Chateau d'Yquem 2016 (Demi)

The 2016 Chateau D’Yquem is pure magic and dessert wines don’t get much better. Offering a pale gold color as well as a blockbuster bouquet of honeyed tangerines, tart apricots, liquid rocks, white flowers, and honeysuckle, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, an opulent texture, vibrant acidity, and again, an incredible sense of minerality, despite having no shortage of sweetness or richness. The 2016 is a classic blend of 75% Sémillon and 25% Sauvignon that hit 14.2% alcohol with 135 grams of residual sugar. It’s already complex and approachable yet will keep for 3-4 decades.

• Drinking Window: 2019 - 2054
• Reviewer Name: Jeb Dunnuck
• Review Date: June 2019

The 2016 Yquem has a pale lemon-gold color, with 135 grams per liter of residual sugar, 14.2 % of alcohol, and a pH of 3.8. It gallops out with energetic scents of lemon curd, peach preserves, and lime cordial, followed by suggestions of crème caramel, allspice, candied ginger, and pineapple upside-down cake. Exotic fruits and spices explode in the mouth, with a decadently creamy texture and amazing freshness, delivering layer upon layer, finishing with great energy and tons of mineral sparks. So decadent!

• Drinking Window: 2028 - 2078
• Reviewer Name: Lisa Perrotti-Brown
• Review Date: September 2023

Despite a rich botrytis character, this balances impact with delicacy. Clear citrus on the nose with a hint of flint and smoke, allowing the soft white flowers and lime blossom to steal up on you slowly. There are caramel notes through the mid-palate and great persistency, as ever. Extremely elegant. This was the driest summer since 1898, and the harvest at Yquem lasted a full two months, from 4th September (for the dry white Y d'Yquem) through to 4th November for the final selection of botrytis berries. The final yield is 20hl/ha, the highest in recent years against their average of 9hl/ha, with 40% going into the grand vin compared to 50% last year. 135g/l residual sugar and 3.9pH. 75% Sémillon and 25% Sauvignon Blanc.

• Drinking Window: 2025 - 2050
• Reviewer Name: Jane Anson
• Review Date: April 2017

With 135 grams of residual sugar, the 2016 d'Yquem has turned out brilliantly in bottle, exhibiting a precise, harmonic, deep bouquet with aromas of mango, lychee, jasmine, exotic fruits, dry apricot and menthol. It’s moderately weighted and tense with a layered yet concentrated texture and a long, vibrant finish. Racy, charming and attractively complete, it distinguishes itself from its peers with its bright acidity.

• Drinking Window: 2023 - 2050
• Reviewer Name: Yohan Castaing
• Review Date: October 2023

Deep gold. Fragrant and luscious. Round and dried fruits. Real lift on the nose but massive depth too. This is definitely the cream of the 2016 Sauternes crop!

The 2016 Yquem was picked from 27 September until 4 November after drought-like conditions in the summer. It has an attractive nose with white chocolate, chamomile and Chinese white tea infusing the honeyed fruit. Very well defined and focused with more cohesion than previous bottles. The palate is medium-bodied with a viscous opening that demonstrates a little more weight than the 2015, a fine bead of acidity and touches of ginger and lemongrass enlivening the finish. I feel this has gained a bit more complexity in recent years. Tasted at the château.

• Drinking Window: 2024 - 2060
• Reviewer Name: Neal Martin
• Review Date: April 2022