1983 Chateau d'Yquem, Sauternes, Case of 3 D/Magnum
Price On Request
99JA98WS96RP96LP
Critic key
RP = Robert ParkerLP = Lisa Perrotti-BrownWS = Wine SpectatorJA = Jane Anson
- Rating
- JA99/WS98/RP96/LP96
- Producer
- d'Yquem
- Vintage
- 1983
- Region
- Bordeaux
- Appellation
- Sauternes
- Country
- France
- Grape Varietal
- Sémillon 80, Sauvignon Blanc 20
- Classification
- Premier Cru Superieur
- Format
- Case
- Volume
- 3000mL
- ABV
- 13.5
- Type
- Still
- Color
- White
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Product Description
JA99 "One of the legendary vintages of Yquem, appropriately enough served at Château Margaux, which shares in the magic of 1983. This is pure opulence and luxury, bitter orange peel and saffron wrapped up in silk, concentrated tarte tatin and grilled pineapple, white truffles, smoked almonds, still with huge persistence on the palate, flashes of mouthwatering salinity and decades ahead of it. Pierre Meslier was the winemaker at the time (from 1963 to 1989), under owner Alexandre de Lur Saluces. Harvest September 29th and finishing on November 18th, one of the latest on record. Who knows when this will stop delivering - I would lay bets on it still going strong in a few decades time. 100% new French oak for a full three years of ageing at the time - reduced to 24 months from 2000 onwards." JA for IB Jun 2026
WS98 "Super-intense and full-throttled, elegant and stylish. Dark amber in color and rich in complexity, this '83 coats your mouth with butterscotch, dried apricot, fig and spice flavors. Made to age for decades." JS for WS Apr 1995
RP96 "The 1983 is among the most concentrated wines from this property over the last 20 years, with a staggering display of extract and a mind-boggling amount of glycerin. The vintage commenced early for Yquem, beginning on September 29 and finishing on November 18. Most observers feel the 1983 will mature more slowly than the 1986, and will last for almost 100 years. Given Yquem's unbelievable aging potential, such comments do not seem far fetched. At present, the 1983 is enormous, with huge, honeyed, pineapple, coconut, and caramel flavors, massive extract, and an unctuous quality barely framed by acidity and new oak. I do not feel the wine has changed since bottling, and I would not want to start drinking it for at least another 10-15 years. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2050." RP Dec 1997
LP96 "Medium to deep amber in color, the 1983 d'Yquem is a little sluggish and grumpy to start, soon opening out to reveal notes of burnt sugar, honey-coated walnuts, and white truffle with touches of orange marmalade and chamomile. The palate is rich and crisp, with a yin and yang kind of balance coming through on the long finish. The residual sugar is 119.2 g/l." LPB for TWI Jun 2024
James Suckling for Wine Spectator writes, "In our blind tastings, Yquem was No. 1 in each vintage reviewed. Its class and the intensity of flavor underlined why this château is the only premier cru supérieur in the Sauternes and Barsac area. It is the benchmark for a region where 5,000 acres are planted to Sémillon (80 percent), Sauvignon Blanc (15 percent) and Muscadelle (5 percent). Some 240 producers are in the Sauternes-Barsac region, including 26 classified growths led by Yquem, and they average in a normal year about 500,000 cases.
While Yquem produces wines in its own distinctive style, we still found that each year the fabulous estate managed to make Sauternes that typified the vintage. The Yquem 1983 was the highest-scoring wine of our tasting, rating 98 on Wine Spectator 's 100-point scale. It was a super-intense, full-throttle Sauternes, richly complex and stylish. " Published: Apr 15, 1995
WS98 "Super-intense and full-throttled, elegant and stylish. Dark amber in color and rich in complexity, this '83 coats your mouth with butterscotch, dried apricot, fig and spice flavors. Made to age for decades." JS for WS Apr 1995
RP96 "The 1983 is among the most concentrated wines from this property over the last 20 years, with a staggering display of extract and a mind-boggling amount of glycerin. The vintage commenced early for Yquem, beginning on September 29 and finishing on November 18. Most observers feel the 1983 will mature more slowly than the 1986, and will last for almost 100 years. Given Yquem's unbelievable aging potential, such comments do not seem far fetched. At present, the 1983 is enormous, with huge, honeyed, pineapple, coconut, and caramel flavors, massive extract, and an unctuous quality barely framed by acidity and new oak. I do not feel the wine has changed since bottling, and I would not want to start drinking it for at least another 10-15 years. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2050." RP Dec 1997
LP96 "Medium to deep amber in color, the 1983 d'Yquem is a little sluggish and grumpy to start, soon opening out to reveal notes of burnt sugar, honey-coated walnuts, and white truffle with touches of orange marmalade and chamomile. The palate is rich and crisp, with a yin and yang kind of balance coming through on the long finish. The residual sugar is 119.2 g/l." LPB for TWI Jun 2024
James Suckling for Wine Spectator writes, "In our blind tastings, Yquem was No. 1 in each vintage reviewed. Its class and the intensity of flavor underlined why this château is the only premier cru supérieur in the Sauternes and Barsac area. It is the benchmark for a region where 5,000 acres are planted to Sémillon (80 percent), Sauvignon Blanc (15 percent) and Muscadelle (5 percent). Some 240 producers are in the Sauternes-Barsac region, including 26 classified growths led by Yquem, and they average in a normal year about 500,000 cases.
While Yquem produces wines in its own distinctive style, we still found that each year the fabulous estate managed to make Sauternes that typified the vintage. The Yquem 1983 was the highest-scoring wine of our tasting, rating 98 on Wine Spectator 's 100-point scale. It was a super-intense, full-throttle Sauternes, richly complex and stylish. " Published: Apr 15, 1995