Chateau d’Yquem Reviews
Learn More About Chateau d’Yquem Through its Reviews
2020 Chateau d’Yquem Revirws
97 Pointz Vinous
“The 2020 Chateau d’Yquem, a blend of 75% Semillon and 25% Sauvignon Blanc, cropped at a measly 10hl/ha, has a very sensual bouquet. It’s pretty mercurial as it unfolds in the glass, with scents of freshly sliced white peaches, almonds, and pineapple. The oak is beautifully integrated, and allowing it further time, there are additional scents of Vervain tea, pressed white flowers, and saffron. The palate makes an immediate impact with a mineral-rich, surprisingly saline entry that lends it edginess right from the off. The poise in this Yquem rivets you to the spot. Compared to recent vintages, this keeps everything buttoned down and tightly controlled until the finish, whereupon it fans out with nascent swagger. Stem ginger, caramelized pear, and orange rind notes are delivered with excellent delineation. This animated and opulent Yquem is destined to age gracefully over the coming decades.”
96 Pointz James Suckling
Very transparent and elegant with white peaches, lilacs, and light caramel. Medium-bodied, sweet, and agile with salted caramel and dried orange character. Spicy botrytis at the end. Give this three or four years to come together.
95 Pointz Wine Spectator
This has a broad and unctuous feel, with nectarine, apricot, and mango notes leading the way and creating an opulent feel, though there are also racy bitter almond, orange blossom, and elderberry accents for contrast and range. The lush finish is carried by mango and pie crust. Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc. Best from 2028 through 2040.
Bonus Reviews
United Kingdom
96 Pointz Decanter
“A masterclass in purity and delicacy for this 2020 vintage which manages to convey the beauty and allure of Yquem in a toned down, subtle, and beguiling way. Aromas of white blossom and honeysuckle, gently caramelised Mirabelle plums and fresh apricots with flecks of clementine and grapefruit pith abound on the nose - richly scented in their individual aspects but delivered quietly, almost sultry and shy. Immediately mouthfilling and unctuous, streamlined and fresh with a sugary hit hitting first before mouthwatering acidity follows giving sumptuous succulence and vibrancy. Apricot, peach, fleshy mango, and sharp pineapple give the exotic fruit zing balanced by a salty, flintiness that adds faint angles to the expression. Juicy, bright, clean, and complete with hints of cinnamon spice and just-toasted bread providing the frame and structure reminding you that this is built to last. It's not as opulent as some vintages, much more understated and relaxed - and coincidentally one of the lowest in residual sugar at 135g/l - but this is a wonderful expression with control and confidence on show. It also has supreme drinkability even now with tension, clarity, and energy so don't be afraid to open and enjoy this in its joyful youth. The 2020 is the smallest production since 2000 with an equivalent of 35,000 bottles made.” Drinking Window: 2023 - 2070
2019 Château d’Yquem Reviews
98 Pointz Vinous
“Tasting the 2019, I noticed that it has a slightly paler hue compared to recent vintages (though I never read too much into the colour of young Sauternes.) For certain, it has a highly-aromatic bouquet that is beguiling in purity, enticing aromas of honeysuckle and saffron, soon joined by camomile, white flowers, and orange blossom. It has wonderful delineation and gains intensity with aeration. The palate is supremely well-balanced with fine bead of acidity. Very harmonious and armed with just the right amount of viscosity, this Yquem is surprisingly understated at first but gains presence, offering irresistible flavours of layers of honey, lemongrass, lemon thyme, and orange pith. Yquem is so tempting in its youth, but I feel that this vintage will repay those with the nous to cellar for at least a decade.”
97 Pointz Wine Spectator “Collectible”
“A special wine right from the start, this glistens with pure papaya, mango, white peach, and mirabelle plum, joined by elderflower honey, toasted macadamia nut, and orange blossom notes. Ends with a remarkably long finish. Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc. Drink now through 2050.”
