2011 Château d'Yquem, Sauternes, Bordeaux

  • White
  • Luscious
  • Full Bodied
  • Sémillon (80%), Sauvignon Blanc (20%)
Ready - at best (Drink 2015 - 2053)
Neal Martin
94/100
James Molesworth
96-99/100
Robert Parker
97/100
Product: 20118004787

Free standard delivery on orders over £200

In Bond purchases can be stored in our temperature-controlled warehouse

Covered by our quality guarantee

2011 Château d'Yquem, Sauternes, Bordeaux

Description

Wow, what a wine! We totally agree with where the Chateau is coming from, as I had the same feeling when I tasted the 2001. It’s worth the wait, but we only need to know the price! It is so complex and perfectly layered, with tropical fruits and the signature marmalade on the finish. You could drink this now. If you have this in the cellar and can be patient, then I suspect you will be very happy in about 40 years, or if you’re impatient, don’t worry, you won’t be disappointed.

Berry Bros. & Rudd

Colour White
Sweetness Luscious
Vintage 2011
Maturity Ready - at best (2015 - 2053)
Grape List Sémillon (80%), Sauvignon Blanc (20%)
Body Full Bodied
Producer Château d'Yquem

Critics reviews

Neal Martin 94/100
Tasted blind at the Sauternes 2011 horizontal tasting. The Château Yquem 2011 has a complex bouquet, one that is very well defined with hints of petrol infusing the rich honeyed fruit, later melted wax and fresh peach coming through. The palate is well balanced with a strong viscous entry. There is plenty of residual sugar here and I would have preferred a little more acidic bite to offset that rich, decadent finish this is despite their correct policy of blending non-botrytized berries in order to increase acidity.) Powerful, burly even, I would give this several years in the cellar to allow this Yquem to mellow and enter its stride.
Neal Martin, Vinous.com (Feb 2015)
James Molesworth 96-99/100
The en primeur sample of Château d'Yquem Sauternes 2011 is also presented at Cheval-Blanc. Its usual classic blend of 80/20 Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc captures the beautiful cut and freshness of the vintage, with blazing pineapple, white peach, yellow apple and melon flavors that are remarkably light on their feet. Blanched ginger root, cherry blossom and light citrus notes dance through the finish. The wine is already showing terrific range and purity in a very, very stylish frame. It should give the stunning 2001 and authoritative '09 a run for their money. Wine Spectator's 2011 Top-Scoring White Bordeaux
James Molesworth, WineSpectator.com
Robert Parker 97/100
The 2011 seems to be a close cousin of the 2001 and possibly 1988. Light gold, restrained but very pure, noble and intense bouquet of honeysuckle, caramelized apricot, white peach with a subtle hint of toasty oak. It builds slowly but beautifully to a full-bodied wine and long finish. This vintage is about restraint and perfect balance despite the 144 grams of residual sugar. Some vintages are more exuberant or flamboyant-2011 is racy and compelling. Of course these wines can be drunk young, but expect the 2011 to age for 50 -75+ years in a good cellar.
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate

About this wine

Sémillon

The main grape for Sauternes and particularly successfully grown in Australia's Hunter Valley. Hunter Valley Sémillon is one of Australia’s iconic and unique wines, totally unlike any wine produced elsewhere in the world from the same grape variety. In youth the wines are quite citrusy and fresh, but are generally perceived to gain hugely in complexity as they age and are deemed to be best drunk when at least 5 years old, frequently lasting for 10 or more years. Unusually for Australia, the alcohol levels rarely exceed 11.5%. In Bordeaux it is the most widely planted white grape and is blended with Sauvignon Blanc to produce the great long-lived dry whites of Graves as well as the great sweet wines of Sauternes. It is high in alcohol and extract and relatively low in aroma and acidity. Its thin skin makes it very susceptible to botrytis which is prerequisite for the making of Sauternes. It responds well to oak ageing and, while having a lightly lemony aroma when young develops lanolin flavours which some describe as "waxy", as well as a rich, creamy, intense, texture and a deep golden colour.
Find out more

Château d’Yquem

Château d’Yquem is the leading estate in the Sauternes appellation on the Left Bank of Bordeaux. It has long been reputed for making one of the world’s great sweet wines. In the 1855 classification of Bordeaux wines, Yquem was given the lofty title of Premier Cru Supérieur – the sole property at that level. It sits comfortably among the First Growths of the Médoc and their equivalents on the Right Bank regarding its quality and prestige among wine collectors.
Find out more

Need help?

  • Contact our customer service team for help placing your order


    Call us on 0800 280 2440


    Available 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday

  • Chat with a Berry Bros. & Rudd wine & spirits expert for advice on choosing the perfect bottle.

    A floating button will appear in the bottom right corner of the page, when live chat is available.

Delivery and Quality Guarantee

  • Free delivery on orders over £200.

  • Wines and spirits purchased In Bond from Berry Bros. & Rudd can be stored in our temperature-controlled warehouse.

  • Every bottle sold by Berry Bros. & Rudd is subject to our quality guarantee. If a wine or spirit is corked or faulty, we will replace or refund it.