1 bottle per lot
Details
Château d'Yquem--Vintage 1921
Sauternes, 1er grand cru classé
Reconditionned at the Château in 1990. Bin-soiled label. Level mid/upper-shoulder
Tasting note: Unquestionably the greatest Sauternes vintage of the 20th century. The hottest summer since 1893: the grapes had a very high sugar content which, after fermentation led to high levels of alcohol and residual sugar. Château d'Yquem A colossus. Perhaps the richest Yquem of all time, certainly since the towering 1847. Do not be put off by the dark colour. This is correct. I have had the pleasure of tasting the wine over 30 times, from magnums as well as bottles. Not all have warranted 5 stars for, as always, provenance, storage, and state of the cork has a bearing. But most have been unforgettable.The differences are more due to bottle variation rather than the wine's evolution which, for the past 30 or so years, seems to be relatively stable. Most recently, probably the best ever. Old Yquem always looks its richest in a decanter, this time a 'ruddy' old gold, deep with brush of brown, almost red highlights and open apple-green rim; its bouquet both easy and, in truth, difficult, to do justice to: the anticipated crème brûlée, old apricots, honeyed whiff and unplumbable depth; medium-sweet, drying out a litde after 85 years, gloriously rich, intense and persistent flavour, perfect sustaining acidity and lingering aftertaste. Sheer perfection. Last tasted April 2006 ***** Michael Broadbent M.W.
1 bottle per lot
Sauternes, 1er grand cru classé
Reconditionned at the Château in 1990. Bin-soiled label. Level mid/upper-shoulder
Tasting note: Unquestionably the greatest Sauternes vintage of the 20th century. The hottest summer since 1893: the grapes had a very high sugar content which, after fermentation led to high levels of alcohol and residual sugar. Château d'Yquem A colossus. Perhaps the richest Yquem of all time, certainly since the towering 1847. Do not be put off by the dark colour. This is correct. I have had the pleasure of tasting the wine over 30 times, from magnums as well as bottles. Not all have warranted 5 stars for, as always, provenance, storage, and state of the cork has a bearing. But most have been unforgettable.The differences are more due to bottle variation rather than the wine's evolution which, for the past 30 or so years, seems to be relatively stable. Most recently, probably the best ever. Old Yquem always looks its richest in a decanter, this time a 'ruddy' old gold, deep with brush of brown, almost red highlights and open apple-green rim; its bouquet both easy and, in truth, difficult, to do justice to: the anticipated crème brûlée, old apricots, honeyed whiff and unplumbable depth; medium-sweet, drying out a litde after 85 years, gloriously rich, intense and persistent flavour, perfect sustaining acidity and lingering aftertaste. Sheer perfection. Last tasted April 2006 ***** Michael Broadbent M.W.
1 bottle per lot