100 POINTS
The Wine Cellar Insider
Combining incredible power, sweetness, and opulence with racy acidity and a touch of bitterness on the backend offsetting all the rich, honey-slathered fruits, it takes only a single sniff and sip to discern that this is one of the great vintages produced by Chateau d'Yquem. That says a lot, considering all the fabulous vintages the estate has crafted. The palate showcases its wealth of honeyed fruits alongside Indian spices and a vibrancy found in no other sweet wine. The wine envelops your palate, teeth, and gums leaving you with a zesty finish that lingers for a full 60 seconds and more! This is a legend in the making! Like all great vintages of Chateau d'Yquem, you can enjoy this with pleasure in its youth, with its sweet, ripe fruits showcasing a unique sense of honeyed purity, or you can save it for your grandchildren. Drink from 2027-2100. - Jeff Leve
100 POINTS
The Drinks Business Magazine
(Sauternes; 80% Sémillon; 20% Sauvignon Blanc; the final yield is around the historic average of 10 hl/ha; 160 g/l of residual sugar, the second highest ever recorded after the legendary 1945 vintage; pH 3.90, on a par with the 2019; 13.5% alcohol; 100% new oak though you have nothing directly to indicate that). The highest proportion of Sémillon since 2018. A wine of incredible aromatic purity, that reminds me most of the 2009. Apricot. Toasted brioche. Even a little eucalyptus and medicinal herbal elements, but very subtly. An aromatic brilliance. Saffron, honey. Angelica. Frangipane. Nutty. Butterscotch. Beurre noisette. Roasted pineapple, that lovely slight hint of crème brulée burnt sugar bitterness and a hint of the orange Seville marmalade notes to come. Almost a little hint of candied rose petals. Rose Turkish delight. A trace of grapefruit zest which is incredible in a wine so intensely sweet and solaire. So fresh despite the incredible density. What I love is the way the acidity grips and takes in charge the wine from the mid-palate to the very long distant finish. Very saline on the finish – more and more so, with almost a hint of liquorice! The freshness sensation is sensational! The freshness here is integral to the power and puissance of the wine, unlike any other w(more...)
100 POINTS
James Suckling
A perfect Yquem again after the 2021, which is fresher and more refined than the 2022. The perception of sweetness is super-knit. Lots of botrytis, with turmeric, saffron, cream, roasted meringue, pine nuts, spices and dried mangoes. This is a powerful, seductive and lush wine. Ornamented and richer this year than 2021, but there is so much charm and harmony. Long and spicy, with a hint of petrol at the end. Wow. The second most concentrated Yquem after 1945, according to the winemaker. About 160 grams of residual sugar. So approachable now, but better in five or six years. It will live forever.
98 POINTS
Peter Moser - Falstaff
Medium golden yellow in colour with orange reflections. On the nose, very attractive aromas of fine apricot confit, a hint of bourbon vanilla, light nougat, nuances of tangerine segments, integrated oak spice and a subtle touch of botrytis. The complex palate is very structured with fine spice and white peach fruit, the sweetness is perfectly judged, showing the classic 'bitter note' of the tannin, which replaces the acidity giving the wine great freshness, with a touch of white pepper on the long saline-mineral finish, very elegant, should now be allowed to enjoy appropriate bottle ageing. (25/1, 2035 - 2090, PM).
98 POINTS
Neal Martin - Vinous
The 2022 Yquem is a blend of 80% Sémillon and 20% Sauvignon Blanc with 160 g/L residual sugar and a total acidity of 5.39 g/L. It is the first certified organic vintage for the estate and has the lowest level of total sulphur ever: 234 g/L, high within the sphere of wine but comparatively low for Sauternes. The 2022 was aged for 24 months in new barrels that underwent slightly less drying than those used for red wines in order to retain some green tannins. Given the growing season, the 2022 Yquem has a surprisingly understated bouquet that demands coaxing. Scents of orange pith, passion fruit and quince are exquisitely defined, a hint of chamomile dancing around in the background. The palate is medium-bodied. Given the high level of residual sugar, what is surprising is that the 2022 does not seem a weighty or texturally unctuous Yquem, yet there is an intensity and concentration that is arresting. Vivid flavours of clementine, wild honey, quince and tangerine that effortlessly combine. The acidity almost nonchalantly counters the sensation of residual sugar, so it feels less than it actually is, the scintilla of salinity toward the finish tempting you back for more. This is a marvellous and quite cerebral Yquem for which patience is required. Drink 2030-2100
