x
  • Country ranking ?

    1 258
  • Producer ranking ?

    75
  • Decanting time

    5h
  • 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.

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

An unusually dry year with excessive temperatures despite an overall lack of sunshine. Ripening was uneven and picking was rather complicated, starting on 12/9 and finishing on 5/11. 2002 is nevertheless one of the vintages that best expresses Yquem's terroir, and features a remarkable balance between sweetness and acidity.

Close

Vintage 2002

BORDEAUX: 2002 A wonderful vintage of pure, rich, elegant reds and soft, rounded whites.

An early start to flowering was followed by a variable summer with a bit of everything, from cold to hot to hot and back again. A long period of dry weather was beginning to be a problem when the rain of early September arrived, replenishing the vines. When the wind turned to the north, the grapes were dried and the harvest could begin on September 16 under a clear blue sky. 2002 is rightly a popular vintage among Burgundy aficionados. What's not to love about the pure fine fruits of the forest and the strawberry aromas in the best red wines and the fresh mineral tones of great whites? Wines to enjoy or keep for another ten years or more.

Close

Latest Pro-tasting notes

<10 tasting notes

Tasting note

color

Light and Bright

ending

Medium, Spicy and Alcoholic

flavors

Vegetal, Toasty, Smoky, New-oak, Caramel and Tropical fruits

nose

Intense, Fresh and Refined

recommend

No

taste

Average in Acidity, High alcohol content, Light, One-dimensional, Sweet and Too tannic

Verdict

Fine and Oxidised

Written Notes

Surely the forgotten Yquem, jammed between the monumental 2001 (I still believe that this may, in time, be seen as the greatest Yquem ever made) and the rich and luscious 2003. I can't remember seeing it before and certainly can't recall any rave reviews. How unfair! This was a serious surprise and just a joy to drink. A very, very good wine. The DNA is absolutely Yquem. You could spot it as an Yquem from the proverbial mile. Lovely floral and honey notes. Don't miss it if you get the chance. Seriously good. It is delicious now but there is no hurry.

94

  • 94p

Pale golden, apricots, vanilla, pineapples, one of those wines that the glass was all of a sudden empty, and you just experienced that it heightened the conversation without being the conversation. It's a delight that that can still happen, even with an Yquem in the glass. 91

  • 91p

A cooler vintage in this flight. Balance between acidity and sugar is very interesting. Very late vintage. Very classical with all botrytised grapes’.
Very classical and utterly delightful! This feels like every box is ticked, with that archetypal creme brûlée flavour classic and the acidity feels perfectly balanced. There seems little that you can count against this – maybe too much bot? Really has the toffee popping through the finish. Perfect balance. I’d prefer to see this even older I think, just so it will flesh out more – it’s still quite tight. Perfection, if in a slightly subtle mode. Svelte and timeless. It doesn’t woo like the 05, but the lines here are near perfect, hence the score. 19/20, 96/100.

  • 96p
Tasted three times - last time in June 2012. Consistent notes. Residual sugar 7.3%, alcohol 14.0%, acidity 4.5 g/l H2SO4. A lighter version of 2004. Fresh, sweet apples and pears. Immensely seductive. Acidity is supporting fruit in tremendous way. Again you find here outstanding balance, purity and finesse. Extraordinary wine. Slightly less intense when tasted in June 2012 - the bottle was bought on open market.
  • 95p
Load more notes

Information

Origin

Sauternes, Bordeaux
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