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Tasting notes
Clearly one of the great vintages of d'Yquem of all time, this stunner is off the hook from the initial sniff. Roasted apricots, overripe pineapple, vanilla, mango, marzipan and creme caramel all topped with honey keeps you focused on the wine. If that isn't enough when the wine crosses your palate, the weight, volume, intensity and richness discovered in the layers of honey-slathered tropical fruits, vanilla and apricot. What makes everything work is the razors edge of acidity that gives the wine the necessary lift. Like all great wines, you can enjoy this young, but if you have the patience, or young children to gift this to, this will be markedly better in 20 or more years.
Critic scores
Average Score
James Suckling
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
The tannins and phenolic tension are very impressive to this. Dried-lemon undertones and burning botrytis. Full-to medium-bodied, linear and racy. Beautiful fruit and intensity. Such clarity. Extreme but wonderful style.
There was no frost at d’Yquem in 2017, and botrytis was very regular and even this vintage. The nose opens with very pure notes of freshly sliced oranges, yuzu and lemon barley water with hints of white pepper, fresh ginger and lime cordial. The incredibly rich, unctuous sweetness (148 grams per liter of residual sugar) is beautifully marbled with bright, vivacious citrus fruit and spice flavors, while lifted by well-knit freshness, and it finishes with epic length and great depth.
A wine of almost shocking, raw power, the 2017 d'Yquem possesses tremendous depth and intensity. I expect the 2017 is going to need many years to be at its best, but is also likely to remain exuberant and a bit unruly. I don't see the quiet sophistication of the 2015, or the energy of the 2013 nor the total sense of harmony of the 2001. Perhaps time in barrel and then bottle will help the elements come together fully. Pierre Lurton told me the final phase of ripening occurred very quickly. Most of the fruit in the 2017 was picked between September 15 and 30, while the wines from the October picks were deemed to be too concentrated. Tasting what was presented as a barrel sample, I can only imagine how intense the discarded lots must have been! Residual sugar is 145 grams per liter.
About the producer
The undisputed finest sweet wine in the world, Château d'Yquem is the only Premier Cru Supérieur estate in Sauternes, classified in 1855. With a long history stretching back to the Middle Ages, the château is entwined with that of the Lur-Saluces family – who remain involved today.