1998 Château d'Yquem Sauternes
| Vineyard: | Château d'Yquem |
| Retail Price: | $370.00 |
| 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 1997 1997 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
The 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 months in 100% new oak. No cask tasting is permitted, and the wine is not released until 5 years after the vintage. -Wine Advocate
Expert Reviews
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SRP 95 IWC 95 - Robert Parker 95 Points The 1998 Chateau Yquem was released several months ago. This estate does not allow tasting from cask (where the wine spends 42 months), and it is not released until five years after the vintage. The 1998 Yquem (95 points) is a great success. Made in an elegant style, it is not a blockbuster such as 1990, 1989, and 1988. It is well-delineated, with wonderfully sweet aromas of creme brulee, pineapples, apricots, and white flowers. Medium to full-bodied, it is not as sweet as the biggest/richest Yquem vintages, but it is gorgeously pure, precise, and strikingly complex. Already approachable, it should evolve for 30-50 years ... without a doubt. International Wine Cellar 95 Points Pale gold. Knockout aromas of creme brulee, coconut, vanilla bean, honey and orange peel. Lush and seductively silky in the mouth; its creamy, seamless texture makes it seem deceptively accessible today but sound acid structure should keep it going for 20 years or more. Not hugely sweet or tropical but very complex and fine. Firm, hazelnutty finish offers great length, if not quite the grip of the '89.
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Robert ParkerRating: 95/100 - As reviewed by Robert Parker on 10/01/2003