2000 Chateau d'Yquem, Sauternes, Half Bottle (375ml)

JA96 "Things were more difficult in Sauternes than in the rest of Bordeaux in the 2000 vintage, with a brilliant first picking in early October that showed all the promise of the vintage, but with the later crop ruined by heavy rain. In the end Yquem made 20% of its usual yield, but the success of the earlier growing season comes through with luxuriously concentrated apricot and marmalade flavours, laced with bitter orange, lime zest, butterscotch, saffron and white truffles. 128g/l of residual sugar, with total acidity of 4.5. The team behind this wine included current winemaking director Sandrine Garbay, who had begun two years earlier in 1998, with the château already partly owned by Bernard Arnault of LVMH (he bought his first shares in 1996) but still headed up by director Alexandre de Lur Saluces, whose family had been at Yquem since 1875. (Drink between 2020-2050)" JA for DR Jul 2020

LP95 "The 2000 d'Yquem is pale to medium gold-amber in color. Notes of dried orange peel, fallen leaves, lemon iced tea, and dried apricot slowly drift from the glass, leading to a waft of saffron. The palate seems relatively dry at this stage, with savory and lemon tea nuances and beautifully balanced acidity, finishing on a citrus peel note. The crop was very small this year, with 80% of the crop lost to rain at harvest. The blend is 70% Semillon and 30% Sauvignon Blanc with 128 g/l residual sugar, and 33,000 bottles were made." LPB for TWI Jun 2024