96 Pointz James Suckling
“A juicy Yquem with tarte tartin, salted caramel, and dried oranges on the nose and palate. Medium-to full-bodied and medium-sweet with a creamy and round texture. Bright and vivid. Lovely texture. Long. Evolves to caramel and burnt vanilla sugar. 55% semillon and 45% sauvignon. 138g/L residual. Drink or hold.”
Bonus Reviews
France
97 Pointz Jane Anson, Master of Wine Insider Bordeaux
“Clear push and pull between acidity and lusciousness from the first moments. A higher percentage of Sauvignon Blanc than in a typical year, showing in sculpted gunsmoke and white truffle on the opening beats. Fresher flavours continue with lemongrass and lime zest, broadening out into luscious mango, grilled caramel, pineapple, and brioche, and a welcome edge of bitterness on the finish with mandarin peel and oyster shell salinity.”
United Kingdom
97 Pointz Decanter
“The 2019 vintage of Château d'Yquem has the highest proportion (45%) of Sauvignon Blanc in any modern Yquem. The Sauvignon Blanc adds to the freshness, acting as a great balance to the succulent, sweet, and voluptuous palate. Intense peach and apricot, combined with lemon and orange zest, make this highly appealing to drink right away - an ideal vintage with which to start Yquem’s ‘lighthouse’ project. However, it would be a shame not to give this 10+ years maturation to see how it develops. Very well, I suspect.”
18.5++/20 Pointz Jancis Robinson, Master of Wine
“Dried fruit, pure and direct. Succulent and juicy, super-concentrated length. Lighter than usual, but no compromise on the complexity. It has the magic of Yquem in a slim-fit package. Not the most hedonistic, but certainly in the top class of Sauternes.”
2018 Chateau d’Yquem Reviews
98 Pointz Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
“The 2018 d'Yquem is all lime cordial, grapefruit oil, and mandarin peel to begin. With a little coaxing, the fireworks really begin, letting off a whole array of honeysuckle, candied ginger, dried pineapple, lemon pastilles, chalk dust, and sea spray scents, followed by a savory undercurrent of shaved almonds, allspice, and baking bread. The palate is an exercise in polish and poise, featuring the most gorgeously creamy texture and bright, sparkling freshness, framing all the densely laden tropical and citrus fruit layers, finishing with a powerful BANG of profound floral and spice perfume. It is wonderfully sweet, yes, but that—paradoxically for a "sweet wine"—is almost beside the point.”
97 Pointz James Suckling
An extremely polished and refined d’Yquem with lightly cooked peaches and mangos and an overlay of vanilla and cream with some lemon meringue. Orange peel, too. What is striking is the texture, which is creamy and so fine. The tannins give the wine energy and beauty. The finish is extremely long and impressive. So clean and refined. Not heavy at all, but vivid and clean as crystal. Goes on for minutes. Elegance with stature is a good description. Drinkable now, but better in 2023 and onwards.
98 Wine Spectator
A beauty from start to finish, with fresh, racy notes of honeysuckle, quinine, and mirabelle plum leading off, followed by richer quince, creamed pear, and white nectarine flavors. Everything melds through the finish, picking up macadamia nut and brioche accents to complete the seduction. Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc. Best from 2025 through 2045.
93 Pointz Vinous
The 2018 Chateau d’Yquem was tasted just a few months earlier before this second reading at the château. My notes are pretty consistent with that dried honey and saffron scented aromas, perhaps just missing the energy conveyed by the previous vintage. The palate is well balanced with that telltale lusciousness that I remarked upon in my last note, although this just precludes the 2018 from delivering the tension and nerve of the best vintages. Apricot and lemon curd linger on the aftertaste. Very fine.”
