Chateau d'Yquem Premier Cru Superieur, Sauternes

Third time from the same half bottle. Testament to the power of the Coravin. First opened a year ago, then about four months ago. In such a wonderful place right now. Complex, hasn't lost a step yet. Orange marmalade, apricot, honey, orange zest. This time, it's picked up some slight cinnamon notes as well. Paired well with chocolate covered strawberries. There's about a splash left and at this point, will finish the last quarter of the half bottle within the …

2001 vintage

Great bottle .. nice colour and aroma. Taste of peaches, nectarine and honey

2001 vintage

7th Annual S.A.D. (Undisclosed Location) : This smells super-clean and floral and doesn't even smell like it's going to taste sweet. I'm getting again the sensation I had the first time I tried this 10 years ago where it is intensely evocative of apricots but ripe, fleshy apricots rather than dried ones. Think mangoes too. It's very sweet, but the sweetness evokes honey moreso than fruit, but very specifically acacia honey, in that it's light and not at all cloying …

2001 vintage

Poached pear, peach, lime blossom, honeysuckle, honey. Full, rich, and unctuous, missing the zippiness that can elevate Yquem to the next level. 94(+?)

2011 vintage

Sommelier Appreciation Dinner 2026 (RB Residence) : Absolutely perfect nose displaying dense concentrated yellow fruit, apricot preserve, orange marmalade, dry mango, ginger, crème brulee, saffron, botrytis, vanilla, sweet spices and limestone. Unbelievable concentration, layers upon layers of decadent yellow fruit, incredibly rich, intense and full, yet perfectly balanced, weightless and beautifully detailed, bright acidity, fine mineral, and a super concentrated decadent yellow fruit driven never end finish. The gap between the 01 d’Yquem and the other 01 Sauternes seems to …

2001 vintage

From a 6L. Too young to score it, at least in this format. But as I often am with Yquem, I'm surprised at how much savory elements there are here. White button mushroom, orange peel, over ripe white peach, over ripe melon and mustard powder on the nose. Medium + intensity of aromas. The palate is quite primary and youthful, showing flavors of orange peel, lemon peel and ripe white peach. It's driven by citurs and less savory than the …

2013 vintage

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2001 vintage

Almost a year since last tasting. Still young and finding its form but probably even better. This is otherworldly, mind bending wine.

2001 vintage

Ruud his 70th birthday. Only superb wines. (By Ruud) : Honey, butterscotch, orange zest, great complexity in the bouquet and on the palate. This wine was more impressive than the one I tasted Oct 31st this year.

2001 vintage

Clearly a great wine, but oh so young and unevolved, orange marmalade, honey, ginger, superb acidity, give it another 20 years to reach its potential

2001 vintage

At Home Dinner. Time has wrought some bottle variation in this great wine but this lived up to its potential despite looking a little darker than other bottles in our cellar. In addition to the classical mix of stone fruits, bitter orange, leatherwood honey and creme brûlée I associate with Yquem at its best this has a perfect sense of symmetry and balance with great acidity and grip and endless persistence. A truly great wine.

2001 vintage

Consumed out of 6L that had likely been open for some time. Honey, apricot, stone fruit with good acid. Very youthful and vibrant!

2011 vintage

Have been looking forward to opening this bottle. Its a beautiful wine, well structured and delicious and that classic Cd'Y loooong finish. But if I'm honest, the nose was not nearly as prominent as I was expecting/hoping and on the palate, it seemed a little restrained. Again, really delicious, and all the layered fresh and dried fruit, botrytis notes of marmalade, apricot and ginger. But, was a bit expecting more. I have another bottle, so maybe with some more age …

2001 vintage

Great, of course - fresh and young... in fact, too young, need to age the rest further.

2001 vintage

Continues to be excellent. Delicious.

2011 vintage

deep dark gold, lots of clarity, silvery hue Nose: apricot, orange marmalade, pineapple, chamomile, mushroom, wax, white truffle, honey, vanilla bean, smoke, toast Pal: apricot, orange marmalade, pineapple, mushroom, wax, honey, vanilla bean, smoke, toast Feel: medium, full Finish: long T9

2001 vintage

Very intense honey and apricot on the nose that softened a bit with time. Palate was much the same, with the stone fruit bordering on grilled/roasted and a thick, unctuous honeyed character. Very good and second place to the Suduiraut from all 6 blind tasters!

2011 vintage

Honey, botrytis, orange peel, great concentration and length, good acidity to balance the sweetness. To be honest; a bit less impressive than on previous occasions.

