90-94 / 100
Noncontractual photograph
Vintage | 1985 |
Rating | 90-94 |
Classification | Sauternes - 1er Cru Classé Supérieur |
Region | Bordeaux |
Appellation | Sauternes |
Colour | Sweet white wine |
Volume | 0.75 l |
Price | More than 300 € |
Château | Yquem (d') |
Country | France |
The Chateau d'Yquem is an area of 133 hectares including 113 hectares of vineyards, 102 acres operated, south of Bordeaux in Sauternes region that produces a sweet white wine ranked Premier Cru Superior, the only wine from the Sauternes category. It is considered by many as the best Sauternes. The yield is only 6 hectoliters per hectare and in some years, if the quality is not deemed sufficient, the bottles are not sold under this label. In autumn, morning mists and sunny afternoons allow the noble rot to develop. The harvest is extended over a long period of time during which the grapes are harvested by hand, individually. . The wines are characterized by their complexity due to a significant amount of residual sugar and flavorings made by Botrytis cinerea. A relatively high acidity helps offset the sweetness. Another characteristic for which Château d'Yquem is known is his longevity. In good years does present a bottle of his outstanding after one or two decades in a cellar and with care it will keep for a century or more, adding to the complexity... Since 1959 Chateau d'Yquem produces a dry white wine named "Y" (and before 2004 "Y Lur-Saluces") makes an equal proportion of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc. This wine, like great wine is not produced every year. The 2005 vintage was the first vintage of Yquem offered for sale en primeur. .
Saint Estèphe
CHÂTEAU LA MISSION HAUT BRION 1985
Pessac Leognan
Châteauneuf du Pape
Richebourg
CLOS ROUGEARD - Les Poyeux 1985
Saumur Champigny
Nuits Saint Georges
Pauillac
Saint Julien
A charming Yquem that's round, thick, dense and very honeyed. But it doesn't taste of botrytized, dried fruit flavors (the château tried to wait for noble rot and harvested late, into December). While creamy and opulent, it's also refined.--Yquem vertical. Best after 2015. (PM)
The 1985 d'Yquem is a powerful, rich, exceptionally concentrated wine. Yet because of the lack of botrytis in the vineyards during this hot, dry vintage, the wine does not have the compelling complexity so frequently encountered in d'Yquem. Nevertheless, this massive, unctuous, light-golden-colored d'Yquem makes quite a mouthful of wine with its honeyed flavors. It is hard to know when a wine such as this will be fully mature, but I have no hesitation in saying that the wine will certainly last for 25-30 or more years, though I do not see it ever being among the great d'Yquems. Anticipated maturity: 1995-2025.