Classification of Chateau Yquem's best vintages

As we saw in our article on the secrets of Château Yquem winesChâteau d'Yquem produces its own Premier Grand Cru Classé from Sauternes than in great vintages. The Château Yquem judged the 1910, 1915 vintages, 1930, 1951, 1952, 1964, 1972, 1974, 1992 and 2012 insufficient in quality to produce the legendary sweet white wine.

Each bottle of Château d'Yquem is always exceptional, but which vintages are the most appreciated by tasters, and in particular by the famous Robert Parker? In this article, we invite you to discover the best vintages of Château d'Yquem of the 20th and 21st centuries with the latest tasting notes and opinions from Robert Parker Wine Advocate. We have not included the great vintages of 1847 and 1811, also rated 100/100 but no longer available.

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Château Yquem 1945

Rating: 100/100

 "Aromas of Seville orange marmalade, quince, faded rose petals and an old antique desk. The palate is perfection. The balance is extraordinary, the acidity slices effortlessly through notes of candied orange peel and quince, a subtle shimmering saline touch and a crystalline finish. Returning to the bottle two hours later, it has lost absolutely none of its energy. I could one day drink a Sauternes equal to the Yquem 1945But I'll never drink a better Sauternes. Drink now until 2040 and beyond. Tasted in March 2014.

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Château Yquem 2015

Rating: 100/100

 " Château Yquem 2015 is deep. The nose opens with electric notes of ripe pineapple, green mango, orange blossom and lemon tart, with hints of mushroom, lime zest, crushed stone and jasmine. The freshness on the palate is just amazing, penetrating and lifting layer upon layer of tropical fruit and earthy notes. All wrapped up in a sumptuous texture and culminating in a very, very long, mineralized finish. Truly, this is a legendary vintage for Yquem." Drink from 2025 to at least 2065. Tasted in April 2018 by Lisa Perrotti-Brown.

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Château Yquem 2001

Rating: 100/100

"There are 10,000 cases of this perfect Bordeaux sweet white wine. Yquem 2001 reveals a hint of green in its light golden color. Although somewhat reticent aromatically, with aeration it offers: honeyed tropical fruit, orange marmalade, pineapple, sweet crème brûlée, and buttery nutty scents. On the palate, it's full-bodied, with refreshingly beautiful acidity and massive, unctuous concentration. This great, young Yquem looks set to take its place among the most legendary vintages, and will age effortlessly for 75 years. Expected maturity: 2010-2100 and more." Tasted in September 2005.

Our 2001 wines

 

Château Yquem 2009

Rating: 100/100

"It has a magnificent nose that expresses the Semillon component majestically: heady aromas of lemon curd, nectarine, jasmine and honeysuckle. The oak is extremely well integrated. The palate is very well balanced, with an unctuous entry and a spicy finish with notes of marzipan and pralines in the background, giving it an unfettered sense of the exotic. The 2009 is utterly fabulous, a star that will shine bright and intact for many years to come. Drink now until 2060 and beyond. Tasted March here 2014.

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Château d'Yquem 1990

Rating: 99/100

" Chateau Yquem 1990 is a rich, fabulously superb sweet wine. This wine also possesses great elegance and finesse. The medium-gold color is accompanied by an exceptionally sweet nose of tropical fruit, honey, coconut, peaches and apricots. High quality, subtle toasted oak is well integrated. The wine is massive on the palate, with layers of intensely ripe fruit-tinged botrytis, exceptionally sweet. Surprisingly well-integrated acidity and seamless, full-bodied power and richness create a wine of remarkable harmony and purity. Certainly one of the richest Yquems I've ever tasted, with 50 to 100 years of potential longevity. A great Yquem! Expected maturity: 2003-2050 +." Tasted in March 1999.

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Château d'Yquem 2017

Rating: 97-99/100

"There was no frost at Yquem in 2017, and the botrytis was very consistent and even this vintage. The nose opens with very pure notes of freshly sliced oranges, yuzu water and lemon barley with hints of white pepper, fresh ginger and lime syrup. Incredibly rich, unctuous sweetness (148 grams per liter of residual sugar) is wonderfully marbled with bright, vivid flavors of citrus and spice, enhanced by well-knit freshness, and finishes with epic length and great depth.. " Tasted in April 2018 by Lisa Perrotti-Brown.

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Château Yquem 1975

Rating: 98/100

 "The Château Yquem 1975 is one of the great successes of this decade, and at 40 years of age, it shows no sign of weakening. This vintage represents one of the best I've ever come across. Iridescent in color, the bouquet hovers above the glass, a pyrotechnic display of quince, clementine and miele. It's beautifully defined and intense. The palate is pure and detailed, with a line of acidity, lively honeyed fruit and a melodious finish that is now fully expressive. It rivals the imperious 1971 as the greatest Yquem of this era. This is simply magnificent. Tasted in May 2015.

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Château Yquem 1986

Rating: 98/100

 " Yquem 1986 has a breathtaking bouquet of pineapple, sautéed hazelnuts, vanillin and ripe apricots. Irresistibly concentrated, the breadth and depth of flavor seem to have no limits. This full-bodied, powerful, yet impeccably balanced Yquem should provide a memorable wine for the next 40-55 years. Like the 1983, this is another tour de vinification de force. Expected maturity: 2000 to 2040." Tasted in December 1997.

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Château Yquem 1988

Rating: 98/100

 " Chateau Yquem 1988 has an incredibly deep nose of orange marmalade, dried apricots, honeycomb, musk and dried pineapple with hints of marzipan and candied ginger. The palate is transparent with a big dash of crisp acidity that slices through layers of dried tropical fruit and dense honeyed flavor. The finish just goes on and on." Tasted in August 2012.

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Château Yquem 2007

Rating: 98/100

 " Yquem 2007 shines like a diamond. Nevertheless, it's initially rather taciturn on the nose, opening up beautifully with hints of Lemon, Mirabelle plum, and light honey. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine definition and there seems to be a lot of energy and vigor distributed for your pleasure. There's such strength and nervousness, then this finish just purrs with harmony and focus. This Yquem feels so alive and vivacious, it's a quality unmatched by its peers." Tasted in January 2011.

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Château Yquem 1971

Rating: 97/100

 "A slightly deeper color than 1982, Yquem 1971 is blessed with a truly bewitching nose that has so much energy you don't know where to look. You can detect Mirabelle plum, blackberry Satsumas, citrus peel and beeswax. The palate is lively, animated and simply electrifies the mouth on entry. The 1971 has immense concentration, while the almost Tokaji Aszu-like finish is remarkable. This is quite simply an exceptional Yquem that shows absolutely no sign of reaching the end of its prime. Drink now until 2040 and beyond. Tasted in March 2014.

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Château Yquem 1989

Rating: 97/100

" Chateau Yquem 1989 doesn't reveal the convincing finesse and complexity of the 1988 or 1986, but it is a much heavier, richer wine than these other vintages. It's reminiscent of a 1976, with extra fat and glycerine. The wine is very alcoholic and rich, with a huge nose of coconut, honey and smoked pineapple and overripe apricots. As with most young Yquem vintages, the wine's structure is barely perceptible. These wines are rich, but accessible young, it's hard to believe they'll last 50 years or more. The 1989 is the richest Yquem made in the '80s, and it has more complexity than the 1983. It remains to be seen whether this wine will develop the extraordinary aromatic complexity possessed by the promising Yquem 1988 and 1986." Tasted in November 1997.

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