2001 vintage

[from 375] medium amber colour. pronounced intensity of complex aromas and flavours. seville orange marmalade, apricot, caramelised pineapple, mango, honey, beeswax, creme brûlée, marzipan, fresh and dried jasmine and chamomile, ginger, white truffle, and a hint of smoke. sweet, with creamy plus body and acidity. infinitely nuanced and layered in mouth, with impeccable balance across every dimension, and a nearly incomprehensible array of flavours and accents that carry on and on in an impossibly long finish. a wow wine… with …

2001 vintage

From a Coravin, poured from a half bottle. First Coravin was eight months ago. This hasn't lost a single step since then. Maybe the Coravin is really Timeless, at least with Sauternes. Really great texture in the palate, dances around with strong body and viscosity. Orange marmalade that would make Paddington proud. Honeycomb, slight meethi saunf, candied grapefruit, orange zest, apricot. This remains beautiful and timeless. 96+ points (on a dessert wine scale).

2001 vintage

Served blind, in a decanter. Evolved colour, but drinking really beautifully. Guessed early 2000s sauternes and was not too far off. I have a soft spot for non-trophy vintages of Yquem, which tend to be less showy than the bigger vintages but often are quite compelling. This 2002 fitted that characterization to a tee.

2002 vintage

Tasted at Acker event, unable to record my tasting notes. Recorded only wine rating based on my preference.

2011 vintage

2001 Château d’Yquem The nose is lusciously aromatic, showing apricots, mango, caramel, honey, butterscotch, alongside marmalade and apricot jam, layered with bruised apple and pear and nuanced spice elements of ginger and gingerbread. The palate is rich, viscous, and precise, with a coating texture that enhances the impression of sweetness, beautifully counterbalanced by bright, balancing acidity, resulting in a long, non-cloying finish. Remarkably, the wine drinks much younger than its age, giving the impression of a 10-year-old despite over 20 …

2001 vintage

There’s an opulent richness to the fruit, developing nicely with a slight kumquat-esque bitterness. Yet there’s a polished touch that rounds off the power, still lots of clarity despite all the layers. Pulls through with an attractive line of zesty acid that leaves a soft puff. Can’t ask for more really from a glass of Sauternes.

2001 vintage

Absolutely delicious! Honey and apricots beautifully balanced with a nuanced finish. Who doesn’t want this every day?!?

2002 vintage

From a 1 oz dispensed pour from an opened bottle, and just one brief swirl and sip. Intense aromatics from ginger, creme brulee, honey (on the nose and in mouth feel / texture), very strong botrytis aromas, dried mangos/apricots, dried flowers, nuts, a touch of roasted sweet soy sauce, strong acidity to make this even more long lived. The finish that is slow fading, lingers on the palate a good 45 seconds to a minute, maybe even more. This is …

2001 vintage

A deep burnished gold, concentrated marmalade nose, a great depth on the palate, quite rich but with just enough acidity.

2001 vintage

Burgundy Wimps 2025 (La Trompette) : What a pleasure to try this again, and it showed better than from a half opened a couple of months back. Deep marmalade colour. Oozes quality. Fascinating nose, with icing sugar, rosin, rubber tyre and plenty of botrytis spice. So elegant and aerien despite the intense toffee flavour. A real 3D experience, and obviously even more wonderful with the top-quality tarte tatin.

2001 vintage

At a private dinner. This remains an iconic bottle of wine with everything that characterises great Sauterne on display. There's no more to say.

2001 vintage

Had a taste. Probably everything you could hope for from an aged Sauternes. A deep golden color. On the nose- orange marmalade, caramelized tropical fruits, a light floral lift, and a hint of something exotic in the background On the palate: concentrated fruits, layers of flavor, exotic spices in the background, and hit of waves of fruits. A long finish that lasts minutes on the palate. Mesmerizing. Not syrupy whatsoever. This exceeded my expectations. I’m elated that I have a …

2001 vintage

Opened this bottle with my fiancée the night of our engagement. Drank over the course of a week. Absolute perfection in every sip. The balance of flavors ranging from exotic fruits to caramel to saffron make for such a purely delicious experience. The acidity is pinpoint and carries the nearly 2-minute long finish so easily. I look forward to the next bottle of this whenever that might be. Cheers!

2001 vintage

From a half-bottle opened the day prior. Wow , an insane nose that is so full and intense. Layers of honeyed apricot with exotic botrytis and florals. So very sweet yet buoyant. Long, penetrating finish.

