PV Tasting Notes
The 2006 d’Yquem has a clear gold hue with youthful green tints. The nose is very pure if rather understated at first, with aeration in the glass displaying honey, acacia, Mirabelle, grapefruit zest, spice and a hint of apple blossom. The palate has a viscous entry, totally pure with honey, white peach, pear, lemon and orange zest, there is a vibrancy and vigour about this vintage. Not the most powerful Yquem, but one of incisive elegance and poise, very focused with pure botrytis, then an almost tense zesty finish that succulently counter balances the residual sugar. This is without doubt an outstanding example of Chateau d’Yquem. Drink 2012-2050.
Independent Review96-98+ Robert Parker - The Wine Advocate April 2009
While no surprise here, this wine, which will be bottled in 2009, is certainly this estate’s greatest effort since their 2001. It completely outclasses everything from the appellation, but even when you’re number one, that’s often hard to do. This light gold wine offers up a sensational smorgasbord of aromas including huge honeyed pineapple and other caramelized tropical fruit flavors, massive richness, and a viscous, unctuous texture with the oak beautifully integrated. The wine has enough acidity to buttress its full-bodied mouthfeel, but this is not by any means the sweetest or most alcoholic of the d’Yquems I have tasted. In fact, in the range of d’Yquems, this is a powerful wine, but it is one built more on finesse and elegance, a la the 1988. Nevertheless, this wine will prove to have 50+ years of longevity. The finish, the mid-palate, the sensation of looking at a skyscraper of Semillon with a small dosage of Sauvignon, is impressive. Like all of the sweet wines of Barsac and Sauternes, one can drink this young, but the nuances and complexities really don’t emerge for at least a decade, especially in the case of a wine such as this. Bravo!
97 Points Neal Martin The Wine Advocate Jan 2010
Tasted blind at Southwold ’06 Bordeaux tasting. This is tightly coiled on the nose, honey, a touch of ginger, barley sugar and a touch of brown sugar. Quite complex but it needs time. The palate is excellent with crystalline, honeyed fruit, superb balance with hints of honeysuckle, beeswax, apricot and marmalade. Superb balance and poise towards the elegant, graceful finish with fine persistency. This is a fantastic d’Yquem that I fear may be overlooked thanks to the ’07 or ‘09. A regal Yquem. Tasted January 2010.
Often people ask me when is the best time and with what to drink Sauternes? Obviously the classic combinations are with Foie Gras or a rich soft Pate at the beginning of the meal; problem there is it can ruin the palate due to the consummate richness for the remainder of the meal. I like to serve it at the end of the meal with soft cheese, you can serve it with desserts, but a word of warning…don’t serve it with very sugary dishes, this will make the wine taste dry, and why would you want to do that? These are great wines, spectacular and very difficult and expensive to make; at the greatest of all Chateau d’Yquem they make only “one glass per vine” so try not to spoil the experience. I suppose if you faced with a difficult decision, wine with the dessert…taste the wine first, then decide if you want the wine before, during or after.