2022 Ch D’Yquem Sauternes Half Bottle 375ml, Bordeaux

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.

100 points James Suckling

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.

100 points Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider

Château d’Yquem occupies a place entirely of its own in Bordeaux. It was the only Sauternes estate ranked Premier Cru Supérieur in the 1855 Classification, recognition of a reputation already centuries old. The Lur Saluces family guided Yquem for generations before LVMH became majority owner in 1999, but the extraordinary standards remain. Harvest can stretch over many weeks as pickers repeatedly pass through the vineyard, selecting individual berries only when noble rot has reached the desired stage.

The 2022 growing season was hot and exceptionally dry, making the arrival and development of botrytis later in the season crucial. Yquem’s predominantly Sémillon blend, supported by Sauvignon Blanc, combines extraordinary concentration with the acidity needed to prevent sweetness becoming cumbersome. Production is always tiny relative to the vineyard’s size, and the ruthless selection helps explain why Yquem has an ability to evolve for many decades.

Glowing gold with apricot, ripe peach and pineapple at first, opening into candied lemon, quince and orange marmalade. Acacia honey, saffron and ginger follow, with vanilla, beeswax and toasted almond adding complexity. The palate is sumptuous and densely concentrated, yet a bright seam of acidity keeps the fruit beautifully alive. Apricot preserve and citrus move through honey, saffron and exotic spice before an immensely long, luscious finish.

Seared scallops with saffron butter make a luxurious savoury partner, while lobster, foie gras or Roquefort with pear and walnuts can comfortably handle its intensity. Apricot and almond tart works beautifully if dessert is calling, although Yquem really needs nothing more than a good glass and enough time to watch it change.

Cellaring: Drink from 2028 to 2080+.