1998 Ch D’Yquem Magnum 1.5L, Sauternes Bordeaux

The nose is beautifully racy, elegant and offers a small minerality as well as a fine grain. It reveals notes of fresh kumquat, small ripe citrus and small notes of fresh William pear associated with fine touches of crunchy apple, flowers, very fine almond notes, toasted as well as a discreet hint of vanilla. The palate is fruity, fresh, well-balanced and offers a beautiful definition, precision, a beautiful finesse of the grain, complexity, a beautiful aerial side, a beautiful matter (full of finesse just like “silk”), richness (full of finesse and control), elegance as well as a beautiful freshness. On the palate this wine expresses notes of crystallized lemon, crystallized mandarine, small notes of fleshy vine peach associated with touches of candied citrus, roasted/ripe pineapple as well as small discreet touches of apricot/apricot flowers, lemon flowers, almond and a discreet toasted hint. Good length. There are very fine hints of toasted almond/toasted hazelnut on the persistence.

99 points vertdevin.com

Elegant, creamy, fresh, sweet charmer. While this lacks the density and verve found in the very best vintages, there is more than enough ripe and overripe pineapple, vanilla, roasted apricot, mango, candied orange rind and honey to keep any taster busy. Luscious textured, rich and opulent, this will be delicious in its youth, and it also has the ability to age for decades.

97 points Jeff Leve thewinecellarinsider.com

Medium greenish yellow with silver reflections. Ripe yellow tropical fruit underlaid with fine savoury noble wood, candied orange and grapefruit, peach and blossom honey with some cookie notes in the background. Substantial, elegant, balanced ripeness, delicate coconut and lychee, creamy, silky texture, very poised, ripe peach, honey and white pepper on the very long finish. Shows great promise.

97 points falstaff.com

Pale gold colored, the 1998 d'Yquem features a flamboyant, rock-star nose of allspice, candied ginger, honeycomb and crème brûlée with a core of preserved lemons, mandarin peel and musk perfume plus a waft of potpourri. Beautifully balanced in the mouth, with seamless freshness lifting the decadent sweetness (134.4 grams per liter of residual sugar), it culminates with fantastically persistent layers of exotic spices.

95 points Lisa Perotti-Brown robertparker.com June 2018 Drink 2018-2050