Bonus Reviews
United Kingdom
97 Decanter
Average temperatures 2.7°C over average, combined with 20% of the normal rainfall from mid August to the end of July made makes this a naturally rich, low-yielding vintage (40% less than average, not helped by a hail storm in July), with a gloriously gourmet 145g/ha residual sugar, and a pH level of 3.95. As ever with Yquem, patience was the key, taking in the grapes slowly but surely over 17 days harvest that extended well into October. The results in the glass are intense and glossy, full of satin-textured apricot and white peach flavours. There are exotic fruits of pineapple and mango but winemaker Sandrine Garbay has kept a focus on fresher flavours of lime zest and citrus that balance out the natural richness and concentration. Pretty closed right now, but there is power and balance here, an excellent Yquem. (Drink between 2022-2050)
2017 Chateau d’Yquem Reviews
99 Pointz James Suckling
“This is a great Yquem, delivering thrilling purity and intensity. The nose offers intense aromas of fresh and dried apricot and peach pastry, as well as freshly baked creme brulee, candied, and fresh orange and kumquat. Some marmalade, too. Smooth, glossy texture with flavors of grilled orange, dried apricot, and an exceptionally long finish with a powerful, driving push to the end. A flicker of toasty-oak influence arrives late, but this wine has completely consumed the oak. The 2017 Yquem is a very powerful wine from a very rich and exceptional vintage. The acidity has a big hand in balancing the richness. Pithy finish. The phenolics deliver some great depth. Rain at the beginning of September prompted an extensive infection of noble rot. The harvest lasted from September 26 to October 13. Great quality and one of the best since the legendary 2001.”
99 Pointz Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
“There was no frost at d’Yquem in 2017, and botrytis was very regular and even this vintage. The nose opens with very pure notes of freshly sliced oranges, yuzu, and lemon barley water with hints of white pepper, fresh ginger, and lime cordial. The incredibly rich, unctuous sweetness (148 grams per liter of residual sugar) is beautifully marbled with bright, vivacious citrus fruit and spice flavors, while lifted by well-knit freshness, and it finishes with epic length and great depth.”
97 Pointz Vinous
“The 2017 Yquem was tasted instead of the 2018 since owners LVMH no longer show the wine en primeur. This vintage has just been released onto the market and so I have included it in this report. The estate suffered no frost damage in 2017 and a warm period between May and July, 3° Celsius above average meant the vines' growth cycle was a month in advance. Then, 65mm of rain between 1 and 16 September was the catalyst for botrytis formation. The fruit was picked in two dry and warm windows between 26 September and 14 October, during which concentration came easily so that the bunches achieved even levels of ripeness. The vineyard team selected the best parcels to pick at 21 degrees potential alcohol and in a draconian measure, the rest was sold, some 50% of the crop. Winemaker Sandrine Garbay described it as 'A vintage of puissance and richness.' It has a charming and very pure bouquet with dried honey, acacia, apricot blossom, and touches of crushed stone that gradually unfurls in the glass. The palate is viscous on the entry, beautifully balanced with impressive weight and substance, though sans the multi-dimensional complexity of the very greatest vintages. Honey, hints of lemongrass, marmalade, and quince combine on the extremely harmonious finish that lingers. This is a seriously good Chateau d’Yquem.”
96 Pointz Wine Spectator “Collectibles”
“Very flattering and unctuous in feel, with coconut, creamed papaya, toasted hazelnut, and warmed peach and tangerine cream flavors gliding along in unison, all framed by warm brioche and piecrust notes on the finish. Remarkably rich, yet poised and pure.”
Bonus Reviews
United Kingdom
96 Pointz Decanter
“To overcome the gap between the dry white harvest (16-25 August, even earlier than in 2003) and the noble rot harvest (20 September to 14 October), the team began by picking their best plots on the cooler clay terroirs to ensure maximum freshness. They have expertly managed to retain a beautiful focus, showing pared back but fleshy white peach and pear notes, saffron, white pepper, subtle gunsmoke, and slate, followed by a fantastic kick of ginger through the mid palate and beyond. There was no frost impact here, but they were still very strict in the blending, using just 45% of their 17hl/ha crop. This wine has a fairly high 148g/l of residual sugar, with TA6 and 3.8pH (compared to 3.65pH in 2015). They expect to carry out long oak ageing to add structure and to balance the sugars.”
