack
Winedoctor, November 2004
(Chateau d'Yquem Sauternes) Subscribe to see review text. | By Chris Kissack
Winedoctor, November 2004
(Château d’Yquem Sauternes White) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (4/6/2002)
(Ch d'Yquem Sauternes White) Subscribe to see review text. | By Richard Jennings
RJonWine.com (10/3/2009)
(Château d'Yquem) Medium golden apricot color; creme brulee, lemon gelee, lemon zest, pineapple nose; tart apricot, creme brule, ripe lemon palate with good acidity; long finish 95+ pts. 95 points |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of Vinous and View From the Cellar and Winedoctor and JancisRobinson.com and Vintage Tastings and RJonWine.com. (manage subscription channels) |
| Château d'Yquem Producer website - Read more about Chateau d’Yquem
Château d’Yquem had been in the hands of Lur Saluces family from 1785 to 1997. After several years of legal controversies, caused by disagreements within Lur Saluces family, mode giant LVMH (Louis Vutton, Moët Hennesy and Château Cheval Blanc) gained majority of shares in d’Yquem in 1997, when Count Alexandre de Lur Saluces sold his shares to LVMH. He did however continue as manager of d’Yquem, according to agreement with the new owner. This changed radically in May 2004, when he retired and was replaced him with Pierre Lurton, already manager at Cheval Blanc. The latest vintages of d'Yquem conform very convincing, that Pierre Lurton has greatly succeeded to maintain d'Yquem's fantastic quality.
This property is beautifully placed at hilltop in Sauternes commune, with its 103 ha big vineyard (clay and gravel on the surface and lime stones in the subsoil), planted with 80% Semillon and 20% Sauvignon Blanc. The average age of vines is 27 years and the yield does not exceed 10 hl/ha. The wine matures for 3.5 years in new barrels. Neither chaptalisation nor other techniques, which increase sugar content in grape must, are allowed. D’Yquem is one of the very few properties in the district, to use both semi-botrytised and fully botrytised grapes for the wine, in order to have enough acidity to balance sweetness.
D’Yquem is made without any compromises and consideration whatsoever about production costs - pickers are on constant alert for 1.5-2 months, and do many picking rounds in the vineyard. Often, the amount of these rounds is double or triple, compared to how many rounds other classified properties perform in the district. Here, we have the king of Sauternes & Barsac, world’s most expensive and most demanded dessert wine, which has an enormous keeping potential (50 years+). At its best, this wine possesses a purely exceptional botrytis, enormous concentration and such a nuance-richness, which makes you speechless.France Vins de France (Office National Interprofessionnel des Vins ) | Pages Vins, Directory of French Winegrowers | French Wine (Wikipedia)
Wine Scholar Guild vintage ratings
2018 vintage: "marked by a wet spring, a superb summer and a good harvest"
2019 vintage reports
2021: "From a general standpoint, whether for white, rosé or red wines, 2021 is a year marked by quality in the Rhône Valley Vineyards. Structured, elegant, fresh and fruity will be the main keywords for this new vintage."
2022 harvest: idealwine.info | wine-searcher.comBordeaux Bordeaux Wine Guide
Vins Bordeaux (Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux)
History of Bordeaux
History of 1855 Bordeaux Classification
"2009 is all about ripeness, with wines impressively packed with ripe fruit and high alcohol levels. They are showy, in-your-face, and full of pleasure. The 2010s have the fruit and alcohol levels of the 2009s, but with a compelling freshness on the finish that balances the fruit and provides a perfect sense of structure." - Ben Nelson
"2016 is a landmark vintage in certain spots of Bordeaux and it should be remembered as one of the most inspired campaigns of the last 40-50+ years." -Jon Rimmerman
"The quality of red Bordeaux in 2016 was universally lauded – although the response to the en primeur campaign was muted. Quantity was high too, with the equivalent of 770 million bottles of wine produced. An exceptionally dry summer with cool nights eventually, thanks to mid September rain, resulted in small, thick-skinned, ripe grapes, and the wines are marked by high tannin and acidity, with superb aromatic fragrance." - Jancis Robinson
"2017 was complicated, but there are some excellent wines. Expect plenty of freshness and drinkability from wines that will offer excellent value, and others that will rival 2016 in terms of ripeness and ageability. But they are likely to be the exception not the rule, making careful selection key." - Jane Anson
"In the past, a vintage such as 2022 may have been overripe, raisined and low in acidity but 2022 had a sneaky little reservoir in its back pocket - a near perfect marriage of cool/cold/rain the previous winter and the previous vintage that literally soaked the soils (a key to why 2022 is not 2003...or 1893)." - Jon RimmermanSauternes Le Grand Crus Classés de Sauternes et Barsac 1855 (Crus Classés de Sauternes et Barsac) - Read more about Sauternes, Barsac and its wines
– Read more about the 1855 Sauternes Barsac Classification
Forty kilometres south of Bordeaux, Sauternes is an AOC that includes together 5 communes, including Barsac. For centuries, humans have been patiently learning to master this region's climate, soils and grape varieties. But Mother Nature did a good job laying the foundation. The Sauternes terroir is distinguished by a geological predisposition to gravel and pebbles that cover limestone streaked with veins of clay. In the communes of Fargues and Sauternes, a layer of hardpan (iron-oxide cemented sand) in which vines flourish can be found. The vineyards at the highest elevations and farthest from the river have the best terroirs and produce the majority of the Crus Classés, including the monumental Château Yquem.Sauternes wines are made from Sémillon (80% of vines planted) and Sauvignon (15%) grapes. A bit of Muscadelle occasionally is used to give the wines an untamed touch. Sauternes have an "aged gold" colour that is denser and darker than other dessert wines. When they age, they develop a stunning amber colour. The nose has aromas of flowers and fruit that melt together to create a bouquet of remarkable complexity and balance. The primary aromas include almond, quince, mango, pineapple, stewed peach, dried apricot and passion fruit. There are also floral notes, with touches of linden, acacia, mimosa and honeysuckle. And as is typical with Sémillon, there are also notes of beeswax, almond and hazelnut. In the mouth, Sauternes wines have a powerful style that is viscous but extremely elegant. Its strong sweetness is captivating. Finally, its aromatic finish is something that simply must be experienced.
2013 Vintage Notes:
"the extractive ratios in th[is] year are in the phenomenal range and there's ripeness/botrytis to cover two treks around the globe [...] so appealing is the immediacy of the wines. Many can be enjoyed now for their sheer joy and delicious nature. [Some] should also age" - Jon Rimmerman
2014 Vintage Notes:
"a golden vintage for Sauternes. It may not have the depth or weight of 2010, but it has some of the richness. What has set 2014 apart is the intense lime and lemon flavors that cut into any overblown cloying character and allow both the fruit and the honeyed noble rot to sing." - Wine Enthusiast |
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