1997 Château d'Yquem Sauternes
| Vineyard: | Château d'Yquem |
| Retail Price: | |
| Varietal: | Semillon |
| Style: | Sweet Wine |
| Region: | France > Bordeaux |
| Other Vintages: | 2008 2007 2007 2006 2006 2006 2005 2005 2005 2004 2003 2003 2003 2003 2002 2001 2001 2000 2000 1999 1999 1999 1999 1999 1999 1998 1998 1996 1996 1996 1995 1995 1995 1995 1994 1994 1993 1993 1992 1991 1991 1990 1990 1990 1990 1989 1989 1988 1987 1986 1986 1986 1985 1985 1984 1983 1983 1983 1982 1982 1982 1981 1981 1981 1980 1980 1980 1979 1979 1978 1977 1976 1976 1976 1975 1975 1975 1973 1971 1971 1971 1970 1970 1969 1968 1967 1967 1967 1966 1966 1965 1963 1962 1961 1961 1960 1960 1959 1959 1959 1958 1958 1957 1956 1955 1955 1955 1955 1954 1953 1953 1950 1949 1948 1948 1947 1947 1946 1945 1945 1944 1943 1942 1941 1940 1939 1938 1937 1936 1935 1934 1933 1931 1929 1928 1928 1927 1925 1924 1923 1922 1921 1920 1919 1918 1916 1911 1908 1905 1900 1870 1865 1861 1861 1847 1846 1846 1831 1831 1811 NV |
WINEMAKER'S NOTE
"A sensational Yquem, 1997 may be this estate's finest effort since 1990 (although I would not discount the 1996 turning out to be nearly as good). The 1997's light gold color is accompanied a gorgeous perfume of caramel, honeysuckle, peach, apricot, and smoky wood. Full-bodied and unctuously-textured, with good underlying acidity as well as loads of sweetness and glycerin, it looks to be a great vintage for this renowned Sauternes estate. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2055.
Note: Yquem spends 42...
Expert Reviews
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Wine & SpiritsThe favorite sweet wine of millionaires, Chateau d'Yquem has, not unexpectedly, turned in a brilliant effort with their newly released 1989. It is a large-scaled, massively rich, unctuously-textured wine that should evolve effortlessly for a half century or more. It does not reveal the compelling finesse and complexity of the 1988 or 1986, but it is a far heavier, richer wine than either of those vintages. It is reminiscent of the 1976, with additional fat and glycerin. The wine is extremely alcoholic and rich, with a huge nose of smoky, honey-covered coconuts and overripe pineapples read more...and apricots. As with most young vintages of Yquem, the wine's structure is barely noticeable. These wines are so highly extracted and rich yet approachable young, it is difficult to believe they will last for 50 or more years. The 1989 is the richest Yquem made in the eighties, and it has an edge in complexity over the powerhouse 1983. It remains to be seen whether this wine will develop the extraordinary aromatic complexity possessed by the promising 1988 and 1986 Yquems. Last tasted 11/97 (hide)
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Wine Advocate
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Wine Spectator