x
  • Country ranking ?

    582
  • Producer ranking ?

    33
  • Decanting time

    4h
  • When to drink

    now to 2050
  • Food Pairing

    Raspberries or Summer Pudding

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.

Close

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.

Close

Wine Information

Spring was warm, but very wet, with late flowering.. However, the tide turned in July when beautiful weather set in. The harvest began late, in mid-October, and stretched until All Saints' Day. The grapes developed evenly during this time and were able to take their time to reach complete maturity. There were six passes altogether, each of excellent quality. 88 Yqeum is very full and classic.

Close

Vintage 1988

The first of a trio of great vintages and which was rather overshadowed by the 89s and 90s. Certainly the most "classic" of the trio, with many wines which are not overtly fruit-focused, but which have levels of extract and concentration which make them perfect candidates for prolonged storage.

The first half of the year was exceptionally cold and wet and the vintage was saved by a long, dry and hot summer. Harvest began in mid-September and some cabernets were not picked until the 3rd week of October. Most wines are now approaching their plateau of maturity, with the choice of the bunch being the Cabernet-dominated Médocs and Graves. Pauillac was particularly successful.

 

 

Close

Average Bottle Price

2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2012 2010 2005
318€ +50.7% 211€ -30.1% 302€ -2.9% 311€ +0.6% 309€ -20.6% 389€ +7.8% 361€ +41.6% 255€

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.

Latest Pro-tasting notes

24 tasting notes

Tasting note

color

Full

ending

Long, Lingering and Spicy

flavors

Apricot, Waxy, Toasty and Honey

nose

Intense

recommend

Yes

taste

Harmonious and Rich

Written Notes

The 1988 took charge of the flight; it was regal by comparison. There was a little herb and marijuana in its nose, with some earth and honey. Its nose came across leaner yet deeper, and lavender emerged. Its palate was the longest of them all, and the Copperhead noted its ‘cough syrup viscosity.’ This was beauty and the beast all in one, clearly the best Yquem since ’75 and until 2001 (98).
  • 98p

Golden. Pineapples, apricots, some spices, some vanilla, tight nose. Fresh acidity, fruity, pineapples, nuanced, detailed, elegant, vanilla and spices, bright yet dense, long. 94

  • 94p

Groß dürfte einmal der 1988 d´Yquem werden, der – obwohl noch viel zu jung – schon erstaunlich viel Trinkspaß bereitete. Intensive, kräuterige Honignase, immer noch junge, helle Farbe, am Gaumen feine, aber auch generöse Süße, trotz aller relativen Jugend (große Yquem zeigen erst ab dem doppelten Alter, also gut 50 Jahren, was sie wirklich drauf haben) sehr nachhaltig und mit viel Genuss zu trinken – WT96+.

  • 96p
Tasted three times - last time in April 2012. Consistent notes. Yellow. A wine with extremely well trimmed, deep and intense botrytis in the nose, and strong aroma of melon, acacia honey and lemon peel. Really incredible intensity on the palate with cascades of tropical fruit like mango and honey melon, and in addition to all the goods, it showed exemplary structure and fantastic balance. This wine did really stuck to the tongue and had a meter long aftertaste. A masterpiece! It has a potential to live 30, 40 or even more years. In April 2012, 7 years later after tasting it previous time, this wine seemed a bit muted, maybe closed. Underperformed a bit compared to 1997 vintage.
  • 99p

Intense, bright, golden colour. Pronounced, toasty, honeyed, bee wax, spicy, apricot marmelade. Sweet, vivid acidity, broad, viscous, toasty, and sweet spices. Lingering, rich, crème brûlée flavours in the end. Seductive and luscious wine. – JL 97p (4/2010)

  • 97p
Load more notes

Information

Origin

Sauternes, Bordeaux

Vintage Quality

Excellent

Value For Money

Very good

Investment potential

Average

Fake factory

None

Glass time

2h
Incorrect Information
If you found some information that is wrong, let us know
Are you sure you want do delete this wine? All information will be lost.
Are you sure you want to recommend this wine?
Are you sure you want hide this written note ?
Are you sure you want show this written note ?
UPGRADE MEMBER PLAN
Upgrade your membership now, it's quick and easy. We use PayPal, the world's largest payment system, it accepts all credit cards. Once you've chosen your membership level, you'll go directly to PayPal. You can cancel your membership at any time.
Thank you for your support!
 

Pro Member

 

Winemerchant Member

 

Winery Member

 

User

 

HOW TO USE TASTINGBOOK?

We recommend you to share few minutes for watching the following video instructions of how to use the Tastingbook. This can provide you a comprehensive understanding of all the features you can find from this unique service platform.

This video will help you get started



Taste wines with the Tastingbook


Create Your wine cellar on 'My Wines'



Explore Your tasted wines library



Administrate Your wine world in Your Profile



Type a message ...
Register to Tastingbook
Sign up now, it's quick and easy.
We use PayPal, the world's largest payment system, it accepts all credit cards.
Once you've chosen your membership level, you'll go directly to PayPal, where you can sign up for a free 7-day trial period. You can cancel your membership at any time. We wish you a rewarding journey to the world of Fine Wines.

Free 7 days Member trial

 

Member

 

Pro Member

 

Winemerchant Member

 

Winery Member

 

User

  Register