May 5, 2024 - Pausing for the Cause Fundraiser and Dinner (Obelix - Chicago IL): Small taste. Absolutely delicious, and absolutely a decade too young. Precocious but approachable, even if not showing much of the nuance that will certainly emerge with cellar time. But lots of depth, great 94-95+ point potential.
March 27, 2024 - D'Yquem 2019 & 2020: Tasted from 375ml over two days. It appears D'Yquem moved to DIAM with the 2020, as the 2019 opened alongside it was under natural cork.
The 2020 D'Yquem is a delicious, vibrant young wine and perfectly balanced. Tasted next to the '19, the '20 shows a fresh, tropical fruit expression and a lighter body with less perception of sweetness and less perception of oak (in the '19, I found vanilla and pastry cream notes I did not find to the same extent in the '20).
On the nose, I found fresh apricot fruit, pineapple, floral honey, and a touch each of cream, ginger, and sweet spice. Next to the '19, the expression here leans more heavily on tropical fruit, is lighter (the '19 shows more intense, concentrated, almost dried fruit tones vs. the fresh fruit here), and shows less noticeable oak (I found more distinct notes of pastry cream and vanilla in the '19).
On the palate, the '20 is medium and body and impeccably balanced, a perfect mix of acidity and sweetness. It's clearly less concentrated and a bit less expressive right now than the '19, but it impresses for its vibrancy and freshness. I found apricot fruit, honey, and white florals, adding a kick of gingery spice that lingered on the finish.
March 27, 2024 - Oh man was this good. Young Yquem is just so delicious; honeysuckle, orange blossom, marmalade, quince, fresh honey. It smells incredible. The palate is rich and sweet, yet doesn't feel heavy and has lovely acidity; floats across the palate and yet hits every sensor. Wow stuff for sure.
March 25, 2024 - Very fresh and bright, showing elegance and finesse. Quite sweet compared with other vintages. Leaning toward delicate as opposed to voluptuous. A ballerina of a wine.
February 2, 2024 - Au Bouillon Bilk.
Nez crème brûlée avec des agrumes, litchi, un peu de vanille.
Texture suave, c’est jeune et très concentré, profonde avec beaucoup de finesse dans cette finale très longue. Un saisissant alliage de puissance et de finesse. Déjà grand, avec un potentiel énorme! 96+ pts
November 15, 2023 - Higher pitched than the 2019, this 2020 is full of vibrancy and lift, with just enough candied sweetness to remind you where its hometown is. In its current state, the 2020 is such a multifaceted wine. It’s like a white Rhone in profile: slightly oily and viscous, but uber clean and refreshing. The super compelling lemony and herbal components are at the forefront, with a length on the back end that continues to pump lively yellow fruit flavors on through the finish. Followed over a few days in small pours via a .375 bottle, staying solid and unwavering throughout consumption. I like where Yquem is going with the fresher and versatile style in these newer vintages.
November 11, 2023 - Duck, duck, abortion!; 11/11/2023-11/17/2023: Youthful, golden fruits with an emphasis on bright and runny honey (the kind where it runs almost like water, and not the thick, viscous kind). Young, slightly fuzzy apricots with great freshness and aromatics.
Deep yet light honeyed apricots, bitter wax and heavy honey. There’s a thin streak of freshness that provides a nice swiftness on the palate. There’s also a gentle but firm spice on the palate. With the freshness and weight this thing has, time will reward those with patience and this should develop an awesome integration with time.
November 11, 2023 - I used to not be a Sauternes drinker. But, now I am all in on this. This was young and lively. Apricots, honey, candied lemons and and nice vein of acidity that will allow this to age gracefully. I couldn't stop smelling this wine.
September 6, 2023 - By the glass to finish a most beautiful dinner at Soil, Athens.
It arrived at the end of a very long wine dinner and still even on tired palates it shown, elegant as always, not as fresh as expected but still bright and with a fine balance. The hallmarks were all there, soft honey, light apricot, bright acidity and it never ceases to amaze us on how effortless and never heavy this wine is. Vintages come , vintages go Yquem is Yquem. 95 ++
June 20, 2023 - I tasted D'Yquem for the first time in London recently. I was told that the 2020 vintage was challenging and that the Chateau made some changes to its composition as if to play it down. This is why I love CT. When I tried this wine IMO it was perfect. Nothing cloying, perfectly balanced, full of finesse; like liquid raisins. I couldn't find a single fault with it and can't imagine what more could be done to improve it. To me, that's the definition of perfection. I appreciate the other reviews here validating my thoughts.