Yquem - Sauternes 2016

Vinous

93

byNeal Martinthe8/13/2020

The 2016 Yquem has a taut, detailed bouquet with subtle Aszù tones that recede to offer melted candle wax, saffron and light almond aromas, although the new oak is quite vocal at the moment. The palate is well balanced with a fine bead of acidity, if a little heavy compared to its peers, and a touch of spice lingers on the aftertaste. Fine and understated in style, and perhaps that is why I might have been parsimonious in my score. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. 93+

Jancis Robinson

18

byJancis Robinsonthe2/5/2020

Jeb DUNNUCK

99

byJeb Dunnuckthe6/14/2019

The 2016 Chateau D’Yquem is pure magic and dessert wines don’t get much better. Offering a pale gold color as well as a blockbuster bouquet of honeyed tangerines, tart apricots, liquid rocks, white flowers, and honeysuckle, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, an opulent texture, vibrant acidity, and again, an incredible sense of minerality, despite having no shortage of sweetness or richness. The 2016 is a classic blend of 75% Sémillon and 25% Sauvignon that hit 14.2% alcohol with 135 grams of residual sugar. It’s already complex and approachable yet will keep for 3-4 decades.

Wine Advocate

98

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe3/29/2019

Containing 135 grams per liter of residual sugar, the pale lemon-gold colored 2016 d'Yquem leaps from the glass with honeyed apricots, pineapple, green mango, crushed rocks, candied ginger, coriander seed and citrus peel with hints of orange blossom. The palate is very tightly wound, vibrant and refreshing with layer upon layer of minerals and spices, finishing with epic poise and persistence.

Wine Spectator

94

byJames Molesworththe2/5/2019

This is exotic, with very lush and seductive notes of coconut, honeysuckle, creamed white peach, glazed pear, mirabelle plum and yellow apple, all woven together seamlessly. Beautifully caressing in feel, with a long acacia echo on the finish. Best from 2023 through 2040.   –JM

Jamessuckling.com

99

byJames Sucklingthe2/4/2019

A very classic Yquem. Breathtakingly wide spectrum of floral honey, exotic fruit (passion fruit, mango and pineapple), caramel and marzipan aromas. But none of this is a jot too much. In fact, the wine is extremely precise and finely nuanced. Wonderful freshness and textural complexity, in spite of the considerable concentration and extravagance. Very suave and sensual finish that goes on and on. Drink or hold.

Jancis Robinson

18

byJancis Robinsonthe9/26/2018

Broad and waxy with lovely lift and precision on the palate. It’s far from the most luscious or concentrated Yquem but it is recognisably waxy Yquem with medium intensity and sweetness and great length. Drink 2025-2045

Vinifera

95-97

byJacques Perrinthe5/12/2017

Le nez est fin, nuancé, très hespéridé, sur les agrumes, avec des notes florales et fruitées très pures. D’un superbe
Equilibre de bouche, il offre une silhouette fuselée, très pure, avec un côté aérien dans la texture. Finale très
civilisée, sans une once de lourdeur, mais avec, par rapport à l’an dernier où il avait atteint des sommets, une
complexité plus limitée. C’est très bon, avec même un caractère immédiat, évident, d’une pureté totalement
irrésistible.

Le Point

19

byJacques Dupontthe5/9/2017

Francis Mayeur, directeur technique : printemps avec de la pluie au-dessus de la moyenne.On perd un peu de raisin au moment de la flore, mais il y avait une telle sortie que ça n’a pas eu d’influence sur le volume. J’ai trouvé une correspondance : le millésime 1898. Septembre chaud avec plus de pluie que la normale et octobre frais et sec.
Les deux pluies de septembre avec des températures au dessus de la normale ont permis une très large contamination du botrytis (pourriture noble). Mi et fin octobre, on a eu du gel, des températures très fraîches, cela
provoque un long séjour du botrytis sur le raisin. On a alors une baisse d’acidité, il va falloir adopter une stratégie très sévère de tri au moment de l’assemblage pour éliminer les cuves les plus molles, on a éliminé 60%...Pour un résultat superbe.
Fruits blancs,épices douces, frais, floral, 135 grammes,compensés par une belle acidité,pleine, frais, vif,nerveux, belle fraîcheur,confit très fin.Trés pur, long, fin, pêche blanche, long.
O= 2020 G=30

Bettane & Desseauve

98

by Bettane & Desseauvethe5/3/2017

La propriété a construit son assemblage surtout à partir des tries du milieu de vendanges, si étonnantes par leur côté aérien, et a une fois de plus réussi à allier puissance, pureté et buvabilité à un niveau unique dans le sauternais. Il y aura un peu plus de puissance dans le 2015. Les 25 % de sauvignon contribue à la fraîcheur des arômes.

