Love Cristal, especially the 2008 vintage! Super fine mousse mouthfeel makes this wine taste creamy and delicious! Of course, being well structured with toasted brioche, pear, green apple and a hint of lemon meringue, all surrounded by chalky minerality and hints of saline don't hurt it either! 97+ without hesitation....why not 98? Probably because I am slightly penalizing this wine (maybe a half of a point) for not being quite at the standard of Salon or Selosse, but admittedly, this is a much better value than those wines and will remain one of my favorites for quite some time!

This wine was excellent, IMO. Some at the table were worried that it was over the hill, most thought it was likely better a couple years ago, but I thought it was drinking fabulously! Some got a sherry-ish flavor on the nose, but I couldn't detect it. I thought the nose showed some white flower, some citrus and some beeswax. On the palate, I thought this was excellent! The wine showed hints of honeycomb, some citrus (almost a cross between a lemon and some orange peel) with plenty of golden fruit (think pineapple, peach and nectarine), pear and some limestone. Acidity was alive, but mellow, and integrated with the fruit. Finish was medium long. I probably enjoyed this more than the others, but it was clearly in my wheelhouse! An unapologetic 94 to 94+ for me!

Decanted for 2 hours before consumption. This is an awesome wine! Some at the table thought it was too young, and should have been aged a few more years or decanted longer. I thought this was firing on all cylinders! Nose was incredible, filled with purple flowers, fresh baked blackberry pie, some spice and hints of anise. Palate was also divine, with blackberry pie, some Christmas spice, with notes of tobacco, earth, chocolate, some tar, and well integrated sweet toasted oak. This wine was leaning on the hedonistic fruit side of the spectrum, but was still showing tertiary character. A balance I really like where you get lots of fruit, but tertiary goodness also, and not just hints of it. Solid 96, maybe even slightly higher....what a wonderful wine. Enjoy now or in the next few years if you like a balance of fruit and tertiary flavors, wait longer (or decant much longer) if you prefer wines that lean on the tertiary side of the spectrum. Either way, it is very enjoyable, and will remain so for quite a few more years, IMO!

I really cannot add anything to my previous notes. Suffice to say it is classic 2009 Yquem, and I love it! Like virtually all Yquems, it strikes that uncanny balance between sweetness and acidity. IMO, 2009 and 2001 are the best representations of this! Easy 98!

OK...brief summary....Honeyed stone fruits with enough acidity to ensure it is no where near cloying. A wine you can easily drink and it will seduce you and make you forget it is even a sweet wine!