18.5/20 Pointz Jancis Robinson, Master of Wine
“Tasted blind. Pale gold. Subtle, refined nose. Wonderful intensity and superb balance on the palate. The sweetness is matched by grip and subtly savoury spices. There is plenty of botrytis, but its earthy complexity is woven superbly into the wine. There is great potential here.”
2016 Chateau d’Yquem Reviews
99 Pointz Jeb Dunnuck
The 2016 Chateau D’Yquem is pure magic and dessert wines don’t get much better. Offering a pale gold color as well as a blockbuster bouquet of honeyed tangerines, tart apricots, liquid rocks, white flowers, and honeysuckle, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, an opulent texture, vibrant acidity, and again, an incredible sense of minerality, despite having no shortage of sweetness or richness. The 2016 is a classic blend of 75% Sémillon and 25% Sauvignon that hit 14.2% alcohol with 135 grams of residual sugar. It’s already complex and approachable yet will keep for 3-4 decades.”
99 Pointz James Suckling
“A very classic Yquem. Breathtakingly wide spectrum of floral honey, exotic fruit (passion fruit, mango, and pineapple), caramel, and marzipan aromas. But none of this is a jot too much. In fact, the wine is extremely precise and finely nuanced. Wonderful freshness and textural complexity, in spite of the considerable concentration and extravagance. Very suave and sensual finish that goes on and on.”
98 Pointz Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
“Containing 135 grams per liter of residual sugar, the pale lemon-gold colored 2016 Chateau d'Yquem leaps from the glass with honeyed apricots, pineapple, green mango, crushed rocks, candied ginger, coriander seed and citrus peel with hints of orange blossom. The palate is very tightly wound, vibrant, and refreshing with layer upon layer of minerals and spices, finishing with epic poise and persistence.”
97 Pointz Wine Enthusiast
“The bouquet opens with aromas of honey and citrus, offering richness and freshness at the same time. The mouthfeel is opulent, with honeyed flavors. There is some acidity underneath, although decadence and concentration are its defining attributes. It will age for decades.”
95 Pointz Vinous
“The 2016 d'Yquem is a magical wine. It also looks like a Chateau d’Yquem that will drink well right out of the gate. Like so many of the better wines in this vintage, it manages to express richness while avoiding excess heaviness. Pineapple, orange marmalade, exotic flowers, and spice all blossom in the glass. There is a real sense of phenolic richness and overall viscosity to the 2016 that adds to the wine's singular personality. The 135 grams of residual sugar are not especially evident. In 2016, the vineyard was harvested in four passes, but it was not until after the October rains that noble rot started to appear on the vine.
94 Pointz Wine Spectator
“This is exotic, with very lush and seductive notes of coconut, honeysuckle, creamed white peach, glazed pear, mirabelle plum, and yellow apple, all woven together seamlessly. Beautifully caressing in feel, with a long acacia echo on the finish.”
Bonus Reviews
United Kingdom
97 Pointz Decanter
“Despite a rich botrytis character, this balances impact with delicacy. Clear citrus on the nose with a hint of flint and smoke, allowing the soft white flowers and lime blossom to steal up on you slowly. There are caramel notes through the mid-palate and great persistency, as ever. Extremely elegant. This was the driest summer since 1898, and the harvest at Yquem lasted a full two months, from 4th September (for the dry white Y d'Yquem) through to 4th November for the final selection of botrytis berries. The final yield is 20hl/ha, the highest in recent years against their average of 9hl/ha, with 40% going into the grand vin.”
