D'Yquem 1959 (750ML)

98 WCI / 97 WA / 97 WS / 19.5 JR

When Chateau d'Yquem is young, the wine has competition from some of the other top producers in the appellation. But as the wine ages, that is when the rubber hits the road, as Yquem clearly pulls ahead of the competition. Here you find a deep golden, mahogany hue with an ethereal perfume consisting of roasted apricots, burnt caramel, butterscotch, marmalade, overripe pineapple, and nuts, topped with honey. There is blistering acidity that provides lift to the layers of honeyed, caramel topped yellow and orange spiced fruits on the palate. The seamless finish starts off strong, picks up steam, and keeps on going. There is no reason that well-stored bottles cannot age another 30-40 years and maybe more!-Jeff Leve, Wine Cellar Insider, tasted 09/21

This bottle of 1959 d'Yquem had never left the estate. Evoking aromas of spices, brown sugar, caramel, marmalade and quince, all beautifully defined, it is medium-bodied, racy and refined, with plenitude on the mid-palate and a deep core of fruit. I was impressed by the tension and the particularly long, penetrating finish, complemented by a delicate phenolic aftertaste.-Yohan Castaing, The Wine Advocate

Classic, exciting Yquem. Silky, creamy and round, yet armed with plenty of intense botrytized flavors--dried apricot, raisin, dried fig. Full-bodied, with caramel and butterscotch complexity, it ends on a very intense finish.--Yquem vertical. Drink now through 2050. Wine Spectator

Great wine at its peak but showing no sign of fading. Tawny with a greenish tinge at the rim. Gloriously tangy. 120 g/l. Great balance with some gunpowder and smokiness. It was extremely hot when the grapes were picked. Amazing that it's as good as it is in an era that pre-dates sophisticated temperature control. Extremely rich with notes of dried fruits. Great balnce with strong dried citrus peel notes. Vital. Slightly more pronounced acidity than another bottle I was lucky enough to try late last year in London. -Jancis Robinson