2018 d'Yquem
By Chateau d'Yquem
2018 d'Yquem from Chateau d'Yquem, Sauternes, Bordeaux
In the pantheon of fine wines, the 2018 d'Yquem from Chateau d'Yquem is a celestial entity, revered by enthusiasts and investors alike. The heralded terroir of Bordeaux's Sauternes region unfurls in this vintage with rare majesty, encapsulating the very essence of luxury and refinement in liquid form.
Ethereal Elegance: A Vintage to Remember
The 2018 vintage ended as a triumph over adversity. Bordeaux experienced tumultuous climatic swings, yet these challenges have helped to sculpt a d'Yquem of profound character. Yquem’s dedication to fastidious vineyard management and masterful winemaking bore fruit, quite literally, as it shone through with an impeccably harmonious expression in 2018.
The season’s ample sunshine and warm breezes married well with the necessitated precision pickings. This ensured that only the finest botrytised grapes entered the selection, bestowing upon the 2018 d'Yquem a luscious concentration paired with an ethereal lightness—a symphony of dichotomous delight.
Nuances to Savor: Investment-worthy Liquid Gold
On the palate, the 2018 d'Yquem exhibits a kaleidoscope of vibrant acidity and rich complexity. Notes of apricot jam, honeyed peaches, and candied lemon peel intertwine with whispers of toasted almond and a subtle minerality that hints at the gravelly soils that cradle Yquem's vines. Overlaid with an exquisite structure and lingering finish, it nods firmly to its investment merit.
Interweaving bold opulence with an almost weightless grace - attributes synonymous with Chateau d'Yquem’s storied pedigree - the 2018 vintage represents a particularly compelling chapter for collectors. Like its predecessors, it stands to gain further nuance through careful cellaring, promising decades of maturation potential.
In sum, the 2018 d'Yquem from Chateau d'Yquem not only upholds but elevates its legacy. Offering resplendence now and excellent promise for future maturation; it’s a paragon amongst sweet wines—a true gem for discerning investors and connoisseurs.
Market price (HKD)
HK$28,510.00
12x75cl
Highest score
98
POP score
165.56
Scores and tasting notes
The 2018 d'Yquem is all lime cordial, grapefruit oil and mandarin peel to begin. With a little coaxing, the fireworks really begin, letting off a whole array of honeysuckle, candied ginger, dried pineapple, lemon pastilles, chalk dust and sea spray scents, followed by a savory undercurrent of shaved almonds, allspice and baking bread. The palate is an exercise in polish and poise, featuring the most gorgeously creamy texture and bright, sparkling freshness, framing all the densely laden tropical and citrus fruit layers, finishing with a powerful BANG of profound floral and spice perfume. It is wonderfully sweet, yes, but that—paradoxically for a "sweet wine"—is almost beside the point.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown - The Wine Advocate, 15 October 2020