2015 Chateau d’Yquem Reviews
100 Pointz Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
“Following a very long harvest stretching nearly two months, the 2015 Château d'Yquem came in at 13.9% alcohol and 144 grams per liter of residual sugar, sporting a pH of 3.65 and six grams per liter of tartaric acid. None of these numbers, however, even remotely begin to tell you how profound this wine is. The nose opens with electric notes of ripe pineapples, green mango, orange blossoms, and lemon tart with hints of fungi, lime zest, crushed rocks, and jasmine. The freshness on the palate is just astonishing, permeating and lifting layer upon layer of tropical fruits and earthy notions, all encased in a sumptuous texture and culminating in a very, very long, mineral-tinged finish. Truly, this is a legendary vintage for d'Yquem. I've been conservative with my drinking window here, and I would not be at all surprised if our descendants are drinking this vintage well into the next century.”
99 Pointz James Suckling
“This is a very powerful yet at the same time bright and dry d’Yquem. Full-bodied, sweet yet phenolic and layered. Love the combination between tannin and sweetness. The purity and beauty are incredible; it’s the freshness and lightness that make this wine, yet the depth and richness are undeniable.”
98 Pointz Vinous
“The 2015 Chateau d'Yquem is without question one of the wines of the vintage. Just as alluring from bottle as it was from barrel, the 2015 is a wine that engages all of the senses, from the intellectual to the more hedonistic. Lilting notes of pineapple, mint, orange peel, and white flowers grace the palate, but it is the wine's sense of balance and total harmony that impress most. In 2015, Yquem had its earliest start to the harvest since 1893. Even so, the winemaking team did a magnificent job of preserving freshness. The 2015 was fermented in 100% new oak, and residual sugar is 145 grams per liter, but great wine is never about numbers. Above all else, the 2015 Yquem is a wine of energy and class. Don't miss it!”
98 Pointz Wine Spectator
“Fresh-cut orange, peach, and nectarine notes lead the way, followed by lightly singed almond and warm piecrust notes. Then another wave of green fig, warmed pear and coconut takes over on the finish. Rich and honeyed in feel, with obvious power, balanced by an energy in the inner core that should help this cruise in the cellar for some time.”
Bonus Reviews
United Kingdom
95 Pointz Decanter
About 75% Semillon and 25% Sauvignon Blanc. Very pure, intense aromas and flavours of peach, lemon curd, tangerine, and marmalade botrytis notes. Boasts 144fram/liter sugar and 6.2 grams/liter total acidity. Boasts 144g/l sugar and 6.2 g/l total acidity. Very pure, long and racy rather than rich. It doesn't have the power of 2001 or 2009, nor the freshness of 2011 or 2014, but it is a great wine in the making. If the vintage allows, I'd go back to an 80%/20% Sem-Sauv blend to get back a little of that magical d'Yquem richness"
19.5/20 Pointz Jancis Robinson, Master of Wine
“Utter joy. Marmalade, vanilla, mixed spice, cream, butter. Unctuous without excess. Finely tuned with impossibly good balance.”
2014 Chateau d’Yquem Reviews
99 Pointz Wine Enthusiast
“Apricot tones with lively acidity give this rich wine a vein of freshness. Pear and white peach notes offer weight, while a lime backbone brings levity. There is a richness from the botrytis that is lifted by this wines delicious freshness.”
98 Pointz Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
“The Château Yquem 2014 was picked over 9 weeks this year, with one-quarter of the grapes picked prior to 15 September. It delivers 134 grams per liter residual sugar and 7.3 grams per liter tartaric acid, with a pH 3.60. It has a captivating bouquet (I know...I know...what else were you expecting) But it entrances with its pure, wild honey notes mixed with almond and white chocolate scents, bestowed with beguiling delineation and focus. The palate is very poised with the acidity nigh on perfect. Occasionally an Yquem only reveals its components parts at this early juncture, necessitates conjecture. However the 2014 has a sense of harmony and completeness already, as if the élevage is merely there to usher it on to its finished state. There is undeniably great depth here, perhaps less conspicuous than other vintages because of that silver thread of acidity: notes of lemon sherbet, orange zest, shaved ginger and again, a few "flakes' of white chocolate. It is extremely long with tenderness rather than power on the finish. It's not quite up there in the rarefied heights of say, the 2001 or 2009, but it is what we call in the trade, "the business."
