Chateau d'Yquem Sauternes Premier Cru Supérieur 2014 (375ml) ~ Sauternes, France

20/20 La Revue du Vin de France
19.5/20 Vinum Wine Magazine
19/20 Bettane et Desseauve
19/20 Jancis Robinson
98/100 Wine Enthusiast
96/100 Jeannie Cho Lee
95/100 Wine Spectator
96+/100 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate
94+/100 Vinous, by Antonio Galloni
97+/100 James Suckling

Dessert wine - 375 ml

James Molesworth, Wine Spectator "A stunner, sporting tropical mango and papaya notes that glide along beautifully, while heather honey, pineapple chutney and toasted coconut flavors fill in through the finish. Delivers an amazing mouthfeel that is both creamy and intense, with a pretty inner floral brightness that contrasts with the fruit."

Vinous, by Antonio Galloni "The 2014 d'Yquem is exceptionally beautiful for so many reasons, not the least of which is a striking juxtaposition of bright, floral/citrus notes of the early picks, before botrytis had set in, with richer, more tropical-inflected nuances that resulted from the later picks, where rot had developed. In other words, the 2014 is a wine of sublime contrasts, which is one of the qualities that often define the truly great wines. Lemon peal, coconut, jasmine, peach jam and brioche are some of the aromas and flavors that are present today, but above all else it is the wine's textural finesse that elevates the 2014 into the stratosphere. The precise, understated finish is striking. There isn't much else to say except that the 2014 Yquem is a real stunner."

Jancis Robinson "Fabulous nose of richness and freshness. The residual sugar is not high but the balance is great. Lime and pears and great richness and almost like a fruit juice, it’s so refreshing yet dense and sweet."

Jeannie Cho Lee "Great purity and balance with lifted, sweet floral notes, caramelized orange peel and dried apricots. A lovely wine with balance and fresh, firm acidity in this vintage with 135 g/L of sugar. Purity and precision are the hallmarks of this wine."

Château d'Yquem is a Premier Cru Supérieur [Superior First Growth] wine from the Sauternes, Gironde region in the southern part of the Bordeaux vineyards known as Graves. In the Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855, Château d'Yquem was the only Sauternes given this rating, indicating its perceived superiority and higher prices over all other wines of its type.

Yquem's success stems largely from the site's susceptibility to attack by "noble rot" (a particular kind of infestation by Botrytis cinerea). Wines from Château d'Yquem are characterised by their complexity, concentration and sweetness.

A relatively high acidity helps to balance the wine's sweetness. Another characteristic for which Château d'Yquem wines are known is their longevity. With proper care, a bottle will keep for a century or more. During this time, the fruity overtones will gradually fade and integrate with more complex secondary and tertiary flavours.