2018 "Y" d'Yquem
Buying options
Tasting notes
The 2018 d'Yquem is a great success despite a challenging harvest, exuding aromas of peach, pear, menthol and orchard fruits, complemented by an elegant, floral-driven bouquet. It’s remarkably balanced and fresh on the palate, with a medium to full-bodied structure, a delicate core of fruit in the finish and a penetrating energy revealing a lovely and already enjoyable wine. It's a great effort in a challenging vintage in Sauternes. This blend of 85% Sémillon and 15% Sauvignon Blanc contains 145 grams of residual sugar.
Critic scores
Average Score
The Wine Advocate
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
The 2018 Yquem was tasted just a few months earlier before this second reading at the château. My notes are pretty consistent with that dried honey and saffron scented aromas, perhaps just missing the energy conveyed by the previous vintage. The palate is well balanced with that telltale lusciousness that I remarked upon in my last note, although this just precludes the 2018 from delivering the tension and nerve of the best vintages. Apricot and lemon curd linger on the aftertaste. Very fine.
Some lift and freshness here. Much the most interesting 2018 Sauternes to date. Real class. With a little refreshing leanness. Long. (JR)
Record late harvest after a difficult season. Picked late (22 – 27) October with some botrytis after very high temperatures. 'Severe' selection. Not one of the greats. Blossom and barley sugar on the nose. By no means the sweetest nor the heaviest but the texture is pure cream and the flavour has overlays of green vegetation, cheddar cheese and smoke. This is Yquem! Complexity is all. But it still has a long way to go in terms of bottle development before the price is justified. For the moment it finishes a little short. (JR)
About the producer
The undisputed finest sweet wine in the world, Château d'Yquem is the only Premier Cru Supérieur estate in Sauternes, classified in 1855. With a long history stretching back to the Middle Ages, the château is entwined with that of the Lur-Saluces family – who remain involved today.