98 Pointz James Suckling
“Very subtle Yquem on the nose with dried pineapple, lemons, green apples, and hints of botrytis. The palate grabs you by the arms and shows you superb concentration of spices, dried fruit, phenolics, and incredible energy. Nothing is like this from Sauternes this vintage! Drink whenever you like. Spellbinding.”
98 Pointz Wine Spectator
“A stunner, sporting tropical mango and papaya notes that glide along beautifully, while heather honey, pineapple chutney, and toasted coconut flavors fill in through the finish. Delivers an amazing mouthfeel that is both creamy and intense, with a pretty inner floral brightness that contrasts with the fruit. Best from 2020 through 2045.”
95 Pointz Vinous
“The 2014 Chateau d'Yquem is a wine of restraint above all else. Candied lemon, orange peel, apricot jam, graphite and almond are some of the many threads in a rich fabric that envelops all the senses. A wine of contrasts, the 2014 is at times delicate, while in other moments it is more powerful.”
Bonus Reviews
United Kingdom
18/20 Pointz Jancis Robinson, Master of Wine
“RS 134 g/l. Tasted blind. Rather light nose but fabulous excitement underneath. Such tension and depth of detail. Very broad and nervy.”
2013 Chateau d’Yquem Reviews
98 Pointz James Suckling
“Bright aromas of sliced mangoes, papaya, botrytis, and lemon follow through to a full body. Medium sweet with a phenolic palate that gives the wine structure and beauty. Electric acidity and freshness combined with impressive energy and length. A strict selection was made. 40% of the production was destined to the grand vin.”
98 Pointz Wine Spectator “Collectibles”
“Lightly toasted marshmallow and macadamia nut aromas lead the way, followed by incredibly juicy mirabelle plum, green fig, and glazed pear and peach flavors. As big as this is, there are still plenty of honeysuckle, quinine and chamomile notes kicking the finish into yet another gear. This has purity and length to burn, with decades more to go.”
98 Pointz Wine Enthusiast
“The beautifully aromatic, honeyed scent leads into flavors of bitter orange and honey, along with extreme freshness. Notes of white peach and Rocha pear give richness to a wine that is not huge, but wonderfully balanced.”
97 Pointz Wine Advocate
“Firstly, you notice the color, which is a touch deeper than recent vintages at this stage. The bouquet is quite honeyed and rich for Yquem at this early juncture, with subtle scents of peach skin, white flowers, and a puff of chalk and frangipane. The palate is viscous on the entry, all about the texture at first, coating the mouth with luscious botrytized fruit. There are touches of Seville orange marmalade, fresh apricot, a hint of spice, and passion fruit. This is imbued with impressive depth and weight, perhaps an Yquem that is determined to make an impression after last year-s absence. It might not possess the finesse of a top flight Yquem, but it has immense power and persistency.”
96 Pointz Vinous
“The 2013 Chateau d'Yquem is rich, honeyed, and voluptuous in the glass, but never excessively heavy. Crème brulee, candied lemon, apricot jam, orange marmalade, sweet spices, and almond paste meld together in a Sauternes built on class and finesse What a gorgeous wine this is.”
96 Pointz Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar
“70% Semillon and 30% Sauvignon Blanc; 13.1% alcohol and 140 g/l residual sugar; total acidity of almost 6 g/l): Luminous medium yellow-gold. Almost Germanic in its perfumed, bright aromas of tangerine, grapefruit, peach, lemon, lichee, and ginger. Lush but very fresh, with bracing limey acidity giving sharp definition to the complex flavors of honey, ginger, green fig, yellow melon, and peach. The brisk, harmonious acidity really cleanses the palate and makes this one of the most immediately appealing (almost too easy to drink!) Yquems in memory. The finish is extremely long and vibrant. This is a much less massive, opulent Yquem than usual but is extremely graceful and refined.”
Bonus Reviews
United Kingdom
95 Pointz Decanter
“Excellent intensity and density for this vintage, with ripe pineapple and mango flavours. High residual sugar at 140 grams per litre balanced by fresh, crisp acidity.”
