2021 Yquem
Estimated value
Buying options
Tasting notes
The 2021 has a wonderfully intense nose, with aromas of pineapple, guava and candied fruit. Despite its youth this Yquem is so expressive right from the outset. There is a fantastic backbone of acidity on the mid-palate, with a vein of freshness and minerality that runs through to the finish, and balancing the 148g/l residual sugar beautifully. Texturally it is both velvety and concentrated, with everything needed to evolve over the next three decades. Blend: 65% Sémillon and 35% Sauvignon Blanc
Critic scores
Average Score
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, The Wine Independent
Yohan Castaing, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
Tasted blind. Very deep gold. Gorgeous and layered and fresh too. Subtle and a little saline. Hint of salted-peanut flavour! (JR)
Dreamy, subtle aromas of dried fruit such as apricots and mangoes, but also fresh lemons and pears. Then there are caramel and tart tatin undertones with some bananas, pineapple, tangerines and other tropical fruit. Full-bodied, yet it remains vivid and compact, giving it a lightness even though it is really structured. The tannins are throughout the palate but blend in perfectly, giving it a solid presence, like a a diamond. It’s tight at the end, but you know that it will linger for ages, with a lightly chewy and intellectual finish. Touches of sweetness, cloves and bitterness to make it interesting. Dynamic.
The 2021 d'Yquem is composed of 65% Sémillon and 35% Sauvignon Blanc. It has 148 grams per liter of residual sugar, making for a relatively rich style and the sweetest Yquem since 2017. Pale lemon-gold colored, perfumed notes of orange peel, juicy peaches, grapefruit, and honeycomb slowly emerge from the glass, followed by suggestions of jasmine tea, fresh ginger, and lime blossoms. The palate is fantastically satiny, with great tension and loads of spicy sparks complementing the citrusy flavors, finishing with epic length and a zesty lift. 54,000 bottles were made. The alcohol is 13.9%, and the pH is 3.79.
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.