Wine Advocate

95-97

byNeal Martinthe5/2/2017

The 2016 Château d'Yquem was picked over four tries through the vineyard, commencing on 27 September and finishing on 4 November. The crucial pass through the vines took place between 18-22 October when over half the crop was picked. In fact, 75% of the crop was picked during the final two weeks of the harvest. It has 14.2% alcohol and a residual sugar level of 135 grams per liter, a pH of 3.80. A classic blend of 75% Sémillon and 25% Sauvignon Blanc, it has a comparatively nuanced bouquet compared to Yquems that I have encountered at this stage. It opens gradually with light honeyed aromas, white flowers, apple blossom and just a touch of honeysuckle, although it does not possess the bravura personality of the astounding 2015. The palate is medium-bodied with a viscous opening, a subtle spice note leaving the mouth tingling. This is a fresh Yquem, tensile with moderate weight and delivering, perhaps belatedly, fine attack on the finish lined with subtle lemongrass notes. It will be interesting to plot the progress of this Yquem throughout its barrel maturation. This is an excellent Yquem no doubt, though I was missing that nerve, the labyrinthine complexity that can mark a top-tier Yquem even at this premature stage. I suspect that this will drink earlier than others, but age in a style only it knows.

The Wine Cellar Insider

97

byJeff Levethe4/29/2017

Fat, sweet, tropical fruits, apricots and Mandarin oranges slathered in honey, vanilla and flowers. This is quite rich,
Powerful and concentrated. It has more freshness than the 2003, but not as much freshness as you find in 2013.
Still, this is complex, deep, log and intense, yet remarkably light on its feet. This will age much longer than I will.

Vinous

94-97

byAntonio Gallonithe4/26/2017

The 2016 d'Yquem is a magical wine. It also looks like an Yquem that will drink well right out of the gate. Like so many of the better wines in this vintage, it manages to express richness while avoiding excess heaviness. Pineapple, orange marmalade, exotic flowers and spice all blossom in the glass. There is a real sense of phenolic richness and overall viscosity to the 2016 that adds to the wine's singular personality. The 135 grams of residual sugar are not especially evident. In 2016, the vineyard was harvested in four passes, but it was not until after the October rains that noble rot started to appear on the vine.

matthewjukes.com

19,5

byMatthew Jukesthe4/25/2017

(75 Semillon, 25 Sauvignon Blanc) | 14.2% alc. | 135 g/l residual sugar. With a nose twice as intense as any of the other wines in this region this year, this is a magnificent and bombastic Yquem. The fruit is lush and honeyed and while all of the lemon and honey notes line up in perfect harmony it is the monstrous acidity and sheer size of this wine which make it so arresting. I have not seen such a rich wine balanced by such severe acidity before. Extraordinary. While this is going to clearly live forever I wonder if it will not start to drink this side of 2040! The botrytis came on very slowly and this gave rise to the lemon and white flower notes as opposed to fast botrytis which results in tropical fruit. The cool nights fixed the acidity and this never fell away. Amazing. 19.5+++

Jancis Robinson

18,5

byJancis Robinsonthe4/21/2017

Four different pickings, first one dried. Deep gold. Fragrant and luscious. Round and dried fruits. Real lift on the nose but massive depth too. This is definitely the cream of the 2016 Sauternes crop! Drink 2025-205018.5+

timatkin.com

96

byTim Atkin MWthe4/18/2017

This is very good rather than a great Yquem, but that still makes a very special Sauternes. The botrytis came late,so
this is not an especially exotic or decadent wine, with 135 grams of sugar,plenty of citrus and grape fruit acidity,
some nectarine and white peach notes and a dusting of vanilla spice. 2022-32

Jamessuckling.com

98-99

byJames Sucklingthe4/5/2017

What a sexy and moreish wine that makes you want to drink the whole bottle. Flavors and aromas of cooked apples, grilled pineapple, pie crust, apricots, dried mushrooms and flan. Full-bodied, yet tight and reserved. Very long and powerful. Lasts for minutes. Another great wine.

Wine Enthusiast

95-97

byRoger Vossthe4/4/2017

The bouquet opens with aromas of honey and citrus, offering richness and freshness at the same time. The mouthfeel is opulent, with honeyed flavors. There is some acidity underneath, although decadence and concentration are its defining attributes. It will age for decades.

Jean-Marc QUARIN

18

byJean-Marc Quarinthe3/31/2017

Couleur jaune doré.Nez intense,fin fruité et botrytisé.Superbe entrée en bouche ample et caressante. Le vins se met à fondre, fascinant par la classe de sa texture.Saveurs complexes de fruits blancs confits, d’épices. Longue finale suave, sans molesse, avec des notes de confiture de marron.Un délice! Un très bel équilibre pour le millésime.Assemblage:75% sémillon, 25% sauvignon.Sucre résiduel: 135 g par litre.Degré d’alcool:14°2-pH :3,9