d'Yquem 2009

2009 d’Yquem - Still just a baby as you would expect, yet it is impossible not to be blown by the juxtaposition between the insanely concentrated levels of ripe and over ripe, honey drenched tropical fruit and the bracing acidity that gives the wine life. Everything here is off the hook. This is so good today, I wish I had a bottle tonight. But if I had the wine in my cellar, as tempting as it might be, I'd wait at least 1 more decade, or better yet, 2 before I started thinking about popping a cork. 99 Pts

Towards golden. Intense, botrytis, apricots, pineapples, complex, layered. Superb nose, needs time to open fully. Fresh acidity, fruity, intense, layered, refreshing and playful, layers of fruit, pure and detailed, very long indeed. Gorgeous. 98

Served from an ex-château bottle. The 2009 Château d’Yquem is one showstopper of a wine and perhaps it is only in a vertical that you realize this is up there among the legendary wines of the past – the 2001 included. It has a wonderful nose that expresses the Semillon component majestically: heady aromas of lemon curd, nectarine, jasmine and honeysuckle that all gain momentum in the glass. The oak is supremely well-integrated. The palate is extremely well-balanced with an unctuous entry. You are immediately knocked sideways by the palpable weight and volume in the mouth, which is almost “bulbous,” with layer upon layer of heavily botrytized fruit. It builds to a spicy finish with hints of marzipan and pralines in the background that lend it an untrammeled sense of exoticism. The 2009 is utterly fabulous and decadent, a star that will blaze brightly and undimmed for many years. Drink now-2060+

An exceptional vintage. Really outstanding grapes and outstanding noble rot. Very powerful.’
Golden yellow straw. In a transitional phase methinks, as the fruit is a little more subdued (but less than the ’07). Big flavours, tending towards butterscotch rather than delicate lime. Indeed it feels just a little warm, but also more fruit forward, more golden and even quite table wine-esque. Oak plays a big part here. Transitional, but the length and breadth is pure top end. I marginally prefer the palate with its hints of toffee and lime here compared to the 2007. Love the finish and power, but it’s a bit formidable. The sweetness on the finish makes this delicious. 18.7/20, 95/100+.

Chateau d’Yquem 2009 99 points

Hard to say that this was better than the 2011 and vice versa, for different reasons these two wines have an inner light… lingering, powerful, rich, restrained, fine, expansive, sure… so many words.  Unmisseable.

Tasted on the 27th January 2017 from Duclot Bordeaux Collection case containing 9 bottles from 2009 vintage, 6 First Growths, PGCC "A" wine, Cheval Blanc, "unclassified" king of Pomerol, Petrus and "sweet" king Yquem. This time Yquem didn't ring the bell, more touched it and wasn't as breathtaking as in March 2015. But I'm pretty sure it will come back with vengeance.