2012 Chateau d’Yquem Reviews
No Wine Made
2011 Chateau d’Yquem Reviews
99 Pointz Wine Spectator Collectibles
“A lovely, creamy, tropical style, with mango, papaya, and guava notes lending a caressing feel, while singed almond and warm piecrust accents blossom through the lush finish. Just when you think that's all there is, toasted coconut, fig, orange blossom, and persimmon details kick in, lending length and dimension. The finish is ridiculously long.”
98 Pointz James Suckling
“Crazy minerality to this, with lots of dried mango, pineapple and papaya on the nose. Botrytis-spice and nutmeg undertones. Full body, very sweet, with superb depth of fruit and richness. It goes on for minutes. Turns dense and concentrated on the palate. Speechless.”
98 Pointz Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar
“Cool, pure aromas of white peach, honeyed mango, guava nectar, white flowers and saffron are complicated by elements of crushed stone and spicy lemony botrytis. Suave and intensely flavored, with mineral-spiced apple, mango, passion fruit and grapefruit flavors offering outstanding purity, precision, and depth. The brisk but harmonious acidity gives this great Sauternes a penetrating quality and provides a powerful spine to the very deep flavors, making it seem less opulent than it really is. This Yquem has the depth of the 2007 but boasts even greater purity and focus. Finishes bright and extremely long, with repeating suggestions of white flowers and lemony botrytis. Though it lacks the depth of the 2001 or the opulence of the 2009 at a similar stage of development, this is one of my favorite young Yquems ever: it will age spectacularly well.”
97 Pointz Wine Enthusiast
“Rich, with intense flavors of botrytis, lemon, and Seville orange peel. This wine has both freshness and sweetness, with a light touch.”
95 Pointz Jeb Dunnuck
“The 2011 Château d’Yquem is a more restrained, elegant style of Yquem with beautiful, nuanced notes of caramelized citrus, apricot, white flowers, and a beautiful mineral-character that emerges more on the palate. Beautifully balanced, medium to full-bodied, with good acidity and plenty of complex, sweet, honeyed fruit, it’s all about complexity, nuance, and elegance. Feel free to drink this beauty any time over the coming 40-50 years.”
94 Pointz Wine Advocate
“The Château Yquem 2011 has a complex bouquet, one that is very well defined with hints of petrol infusing the rich honeyed fruit, later melted wax and fresh peach coming through. The palate is well balanced with a strong viscous entry. There is plenty of residual sugar here and I would have preferred a little more acidic bite to offset that rich, decadent finish (this is despite their correct policy of blending non-botrytized berries in order to increase acidity.) Powerful, burly even, I would give this several years in the cellar to allow this Yquem to mellow and enter its stride.”
94 Pointz Vinous
“The 2011 Chateau d’Yquem was picked over four tries from 6 September, the earliest for 125 years until 5 October. Slightly paler in colour compared to the 2001 alongside, it has a well defined and slightly Germanic bouquet with that petrol note still present, allied with peach and apricot, honeysuckle and desiccated orange peel. The palate is fresh and vibrant with crisp acidity, a slight waxy texture, mango, and quince laced with a touch of lemongrass towards the refined and quite approachable finish. What a pretty Yquem the 2011 is turning into.”
Bonus Reviews
United Kingdom
96 Pointz Decanter
“Lush apricot nose. Fine attack thanks to high acidity. Very sweet and pungent, with intense apricot fruit. Not a fat style, with great elegance, and shows lots of energy and spice. Long.”
17/20 Pointz Jancis Robinson, Master of Wine
“Smells of metal somehow. Very sweet with a real buzz of acidity and chewiness on the end. Still pretty youthful. Long and buzzing.”
