2013 Chateau Yquem 9000ml

98 POINTS

Wine Spectator

Lightly toasted marshmallow and macadamia nut aromas lead the way, followed by incredibly juicy mirabelle plum, green fig, and glazed pear and peach flavors. As big as this is, there are still plenty of honeysuckle, quinine and chamomile notes kicking the finish into yet another gear. This has purity and length to burn, with decades more to go.

98 POINTS

James Suckling

Incredible aromas of botrytis, including freshly ground nutmeg and dried mushroom powder. Dried fruits. Full body with incredible clarity and balance. Very dense and gorgeous. Very sweet. It goes on for minutes. Really superb. A monument to the vintage. Breathtaking precision. A severe selection was made: 40% of the production was for the grand vin - about 80,000 bottles made. This is 70% sémillon and 30% sauvignon blanc - a little more of the latter than normal. They started harvesting the same day at Cheval Blanc, which is rare. Points: 98-99

98 POINTS

James Suckling

Bright aromas of sliced mangoes, papaya, botrytis, and lemon follow through to a full body. Medium sweet with a phenolic palate that gives the wine structure and beauty. Electric acidity and freshness combined with impressive energy and length. A strict selection was made. 40% of the production was destined to the grand vin. About 80,000 bottles made. This is 70% semillion and 30% sauvignon blanc. Better in 2018.

98 POINTS

James Molesworth - Wine Spectator

Lightly toasted marshmallow and macadamia nut aromas lead the way, followed by incredibly juicy mirabelle plum, green fig, and glazed pear and peach flavors. As big as this is, there are still plenty of honeysuckle, quinine and hamomile notes kicking the finish into yet another gear. This has purity and length to burn, which it will for a couple of generations. Best from 2020 through 2050.

97 POINTS

Roger Voss - Wine Enthusiast

96–98. Barrel Sample. The beautifully aromatic, honeyed scent leads into flavors of bitter orange and honey, along with extreme freshness. Notes of white peach and Rocha pear give richness to a wine that is not huge, but wonderfully balanced.

97 POINTS

Falstaff

Medium green yellow, silver reflections. Fine nuances of yellow tropical fruit, candied orange zest, dried apricot, fine botrytis savouriness. Juicy, complex on the palate, again pleasant yellow fruit nuances, finely structured, delicate play, mineral and highly elegant, vital and with a great future. The residual sugar is slightly higher at 140 grams, but the wine is rather light at 13.1% vol. A classic of tomorrow.

96 POINTS

Tim Atkin MW

The leading Sauternes in 2013 (as it should be, given its price tag) and one of the best Yquems since 2001, partly justifying the claims by producers and négociants for the sweet wine vintage. Aromatic and pure, with botrytis-derived notes of peach, marmalade and apricot, vanilla oak and a long, harmonious finish, with 30% Sauvignon adding freshness.

96 POINTS

Neal Martin - Robert Parker Wine Advocate

A majority of the 2013 Château d’Yquem was picked between September 25 and October 2, augmented by a second trie on October 11 after rains had provoked botrytis and then a third trie from October 21 and 24, before a final pass through the vineyard at the end of the month. Winemaker Sandrine Garbay told me that all the lots were equates to around 70.000 and 80.000 bottles. During assemblage of different lots, the blend ended up 30% Sauvignon Blanc, a little higher than usual, and 70% Semillon, while the residual sugar comes in at 140gm/L, which is a little higher than average. The reason is that the fermentation stopped naturally at this level, therefore the alcohol is a tad lower than average at 13.1 degrees. Firstly, you notice the colour, which is a touch deeper than recent vintages at this stage. The bouquet is quite honeyed and rich for Yquem at this early juncture, with subtle scents of peach skin, white flowers, and a puff of chalk and frangipane. The palate is viscous on the entry, all about the texture at first, coating the mouth with luscious botrytized fruit. There are touches of Seville orange marmalade, fresh apricot, a hint of spice and passion fruit. This is imbued with impressive depth and weight, perhaps an Yquem that is determined to make an impression after last(more...)