2001 vintage

The nose is intoxicating, with apricot, candied orange peel, honeycomb, and a striking saffron aroma that adds depth and exotic spice. The palate is unctuous yet finely balanced by vivid acidity, carrying flavors of marmalade, crème brûlée, and dried pineapple into a seamless finish. Paired with the burnt Basque cheesecake, it was pitch-perfect

2001 vintage

I have had this multiple times now and my notes are consistent. Completely mature. With an interesting nose of, gasoline, apricot and caramel. It’s very balanced and just the top of Sauterne

2002 vintage

So sweet and dense, honey, apricot, orange rind; best Sauternes I’ve ever had

2013 vintage

Nice wine, I felt that it was too sweet. Good intensity, power, finish. Potential is there. Balance isn’t there right now. Hold.

2011 vintage

Well balanced, thus has come together and drinks as one. Good intensity but not heavy, driven by fruit and spice with the oak and vanilla to the rear. Obviously worth keeping but surprisingly drinkable now.

2011 vintage

"White" Party in Nashville (Frankies 925 Spuntino) : Light for an Yquem, with a more delicacy and sweetness than I find typical. Still full of complexity encompassing apricot, honey, orange peel, and a supporting acidity to keep it light on its feet. Lacking a bit of gravitas. Tasted over three days and it did pick up a bit of weight by day two. Delicious, if neither typical nor ethereal.

2013 vintage

Tour de France Dinner for Hans (Chef Huang, NYC) : Golden and luxurious. Nose of apricot, saffron, toasted almond, and crème brûlée. The palate is dense but racy, with sweet tropical fruit balanced by vibrant acidity. Still quite young and structured—it shows more power than charm for now, but that balance suggests a long future. A refined and serious Yquem.

2011 vintage

Yquem from a top vintage. This is a real treat! Very rich, dense, concentrated, complex, lingering style. Bit closed in the nose, but the palate is lively and intense. More peppery and spicy than the others in the tasting, the fruit appears at the mid-palate. Outstanding wine! Blend of 80% Sémillon and 20% Sauvignon Blanc. RS 144 gr/l. Medium+ intense aromas of fresh apricot, ripe peach, nectarine, pineapple, lemon zest, orange, marmalade, blossom, saffron, curry madras, white pepper -> more …

2011 vintage

In a great place now, ready for enjoying. Fresh and balanced while still being a giant. Developed nose of, gas station, apricot and caramel. A treat

2002 vintage

Coravin by the glass. Dark gold color. Nose of white flowers, orange peel, apricot, honey, lemon zest and mace. Orange marmalade, honey, apricot, allspice, waxed fruit, almond and chamomile on the palate. A complex wine with a finish that goes forever. Full bodied with excellent acidic balance. Served with French chestnut cake topped with crème fraiche.

2002 vintage

Dinner at Paul's : Usual Sauternes markers of honey and apricot but this lacked acidity to me. Serviceable otherwise but I akways found d'Yquem to be overrated.

2002 vintage

Like drinking liquid gold. Rich and sumptuous. What can be said?

2013 vintage

Marrionberry Ice Cream….from 375 Very smooth and mellowed out.somewhere between Apricot and Peach with some creaminess and no unctuousness. A little candle wax and slight minerality shining through. 94 points 2nd half 8 days later and it’s even more focused and precise. Hold these as they are just a slight step back from the fabulous 2001. 96 points

2002 vintage

What can I say about Yquem that hasn't already been said!?! Impeccable balance, sweet, but in no way cloying. The nose is dominated with honeysuckle and white flower, some thyme honey and some stone fruit. Tropical fruits dominate the palate with this young Sauternes, with mango, peach, pineapple and papaya at the forefront, followed by citrus notes of orange (think dreamsicle) and lemon cream. The texture is honeyed and creamy smooth and the finish just goes on and on with …

2011 vintage

Open that bottle - Joe chooses 2004 Penfolds Grange (Jason's house) : Same bottle as MN WINE JUNKIE and I agree with his sentiment, and that there isn't much more to say about Yquem. Great balance and acidity, floral, slight tropicali fruit, baking spice, marmalade, yum.

2011 vintage

I'm appreciating Yquem's interpretation of a mid-weight vintage. Maybe not the most botrytis, but there is delicacy and finesse in abundance. I struggle with adjectives for the aroma, but there are lime and other fresh impressions as well as more tropical notes in the background. Some spice too. But the harmony is so special. Beautifully clean with a finish that goes on and on. Consumed over a week on its own and with food. Consistent impressions. This is still largely …

2002 vintage

This bottle was very good, but didn't have the energy of my other experiences. Still a delicious sip.

2011 vintage

[Restaurant purchase] At restaurant NOTK, Rotterdam. Medium+ intensity on the nose with lemon zest, kardemom, apricot, mango, honey. Medium+ acidity, very long finish

2013 vintage

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Chateau d'Yquem Premier Cru Superieur, Sauternes

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