Château d'Yquem - Sauternes 2011

Wine Advocate

94 / 100

par Neal Martin le 28/02/2015

Tasted blind at the Sauternes 2011 horizontal tasting. The Château Yquem 2011 has a complex bouquet, one that is very well defined with hints of petrol infusing the rich honeyed fruit, later melted wax and fresh peach coming through. The palate is well balanced with a strong viscous entry. There is plenty of residual sugar here and I would have preferred a little more acidic bite to offset that rich, decadent finish (this is despite their correct policy of blending non-botrytized berries in order to increase acidity.) Powerful, burly even, I would give this several years in the cellar to allow this Yquem to mellow and enter its stride.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

98 / 100

par Ian D'Agata le 31/08/2014

Luminous golden yellow.  Cool, pure aromas of white peach, honeyed mango, guava nectar, white flowers and saffron are complicated by elements of crushed stone and spicy lemony botrytis.  Suave and intensely flavored, with mineral-spiced apple, mango, passion fruit and grapefruit flavors offering outstanding purity, precision, and depth.  The brisk but harmonious acidity gives this great Sauternes a penetrating quality and provides a powerful spine to the very deep flavors, making it seem less opulent than it really is.  This Yquem has the depth of the 2007 but boasts even greater purity and focus.  Finishes bright and extremely long, with repeating suggestions of white flowers and lemony botrytis.  Though it lacks the depth of the 2001 or the opulence of the 2009 at a similar stage of development, this is one of my favorite young Yquems ever:  it will age spectacularly well.            

Vinum

19 / 20

le 30/06/2014

Immese Komplexitat. Schliff. Frische und erstaunlich delikates fruchtiges Finale Herrllich. Jetzet geniessen oder beliebig lang reifen lassen. 2020 bis 2040

Jamessuckling.com

98 / 100

par James Suckling le 19/02/2014

Crazy minerality to this, with lots of dried mango, pineapple and papaya on the nose. Botrytis-spice and nutmeg undertones. Full body, very sweet, with superb depth of fruit and richness. It goes on for minutes. Turns dense and concentrated on the palate. Speechless. Better in 2019.

Wine Spectator

99 / 100

par James Molesworth le 11/02/2014

A lovely, creamy, tropical style, with mango, papaya and guava notes lending a caressing feel, while singed almond and warm piecrust accents blossom through the lush finish. Just when you think that's all there is, toasted coconut, fig, orange blossom and persimmon details kick in, lending length and dimension. The finish is ridiculously long. Best from 2020 through 2060.

Jean-Marc QUARIN

17,5 / 20

par Jean-Marc Quarin le 25/09/2013

Couleur jaune-vert. Nez intense, très aromatique, fruité, complexe et finement compoté. Entrée en bouche au toucher cristallin, et le vin se développe très très fruité, et finement confit sur des saveurs de mirabelles et de fleurs. Très fondant, il s'achève sur une puissance normale, avec du gout et une bonne longueur.

Wine Advocate

97 / 100

par Robert Parker le 16/09/2013

The 2011 seems to be a close cousin of the 2001 and possibly 1988. Light gold,restrained but very pure,noble and intense bouquet of honeysuckle,caramelized apricot,white peach with a subtle hint of toasty oak. It builds slowly but beautifully to a full-bodied wine and long finish. This vintage is about restraint and perfect balance despite the 144 grams of residual sugar.Some vintages are more exuberant or flamboyant-2011 is racy and compelling. Of course these wines can be drunk young, but expect the 2011 to age for 50 -75+ years in a good cellar. RMP 9/16/13

Les Echos

19-19,5 / 20

par Bettane & Desseauve le 01/05/2013

Encore une fois le sommet absolu du millésime à Sauternes, avec une autorité de saveur et de texture inimitable. 

GaultMillau

/ 100

le 01/04/2013

Certainement le plus rôti et le plus puissant de tous. Les alchimistes transformaient la matière en lumière, Yquem fait l’inverse, il donne à déguster une lumière rayonnante dans sa liqueur. - Pierre Guigui

Vinum

19 / 20

par Rolf Bichsel le 01/04/2013

La complexité, le volume et la fraîcheur des grandes années : de la chaleur aussi ! C’est l’un des plus opulents, des plus riches de tous les Yquem, sans être le plus élégant. Nous lui avons préféré 2010.

La Revue du Vin de France

18,5-19,5 / 20

le 31/05/2012

Au nez, il est déjà remarquablement épanoui (jus d'ananas). En bouche, il se livre avec autant de gourmandise. On a le sentiment de croquer des raisins dorés en plein soleil. Bien élevé, d'assemblage classique, d'équilibre juste (144g de sucre résiduel, 13,8° d'alcool pour une acidité totale de 4g), à la prise de bois fine et douce, un Yquem très séducteur.

Le Point

17,5 / 20

par Jacques Dupont le 17/05/2012

Nez citronné, floral, très frais, cédrat confit, séveux, note de confit, bouche vive, tendue, on ne sent pas la liqueur, l'acidité tend le vin. Note de prune confite, fruits confits, fin. O=2017 G=30 ans

Decanter.com

19 / 20

le 30/04/2012

Layered, voluptuous wine with great precision and very long finish. Same sugar levels as 2010 and in similar style with lifted acidity. Classic, majestic Yquem crafted to age for decades. Drink 2023-2062.

