The 2002 Château d’Yquem, while perhaps initially overshadowed by the legendary and stratospheric 2001 vintage, stands as a testament to its own inherent charm, impeccable balance, and thoroughly enjoyable character. It's a wine that has gracefully matured, reaching a point of perfect readiness for drinking, offering a delightful and complex aromatic and flavor profile.
Upon the first approach, the nose is greeted with an inviting bouquet of ripe stone fruits, reminiscent of sun-kissed apricots and juicy peaches, interwoven with bright, zesty citrus notes that add a refreshing lift. As the wine breathes, subtle hints of beeswax emerge, lending a delicate, almost waxy richness, perfectly complementing the deeper, more comforting aroma of freshly baked ginger snaps. The underlying foundation of dried honey adds a luscious sweetness, promising a wonderfully opulent experience on the palate.
On the palate, the 2002 Château d’Yquem delivers on the promises of its aroma. The stone fruits and citrus notes are vibrant and clear, balanced by a sophisticated acidity that prevents any cloying sweetness. The beeswax character contributes a smooth, silken texture, enhancing the wine's luxurious mouthfeel. The spice from the ginger snaps is subtle yet persistent, adding a warming complexity, while the dried honey provides a long, lingering finish that is both elegant and deeply satisfying. This vintage showcases a beautiful harmony between its sweetness and acidity, a hallmark of great Sauternes, ensuring its remarkable drinkability and broad appeal. It's a wine that truly deserves to be appreciated for its individual merits, rather than solely in the shadow of its predecessor.
Critic Reviews
96 POINTS
Wine Spectator
Beautiful apple, vanilla and honey aromas, with just the right amount of new wood. Full-bodied, medium sweet, with lots of pretty pineapple and honey. Long and refined. A beautifully silky and balanced Sauternes. Lots of intensity and well-knit. Unrivaled in this vintage. Best after 2009.
93 POINTS
Neal Martin - Robert Parker Wine Advocate
Served from an ex-chateau bottle. The 2002 Chateau d’Yquem has a delightful bouquet with scents of dried honey, marzipan and melted candle wax. It is not the most complex, but it has very good definition. The palate has a controlled, linear opening with fine acidity and a tightly wound spicy core. This 2002 has a slight bitter edge which lends it race and tension. However, there is a touch of austerity here, as if it is holding something back. You might describe this as a serviceable Yquem: everything in its right place, but refusing to let go. This is aYquem sans the ambition of other vintages and yet delicious all the same. Drink now-2035.
Jancis Robinson
Young Sauternes often reminds me of pear juice and this wine, tasted from a half bottle just couriered from Bordeaux, was like nothing more than the healthiest, cleanest pear juice. Pale gold with a slightly greener tinge than most young Yquem. Very fresh, long and deep-flavoured this wine has that ingredient X that Yquem always seems to manage, but this is certainly not one of the sweetest or most intense Yquems. It is certainly greater than any other 2002 sweet white bordeaux I remember tasting, with the strongly possible exception of Climens, but is almost spookily open for a recently-bottled Yquem. There's the merest hint of astringency on the finish still but this wine could be enjoyed in its relatively simple youth. Drink 2007 to 2025. Date tasted 11th March 06. 18 out of 20
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Tasting Notes
The 2002 Château d’Yquem, while perhaps initially overshadowed by the legendary and stratospheric 2001 vintage, stands as a testament to its own inherent charm, impeccable balance, and thoroughly enjoyable character. It's a wine that has gracefully matured, reaching a point of perfect readiness for drinking, offering a delightful and complex aromatic and flavor profile.
Upon the first approach, the nose is greeted with an inviting bouquet of ripe stone fruits, reminiscent of sun-kissed apricots and juicy peaches, interwoven with bright, zesty citrus notes that add a refreshing lift. As the wine breathes, subtle hints of beeswax emerge, lending a delicate, almost waxy richness, perfectly complementing the deeper, more comforting aroma of freshly baked ginger snaps. The underlying foundation of dried honey adds a luscious sweetness, promising a wonderfully opulent experience on the palate.
On the palate, the 2002 Château d’Yquem delivers on the promises of its aroma. The stone fruits and citrus notes are vibrant and clear, balanced by a sophisticated acidity that prevents any cloying sweetness. The beeswax character contributes a smooth, silken texture, enhancing the wine's luxurious mouthfeel. The spice from the ginger snaps is subtle yet persistent, adding a warming complexity, while the dried honey provides a long, lingering finish that is both elegant and deeply satisfying. This vintage showcases a beautiful harmony between its sweetness and acidity, a hallmark of great Sauternes, ensuring its remarkable drinkability and broad appeal. It's a wine that truly deserves to be appreciated for its individual merits, rather than solely in the shadow of its predecessor.
