2005 Chateau d'Yquem, Sauternes, Half Bottle (375ml)

RP98+ The 2005 d'Yquem continues to drink beautifully today, evoking aromas of honey, saffron, vanilla pod, apricot, jasmine and orange peel. Full-bodied, sensual and juicy, it’s medium to full-bodied, with a seamless texture and a perfectly balanced palate, finishing fruity and racy. Although still a little closed and in a rather discreet phase, it has magnificent aging potential, and readers with bottles in their cellars should leave them to mature for 10 to 20 years.

LP98 A blend of 80% Semillon and 20% Sauvignon Blanc, with 141 grams per liter of residual sugar, the 2005 Yquem is pale to medium gold in color. It starts off reticent and slightly broody before spilling out of the glass with notes of applesauce, peach cobbler, and musk melon, giving way to powerful scents of candied ginger, jasmine tea, chamomile, and saffron, together with a touch of chalk. The palate is an atomic bomb of flavors, coating the palate with spicy apple and peach preserves, with beautiful tension, finishing very long with loads of mineral sparks. It's gone into a closed stage for now – you should cellar it a good 7-10 years longer.