1988 Chateau d'Yquem Sauternes - 750ml

1988 Chateau d'Yquem Sauternes - 750ml

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1988 Chateau d'Yquem Sauternes - 99 pts!

The pleasure derived from tasting Yquem is difficult to describe. It offers a myriad of well-balanced, complex flavours that generate even more harmonies over time. The impression that remains is reminiscent of a quote from Frédéric Dard "the silence that follows a piece by Mozart, in which the listener remains suffused with the music". This reflects the fact that Château d'Yquem stays on the palate for a remarkable long time, providing a unique, prolonged pleasure. There is a lovely expression in French to describe Yquem's tremendously long aftertaste: il fait la queue du paon, which means that it spreads out like a peacock's tail.

It is always difficult to describe wine-tasting experiences with any precision. The senses of sight, smell, taste and touch are all stimulated virtually at the same time. While gifted tasters can identify some of the aromas and flavours in a glass of Yquem in an effort to define its complexity, they never really succeed in communicating its essence or explaining its mystery. Mere analysis, whether chemical or organoleptic, is not sufficient to account for Yquem's greatness. Yquem tells a unique story... It starts with the bouquet. Although not always very outgoing in young vintages, it is marked by fruit (apricot, mandarin, and occasionally tropical fruit) and oak (vanilla and toasty aromas). Older vintages, on the other hand, have an extraordinarily complex fragrance as soon as the bottle is opened, with hints of dried fruit (dried apricot, prune, stewed fruit, and marmalade), spice (cinnamon, saffron, and liquorice), and even flowers (lime blossom, etc.). The first impression of Château d'Yquem on the palate is always very silky, and often sumptuous. It then fills out, "coating the palate". This fine wine has a strong, but never overbearing character, with great elegance and poise. It always maintains a balance between sugar and acidity (sweetness and freshness). A touch of bitterness can also contribute to the overall harmony. Château d'Yquem's aftertaste is legendary, and it tells another story, which lasts and lasts…


Product Details

Varietal Sauternes Blend
Vintage 1988
Rating 99 RP
Bottle Size 750ml
Bottle Quantity 1
Country France
Region Bordeaux
Location Sauternes
Producer Chateau d'Yquem
Color White
Wine Type Dessert

Winery Details

Varietal Sauternes Blend
Vintage 1988
Rating 99 RP
Bottle Size 750ml
Bottle Quantity 1
Country France
Region Bordeaux
Location Sauternes
Producer Chateau d'Yquem
Color White
Wine Type Dessert

Robert Parker

Robert Parker 99 RP - Millionaires will have considerable fun comparing the evolution of the 1988 d'Yquem with the 1986. Both are super-rich, honeyed, botrytised wines. The 1988 exhibits a deeper color, as well as a more evolved, richer, and more complex bouquet. Aromas of melted butter, honeyed fruits, spicy nuts, and toasty new oak explode upward from the glass. The 1988 d'Yquem displays more richness and unctuosity than any young d'Yquem I have tasted. It should have 40-60 years of positive evolution, although one suspects that much of the production will be consumed within the next 4-5 years. If my instincts are correct, this is the most profound d'Yquem since the legendary 1959. It may not prove as timeless as the 1975, but I believe it to be even more concentrated. 

Wine Spectator

Wine Spectator

Burghound

Burghound

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