Chateau d'Yquem 2008

Chateau d’Yquem is an extraordinary place, at the very heart of Sauternes, with a hundred hectares of vineyards are planted on a mosaic of different soils. Through a sublimation process, the grapes reach a level a richness in taste and aromas that is simply unique in the world. Yquem preciously protects its selective harvesting secret, carried out by a team of devoted highly experienced local pickers, who have received their ancestral knowledge from the generations that came before them.

Discovering Chateau d'Yquem starts with the bouquet. Although not always very outgoing in young vintages, it is marked by fruit (apricot), madarin, and occasionally tropical fruit) and oak (vanilla and toasty aromas). The first impression of Château d'Yquem on the palate is always very silky, and often sumptuous. 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).

96+ Points - Wine Enthusiast

Impressively balanced, with the fruit rich, intense with a golden glow. The acidity is as important as the freshness, giving a delicious lift to the core of dry, concentrated botrytis. Obviously a great wine for long-term aging in a great Sauternes year.

95 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Sporting a medium lemon-gold color, the 2008 d'Yquem is forward, displaying an already complex, compellingly savory/earthy nose of toasted almonds, cloves, damp soil, crushed stones and yeast extract with a core of peach preserves, lemon tart, dried pineapple and allspice. Rich, spicy and decadent in the mouth, with a racy backbone lifting the fruit, it finishes long and multilayered.

94 Points - Wine Spectator

Beautiful lemon cream, chamomile and fried pineapple notes, with a refreshing, almost floral edge running along as well. Creamy coconut and green plum notes fill in on the finish, which has admirable length. A restrained, lighter style, with lovely precision.