99 WS / 98+ VM / 98 WCI / 98 FS / 98 JS / 97 WA / 97 WRO / 96 DE / 95 JD / 95 DE / 95 JA / 18 JR
A lovely, creamy, tropical style, with mango, papaya and guava notes lending a caressing feel, while singed almond and warm piecrust accents blossom through the lush finish. Just when you think thats all there is, toasted coconut, fig, orange blossom and persimmon details kick in, lending length and dimension. The finish is ridiculously long. Best from 2020 through 2060. - James Molesworth, Wine Spectator
(80% semillion and 20% sauvignon blanc; 3.8 pH; 144 g/l residual sugar; 13.8% alcohol): Bright yellow-gold. Captivating nose is marked by sexy lemony botrytis, white peach, mango, guava and saffron. Enters the mouth very dense but remarkably vibrant and pristine thanks to lively acidity, then turns richer and more unctuous in the mid-palate, displaying knockout flavors of fresh tropical fruit, white peach, white flowers, beeswax and wet stone. The finish is pure and extremely long. This amazing young Yquem, one of the finest in the last dozen years, perfectly combines elements of the fresher, more refined Yquems of the recent Dubourdieu years with the more exotic, opulent personality of the wines made under Alexandre de Lur Saluces. The harvest began on September 6 (only in 1893 did it begin earlier) with the young sauvignon blanc vines and even some semillon to preserve freshness. There were four tries in total, ending on October 5. General Manager Pierre Lurton told me that picking practically all the botrytized grapes very quickly in September was the key to guaranteeing a pure, fresh botrytis component. Sandrine Garbay, who has been maitre de chai at d'Yquem for 18 years, also believes this to be one of the top Yquems in recent memory, though it really doesn't remind her of any previous Yquem vintage with possible exception of the 2001-Ian D'Agata, Vinous Media
One sniff is all it takes before you're immersed in its web of overripe apricots, pineapple, exotic spices, flowers, white peach, roasted nuts, and honey. But, of course, the real excitement here is on the palate, with its wall of perfectly ripe, sweet, very sweet, and incredibly sweet, tropical fruits, mango, pineapple, vanilla, and lemon creme all coated with honey. Even with all this unctuosity, with all of its racy acidity, the wine is as vibrant as it is sweet. With all of its layers of sweetness, it is never tiring to taste, instead, it is an upbeat, thrill ride that can age for at least 50 or more years. Drink from 2023-2080.-Jeff Leve, Wine Cellar Insider, tasted 02/23
Medium green-yellow, gold reflections. Fine nuances of lanolin, pineapple fruit and fresh peach, light caramel, juicy touch of apricot, a touch of precious wood. Substantial, elegant, ripe yellow tropical fruit, perfectly integrated fruit sweetness, mineral, underpinned by a delicate acid structure, perfect balance, has youthfulness, length and enormous aging potential. A prime example of the new, even more precise style at Yquem, which dispenses with any little cosmetic plasters.-Peter Moser, Falstaff
A Sauternes with incredible purity and beauty. Full body, with lovely character of mangos, pineapple, papaya, and honey. Goes on for minutes. The purity in this wine is phenomenal. Spicy with dried mushroom an ash undertones. Gorgeous and clean. Bright. A more balanced 2001?-James Suckling
The 2011 seems to be a close cousin of the 2001 and possibly 1988. Light gold,restrained but very pure,noble and intense bouquet of honeysuckle,caramelized apricot,white peach with a subtle hint of toasty oak. It builds slowly but beautifully to a full-bodied wine and long finish. This vintage is about restraint and perfect balance despite the 144 grams of residual sugar.Some vintages are more exuberant or flamboyant-2011 is racy and compelling. Of course these wines can be drunk young, but expect the 2011 to age for 50 -75+ years in a good cellar. 9/16/13 - Robert Parker, Wine Advocate
With an elegant golden hue in the glass, 2011 Chateau d'Yquem is maturing impeccably well. Potently perfumed, one need only swirl the glass in the vicinity of their nose to pick up the enticing aromas of honey, dried apricot, lemon peel, and graham cracker wafting from the glass. Lush and texturally viscous, the honeyed character of the wine carries through on the palate, balanced perfectly against bright, citrusy acidity. Enjoy this now or for many decades to come. You won't be disappointed either way.-John McDermott, Wine Review Online
Tasted from cask. Lush apricot nose. Fine attack thanks to high acidity. Very sweet and pungent, with intense apricot fruit. Not a fat style, with great elegance, and shows lots of energy and spice. Long.-Stephen Brook, Decanter
The 2011 Château d’Yquem is a more restrained, elegant style of Yquem with beautiful, nuanced notes of caramelized citrus, apricot, white flowers, and a beautiful mineral-character that emerges more on the palate. Beautifully balanced, medium to full-bodied, with good acidity and plenty of complex, sweet, honeyed fruit, it’s all about complexity, nuance, and elegance. Feel free to drink this beauty any time over the coming 40-50 years. Jeb Dunnuck
One of the greatest dry whites of France, both distinctive and delicious, from the legendary Château d’Yquem. This wine has been made since 1959 but used to be produced with grapes from the last few bunches left on the vine after the sweet wine harvest. This changed as of 1996, and since 2004 it has been made every year from Sauvignon Blanc grapes picked early in the season, when fresh and from Sémillon just at the fleeting moment with first bloom of botrytis, leaving a tiny trace of residual sugar. This has plenty of fleshy citrus and saffran, balanced by lime and lemongrass, spiralling though with slate, freshness and well judged acidity. Picking of Y began August 17, earliest ever, and finished August 31, so entirely within August and at 12 years old it is stunning, showing how well this wine can age. 30% new oak. The 2021 that I tasted this year got a higher score (97 points), and is exceptional, but I picked this one because it is at such a great moment to drink.-Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux
Very tangy aroma: almond, spiced apricot, really zesty on the nose. The palate too has depth and spice and plenty of botrytis character. Rich but fresh. Great length. Power packed and so rich.-Julia Harding MW, JancisRobinson
Loading... Please wait...
