James Suckling: 100 points. "Dreamy, subtle aromas of dried fruit such as apricots and mangoes, but also fresh lemons and pears. Then there are caramel and tart tatin undertones with some bananas, pineapple, tangerines, and other tropical fruit. Full-bodied, yet it remains vivid and compact, giving it a lightness even though it is really structured. The tannins are throughout the palate but blend in perfectly, giving it a solid presence, like a diamond. It’s tight at the end, but you know that it will linger for ages, with a lightly chewy and intellectual finish. Touches of sweetness, cloves, and bitterness to make it interesting. Dynamic. About 54,000 bottles made. Relatively small harvest. 148 g/L residual sugar." ​

Falstaff (Peter Moser): 98 points. "Medium golden yellow, silver reflections. On the nose, orange blossom, candied mandarin zest, fine yellow tropical fruit, hints of coconut and lanolin, a touch of mango and barely noticeable wood. Juicy and elegant with a very pure texture, ripe yellow fruit, sweet pineapple and peach, well-integrated acidity and a powerful, long, mineral finish with a hint of ginger. Stylistically has less volume but more delicacy to offer. Already shows some development, definite long ageing potential." ​

Vinous (Neal Martin): 96 points. "The 2021 Yquem was tasted in Amsterdam, the first wine poured at a lunch, thereby allowing me a longer period to examine it. Slightly burnished in hue, it has a very attractive bouquet with scents of dried quince, clementine, linseed and subtle candle wax, perhaps more discrete than usual, but certainly fresh and vibrant. The palate is medium-bodied and viscous on the entry, a Yquem with perhaps a lighter chassis than recent vintages, prioritizing poise and purity over horsepower—exactly the right approach in such a challenging season. It opens wonderfully in the glass, gaining more frangipane and kaki fruit scents, though it seems to have a lighter and more tensile finish than the 2020 or 2019. As such, I suspect that it will be comparatively approachable and, of course, delicious." ​

Tasting Notes: The 2021 Château d`Yquem presents a complex bouquet featuring aromas of dried apricots, mangoes, fresh lemons, pears, caramel, tarte Tatin, bananas, pineapple, tangerines, and other tropical fruits. On the palate, it is full-bodied yet vivid and compact, with a lightness despite its structure. The tannins are seamlessly integrated, providing a solid presence akin to a diamond. The finish is long, lightly chewy, and intellectual, with touches of sweetness, cloves, and a hint of bitterness adding interest. ​
Wine House

Food Pairing: Foie gras​, Roquefort cheese​, Crème brûlée​, Spicy Asian cuisine