1984 Yquem
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Tasting notes
The 1984 Yquem is a rare case of an unsuccessful Yquem due to a cold and wet summer with intermittent rain during picking. From a half-bottle, the same stash as the 1980, it has a rather enervated bouquet, whilst the palate has sharp acidity and stumbles across the finish line in simple fashion. Drink soon. Tasted at home.
Critic scores
Average Score
Wine Spectator
Neal Martin
More reviews and scores
This is a surprisingly good wine made under very trying conditions. Yquem began to harvest on October 15 and made the last pass through the vineyards on November 13. Seventy-five percent of the crop was retained for Yquem. The wine at present exhibits a great deal of toasty oak in the bouquet, which is also filled with scents of smoked almonds, glazed pineapples, and honey and caramel. In the mouth, the wine is less flamboyant, with less glycerin and power than usual, but it is still a rich, full-bodied Yquem with a great deal of personality and character. It will not have the great aging potential of the top vintages, but I fully expect it to last at least another 20 years. Anticipated maturity: Now-2008. Last tasted, 3/90.
This wine was produced with the help of cryoextraction. It's well made, quite dense on the palate, with good sweetness. Lacks the botrytis aromas and flavors that normally give length to Yquems made in years with abundant noble rot.--Yquem vertical. Drink now. Winespectator.com
A similar colour to the Yquem '82. A very fruit-driven nose: honey and orange zest with a touch of smoke. High acidity on the palate, grapefruit, marmalade. Quite simple and rather diffuse on the finish. Drinkable, but not very interesting, even if it is Yquem. Tasted November 2004. Neal Martin, eRobertParker.com
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.