CHATEAU D'YQUEM 1er Cru Classe Superieur - Sauternes 2005 HALF

Description

The 2005 Château d’Yquem is a magnificent vintage that continues to impress with its elegance and complexity. Its limpid golden hue hints at its aging potential, while the nose reveals a stunning array of honey, saffron, vanilla, apricot, jasmine, and orange peel. On the palate, it is full-bodied, seamlessly textured, and perfectly balanced, offering a fruity, racy finish. Critics highly praise its elegance and potential: Lisa Perrotti-Brown awards it an almost-perfect 98+ points, highlighting its magnificent aging prospects. VINOUS scores it 96 points for its exquisite poise, concentrated notes of fig and tangerine, and nutty finish. James Suckling gives it 95 points, admiring its floral, honeyed aromas and velvety texture, recommending it for aging to unlock its full beauty. This wine promises a graceful evolution over decades, rewarding patient cellaring.

*****

THE WINE ADVOCATE 98+ points
Reviewed by: Yohan Castaing
Drink Date: 2023 - 2065
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.

VINOUS 96 point
The 2005 Yquem is limpid golden in hue. The bouquet is gorgeous, finely-tuned and precise with clear honey, vanilla pod and saffron, less of the almond that I have noticed previously. The palate is built around its exquisite poise, the acidity keeping this Yquem on its tip-toes. As I have noted before, it appears to be gaining in concentration and viscosity with age, lovely fig and tangerine notes combining with a slight nuttiness on the finish. Tasted at 67 Pall Mall in London.

JAMES SUCKLING 95 points
What an incredible nose of flowers, honey, spices such as clove, and sandalwood. With time, decadent aromas of apple tart and crumble develop. Full and very round on the palate, this is medium sweet with a velvety texture. Flavors of honey, apple and pear tart appear on the long finish. This is so beautiful, hard not to drink now but will greatly improve with more time. 140 grams of RS.