2010 Chateau d’Yquem Reviews
98 Pointz Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
“Pale to medium lemon-gold color, the 2010 d'Yquem has retreated into its shell at this youthful stage, offering spritely suggestions of lemon curd, lime cordial, and green mango with wafts of honeysuckle, spice cake, sea spray, and beeswax plus a hint of gingerbread. The palate really comes through with super intense, tightly wound citrus, savory and mineral layers carried by a laser-precise backbone of freshness, finishing with crazy persistence that lingers a full three minutes and then some. This is going to be a very exotic, opulent Chateau d’Yquem!”
98 Pointz Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar
“Deep yellow with a golden tinge. Intense aromas of very ripe tropical fruit, beeswax, honey, and raisin are lifted by a strong mineral edge. Very fresh, rich, and sweet on entry, then extremely light on its feet, with refined flavors of ripe citrus, mango, papaya, honey, and saffron complicated by tangy botrytis. A very bright and focused Yquem, with lively acidity and a long, smooth, floral finish. Boasts impeccable balance and lovely precision.”
98 Pointz Wine Enthusiast
“Stunningly rich in character, a wine with great power to go with its acidity and sweetness. It is dense, powerful and concentrated powered by honey and by spice from the wood. The finish has dried apricots, very aromatic.”
97 Pointz James Suckling
“The purity of Botrytis in this wine is so impressive with dried fruits such apple and mango. And then spicy character. Full body and very sweet but it is incredibly fresh and lively. Such class and elegance. Perfectly manicured wine. Everything in the right place. This shows a delicacy and intensity that are spellbinding. “
97 Pointz Wine Spectator
Collectibles
“A pure, racy, floral style, with bright white peach, heather, and honeysuckle notes driving along. The core of fresh orchard fruit is unctuous, the finish long and lacy, with marvelous cut and finesse. This shows the balance and elegance of a cooler year with a longer harvest period.”
2009 Chateau dYquem Reviews
100 Pointz Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
“Pale to medium-gold colored, the 2009 d'Yquem bursts from the glass with gregarious crème caramel, allspice, dried apricots, mandarin peel, and pineapple upside-down cake scents plus a fragrant undercurrent of fungi, acacia honey, candied ginger, musk perfume, and frangipani. Full-bodied and full-on hedonic in the mouth, the rich, tightly wound layers are still amazingly youthful with bags of citrus sparks and an incredibly long, perfumed finish. Possessing a residual sugar of 157 grams per liter and 13.6% alcohol as well as a laser-focused line of freshness, the rock-solid structure and through-the-roof opulence here is simply mind-blowing. Pure perfection.”
100 Pointz Wine Enthusiast
The aromas are so rich and powerful, with great ripe apricots. There are honey, spice, and beautiful sweet spiced pears. This is an extraordinary wine in an extraordinary year in Sauternes.”
98 Pointz James Suckling
“The length to this is exceptional with an intensity yet subtlety. Full and medium sweet with bright and exciting acidity. It's all in balance here. Crème brûlée, pineapple, and papaya. Lasts so long on finish. It's so fabulous now. It will age forever but it's already a joy to taste, even drink.”
98 Pointz Wine Spectator
“The aromas are closed today, but the core is loaded with apricot, nectarine, and orange notes, bolted by a citrus zest spine and backed by toasted almond and piecrust accents on the finish. A large-scale Yquem that shows the richness of the vintage.”
97 Pointz Vinous
“This has a very refined and sophisticated bouquet with wild honey, brioche, vanilla pod, and light orange blossom aromas, beautifully refined. The palate is very well defined with fine acidity, very elegant in style with pure botrytised fruit and superb acidity on the finish. Ah...that is more like it.”
Bonus Reviews
United Kingdom
97 Pointz Decanter
“From a dry, hot year, this Yquem has retained all the freshness of a great Sauternes combined with massive intensity of ultra-ripe grapes. It lacks the additional complexity of more botrytised vintages but makes up for this with the wonderful balance of sweetness, orange zest notes, and tingling acidity. Not a fat style of Yquem, the acidity makes this very refreshing. Can be enjoyed now but has the concentration to last at least another two decades.”