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  • Country ranking ?

    477
  • Producer ranking ?

    26
  • Decanting time

    4h
  • When to drink

    now to 2040

The Tb points given to this wine are the world’s most valid and most up-to-date evaluation of the quality of the wine. Tastingbook points are formed by the Tastingbook algorithm which takes into account the wine ratings of the world's best-known professional wine critics, wine ratings by thousands of tastingbook’s professionals and users, the generally recognised vintage quality and reputation of the vineyard and winery. Wine needs at least five professional ratings to get the Tb score. Tastingbook.com is the world's largest wine information service which is an unbiased, non-commercial and free for everyone.

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The Story

The pleasure derived from tasting Yquem is difficult to describe.

It offers a myriad of well-balanced, complex flavours that generate even more harmonies over time. The impression that remains is reminiscent of a quote from Frédéric Dard "the silence that follows a piece by Mozart, in which the listener remains suffused with the music". This reflects the fact that Château d'Yquem stays on the palate for a remarkable long time, providing a unique, prolonged pleasure. There is a lovely expression in French to describe Yquem's tremendously long aftertaste: il fait la queue du paon, which means that it spreads out like a peacock's tail.

 

It is always difficult to describe wine-tasting experiences with any precision. The senses of sight, smell, taste and touch are all stimulated virtually at the same time. While gifted tasters can identify some of the aromas and flavours in a glass of Yquem in an effort to define its complexity, they never really succeed in communicating its essence or explaining its mystery. Mere analysis, whether chemical or organoleptic, is not sufficient to account for Yquem's greatness. Yquem tells a unique story... It starts with the bouquet. Although not always very outgoing in young vintages, it is marked by fruit (apricot, mandarin, and occasionally tropical fruit) and oak (vanilla and toasty aromas). Older vintages, on the other hand, have an extraordinarily complex fragrance as soon as the bottle is opened, with hints of dried fruit (dried apricot, prune, stewed fruit, and marmalade), spice (cinnamon, saffron, and liquorice), and even flowers (lime blossom, etc.). The first impression of Château d'Yquem on the palate is always very silky, and often sumptuous. It then fills out, "coating the palate". This fine wine has a strong, but never overbearing character, with great elegance and poise. It always maintains a balance between sugar and acidity (sweetness and freshness). A touch of bitterness can also contribute to the overall harmony. Château d'Yquem's aftertaste is legendary, and it tells another story, which lasts and lasts…

Certain connoisseurs consider it outrageous to drink a young Yquem and believe that opening such a monumental wine before its thirtieth birthday is tantamount to a sacrilege. Others, on the contrary, think that Yquem can be enjoyed at all stages in its life.

 

Chateau d`Yquem is often described as the greatest sweet wine in the world. After centuries of family ownership, Yquem was was bought by Louis Vuitton-Moët-Hennessy in 1999. Its former owner and director Alexandre de Lur-Saluce remains in charge. Yquem is located on the highest hill in Sauternes and enjoys the best growing conditions in the whole appellation. The 110-hectare vineyard is planted with 80% Sémillon and 20% Sauvignon Blanc. Only fully botrytized fruit is picked by the 150 highly skilled pickers and yields are so low that each vine produces only one glass of wine. Yquem is fermented in oak barrels (100% new) and is left in barriques to mature for up to 36 months. Intensely opulent when young, Yquem develops an extraordinary complexity and exotic richness when fully mature, with the best vintages lasting for over 50 years. Château d'Yquem is classified as a 1er Cru Classé supérieur.

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Wine Information

A very hot year with showers evenly spread out over spring and summer. The harvest was over quickly. There were 4 passes in quick succession during 30°C weather, with each one followed by a new burst of botrytis. Picking ended in mid-October. This vintage will be remembered for both its earliness and the speed with which it was over – factors typical of very great years.