Wine Advocate

96-98 / 100

par Neal Martin le 30/04/2012

The 2011 has a clear silvery gold hue, perhaps not quite as deep as I recall the 2010 last year. The bouquet is very fragrant and well-defined, with scents of wild honey, honeysuckle and a touch of vanilla. It is a refined, sedate and beautifully focused bouquet that does not need to show off. The palate displays superb weight in the mouth, even though at first it seems almost understated. Yet there is clearly a high level of spicy, botrytized fruit with notes of honey, orange zest and a touch of mandarin. There is no explosion on the finish; the 2011 is rather a lesson in control, complexity and nuance. It is utterly seductive. Drink 2016-2040+. The 2011 commenced with picking on September 6, the fourth earliest in its history, although they waited until September 12 to really get going in the vineyard. The harvest was over four tries until the October 5, peaking on the last day of the second trie on September 23. There is a very low level of volatility compared to the level of residual sugar, which at 144 grams per liter is almost the same as 2010.

TAST

19-19,5 / 20

par Bettane & Desseauve le 30/04/2012

Encore une fois le sommet absolu du millésime à Sauternes, avec un équilibre entre sucre et alcool idéal, une sensation de rôti parfait du raisin, une longueur impressionante et une autorité de saveur et de texutre inimitable.

Wein Wisser

19 / 20

par René Gabriel le 30/04/2012

2011 d'Yquem: 80 % Semillon, 20 % Semillon. Grosse Ernte 120'000 Fl. 144 Gramm Restzucker. Mittleres Gelb, lindengrüne Nuancen darin, brillant leuchtend. Volle Süsse und im Innern weisses Pfeffermehl zeigend, Mandarinenschalen, frische Kamille, herrliche, nuancierte Botrytis, von den Agrumen her ist man geneigt auf Grapefruits zu tippen. Im Gaumen cremig, saftig mit voller Länge, wunderschöne Säure, welche dem Körper Frische verleiht, alles bleibt im gelbfruchtigen Bereich ohne jegliche tropicale Anflüge, viel Mirabellen, Aprikosen, etwas Karambolle und auch erste, feine Quittennoten. Ein erfrischender, fast etwas leicht anfühlender Yquem. Es wäre vielleicht eine gute Idee dieses traumhafte Extrakt in Parfümflacons abzufüllen, dann könnte man sich damit die Zunge bestäuben, wenn man nach diesem Elixier lechzt. Morgens, mittags und abends. Und ab und zu Mal auch Zwischendurch.

The Wine Cellar Insider

98-99 / 100

par Jeff Leve le 27/04/2012

This beautiful Sauternes offers intense aromatics packed with overripe pineapple drenched in honey, roasted nuts, apricots, nectarines, white peach, flowers, orange rind and honey in the complex perfume. Thick, rich and intense, with the viscosity of motor oil, along with tropical fruit dripping with honey and the perfect amount acidity to give this elixir life, 2011 Chateau d’Yquem is majestic. I do not think it’s quite at the same level of quality as the legendary 2001, but it’s not that far off. 98-99 Pts

Jancis Robinson

18 / 20

par Julia Harding MW le 25/04/2012

Drink 2023-2040
5% of the crop lost to hail on 25 April. 80% Sémillon, 20% Sauvignon Blanc – classic blend. RS 144 g/l, TA 3.8 g/l, pH 3.85. The produce of 27 different lots each fermented separately. Complex but quite withheld on the nose. Lightly honeyed, mineral and almost savoury on the nose, creamy. Spicy more than immediate fruit. Saffron? Very concentrated, intense, dense and very very long. Excellent freshness that cuts through that intensity. On the mid palate, pure apricot and citrus and grapefruit. Burst of fruit comes out of the more closed aromas. Lively even though intense. Fills the mouth but no heavy viscous feel to it. Direct and prolonged but overall creamy and gentle. I tasted the wine a second time, with both savoury and sweet foods, and it opened up considerably but remained gently elegant and creamy, with lovely freshness and still plenty of spice and persistence. (JH) 13.8%

Asian Palate

95-96 / 100

par Jeannie Cho Lee MW le 20/04/2012

Layered, voluptuous wine with great precision and very long finish. Same sugar levels as 2010 and in similar style with lifted acidity. Classic, majestic Yquem crafted to age for decades.

Wine Spectator

96-99 / 100

par James Molesworth le 09/04/2012

Blazingly pure, with pineapple, white peach, yellow apple and melon flavors that are remarkably light on their feet. Blanched ginger root, cherry blossom and light citrus notes dance through the finish. Displays awesome range and purity in a very stylish frame. Tasted non-blind.—J.M.

Wine Enthusiast

95-97 / 100

par Roger Voss le 06/04/2012

Rich, with intense flavors of botrytis, lemon and Seville orange peel. This wine has both freshness and sweetness, with a light touch. —R.V

Jamessuckling.com

97-98 / 100

par James Suckling le 01/04/2012

A Sauternes with incredible purity and beauty. Full body, with lovely character of mangos, pineapple, papaya, and honey. Goes on for minutes. The purity in this wine is phenomenal. Spicy with dried mushroom and ash undertones. Gorgeous and clean. Bright. A more balanced 2001?