2016 Chateau d'Yquem - 0,375 l - halbe Flasche - 1er Cru Superieur Sauternes

Decanter.com – 97 pts – JA: *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. The 2015 will be released this September.* - 04/2017

Falstaff Magazin – 95 pts – PM: *Helles Goldgelb. Feine Nuancen von reifen Ananas und kandierten Orangenzesten, zarte Holzwürze, süßer gelber Pfirsich, etwas Marille unterlegt, etwas Honig. Saftig, reife gelbe Tropenfrucht, zart nach Dosenpfirsich, kraftvoll, opulent, von einer salzigen Mineralität gezügelt, ein stoffiger, blitzsauber gemachter großer Süßwein.* - 05/2017

Vinum Magazin – 18,5/20 pts: *Grosse aromatische Komplexität, opulente Fülle, Dichte, herrliche Frische, sehr schöne Balance zwischen allen Elementen. Ein ungestümer Yquem grosser Klasse, von aromatischer Intensität und Rasse, der in jeder Phase seines langen Lebens Freude machen wird.* - 06/2017

WeinWisser – 19,5/20pts – GL, TW: *Ein sehr heisser und völlig untypischer Sommer mit einer rekordverdächtigen Trockenheit, der dank der gespeicherten Wasservorräte in den Tonböden keinen negativen Einfluss auf die Rebstöcke genommen hat. Ein stolzer Alkoholgehalt von 14,2 vol % und ein Restzuckergehalt von 135 g/l wurden in einer sich lang hinziehenden Lese vom 27. September bis zum 4. November erreicht. 75 % der Trauben wurden in den letzten zwei Wochen gelesen. Mittleres Gelb mit goldenen Reflexen und grünem Schimmer. Betörendes Parfüm, frisch gekochte Williamsbirne, dahinter Mirabellentarte und Quittensaft. Am öligen Gaumen mit unglaublicher Balance und Raffinesse ausgestattet: viel Mandarinenöl und Weingartenpfirsichkompott, gepaart mit Akazienhonig im Rückaroma. Eine Symphonie, die wieder von vorne beginnt und in einem nicht enden wollenden Finale ihren Höhepunkt findet. Grandios, ganz nah an der Perfektion.*

JancisRobinson.com – 18/20pts – JR: *Tasted blind. Pretty and floral with excellent balance. Racy and rich. Pacy and fun to drink! Peachy but nothing artificial. Savoury undertow.* - 01/2020

Vinous.com – (94-97) pts – AG: *The 2016 Yquem is a magical wine. It also looks like an Yquem that will drink well right out of the gate. Like so many of the better wines in this vintage, it manages to express richness while avoiding excess heaviness. Pineapple, orange marmalade, exotic flowers and spice all blossom in the glass. There is a real sense of phenolic richness and overall viscosity to the 2016 that adds to the wine's singular personality. The 135 grams of residual sugar are not especially evident. In 2016, the vineyard was harvested in four passes, but it was not until after the October rains that noble rot started to appear on the vine.* - 04/2017

Vinous.com – 95 pts – NM: *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.* - 02/2022

Thewinecellarinsider.com – 97 pts – JL: *Chateau d'Yquem is great at any age, and this just-released beauty is no exception to that rule. The wine combines high levels of sweet, ripe, tropical fruits, honey coated apricots and pineapple. with freshness, giving the wine lift and freshness. This is going to offer superb drinking for at least 50 or more years.* - 11/2018