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Vintage 1959

Bordeaux 1959 was proclaimed the wine year of the century by overzealous journalists. Even though it was an excellent year, it simply was not the best of the century. The year started off with ideal weather conditions. Summer was perfect all the way until the autumn, when the rains came in mid-September. But the rains made way for hot, dry weather, thus setting a magnificent stage for the start of the harvest.  The result was a truly ripe and juicy crop. The reds are typically full-bodied, with soft acidity and a fat mouthfeel that comes from the high alcohol content. Even though the vintage is generally compared to 1961, it has much in common with the 1949. The Sauternes vintage was equally a success and the region produced some very long-lived wines. Once again the Château Lafite-Rothschild achieved complete success, sharing the title of best wine of the vintage with the Haut-Brion. Right on their heels is the Pétrus, which should be decanted for at least three hours before drinking, and the La-Mission-Haut-Brion.

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Average Bottle Price

2023 2015 2010 1995
980€ +12.6% 870€ +77.6% 490€ +44.1% 340€

This data comes from the FINE Auction Index, a composite of average prices for wines sold at commercial auctions in 20 countries. The average prices from each year have been collected since 1990. This chart plots the index value of the average price of the wines.

Tasting note

color

Medium, Gold and Healthy

ending

Medium, Extensive, Flavorful and Harsh

flavors

Apricot, Waxy, Honey, Nutty, Mineral and Floral

nose

Tired, Fresh, Seductive and Mature

recommend

Yes

taste

High in Acidity, Warming, Complex, Balanced, Concentrated, Mature, Medium-bodied, Average, Harmonious, Vigor, Elegant, Medium-Sweet and Silky tannins

Verdict

Uninteresting and Intelligent

Written Notes

The bottle was in perfect condition. Level was by the neck. Decanted for two hours. Brownish, deep but a bit oxidated colour. On the nose honey, mango and other tropical fruits, roasted nuts, and pine wood aromas. The wine was unbelievably lively and showed no signs of heaviness. Well balanced. Refined, luxurious, elegant, detailed, and sweet with stunning complexity and a lavish finish. Loads of life left.
  • 96p
There were six vintages to go, and four of them were legendary, the first of which was the 1959 d’Yquem. Its nose was all about the caramel, more crème caramel than any other wine before. Its texture was perfect, with great balance between its oil and cut. It was so delicious in a just right spot. Its acid was mid-level, and ‘great’ and ‘superb’ kept coming up in my notes. There was ‘a lot of sugar’ here from this hot vintage, but it didn’t come across overly sweet (98).
  • 98p

From a 0.75 l bottle, medium amber color, very intense bouquet of raisins, toffee pudding, brown sugar and caramel.Still quite sweet  for the age, medium body ,very intense and nicely balanced with remaining acidity that will keep it alive for many more years to come.Long lasting finish that keeps in your mouth for minutes.

Almost on the same level as the 67. Very good.

  • 96p

B level fill, top shoulder. Amber with green yellow rim. Botrytis, apricots, raisins, nuts, vanilla, very complex. Pure, elegant, fantastic acidity, really refreshing, caramel, so much happening, complex and balanced, and that acidity just plays and plays in the mouth. Fantastic length, minutes on end. 97

  • 97p
Mahogany. It was similar to 1955, concerning intensity and concentration. However, there were more nuances in this wine, which had noticeable aromas of caramel budding, toffee and candied orange peel. This was breathtaking and sublime wine, with at least 20 eventful years in its "luggage".
  • 96p
A clear, intensive golden yellow colour, with amber highlights. Waxy, slightly flat apricot nose. The palate is sweetish and has a coarse structure. Botrytis, apricot and orange peel in the finish. A very modest presentation, which is past its prime. Decanted for 1.5 hours. Lasts one hour in the glass.
  • 95p
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Information

Origin

Sauternes, Bordeaux

Vintage Quality

Excellent

Investment potential

Good

Fake factory

There is a possibility
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