98

Neal Martin

Vinous

The 2022 Yquem is a blend of 80% Sémillon and 20% Sauvignon Blanc with 160 g/L residual sugar and a total acidity of 5.39 g/L. It is the first certified organic vintage for the estate and has the lowest level of total sulphur ever: 234 g/L, high within the sphere of wine but comparatively low for Sauternes. The 2022 was aged for 24 months in new barrels that underwent slightly less drying than those used for red wines in order to retain some green tannins. Given the growing season, the 2022 Yquem has a surprisingly understated bouquet that demands coaxing. Scents of orange pith, passion fruit and quince are exquisitely defined, a hint of chamomile dancing around in the background. The palate is medium-bodied. Given the high level of residual sugar, what is surprising is that the 2022 does not seem a weighty or texturally unctuous Yquem, yet there is an intensity and concentration that is arresting. Vivid flavours of clementine, wild honey, quince and tangerine that effortlessly combine. The acidity almost nonchalantly counters the sensation of residual sugar, so it feels less than it actually is, the scintilla of salinity toward the finish tempting you back for more. This is a marvellous and quite cerebral Yquem for which patience is required. 03/2025

98

Yohan Castaing

Robert Parker/Wine Advocate

A blend of 80% Sémillon and 20% Sauvignon Blanc, the 2022 d'Yquem is a strong candidate for the title of wine of the vintage. Exhibiting a remarkably delicate, complex and energetic bouquet of rose, confit citrus, exotic fruits and orange marmalade, it's full-bodied, dense and deep with a pristine balance enhanced by a fleshy core of fruit, bright acids and beautiful, gastronomic bitterness and dry extracts that segue to a long, ethereal, delicately perfumed and refined finish. Lorenzo Pasquini and his team have perfectly understood the vintage by privileging the third tries, fully exposed to Botrytis cinerea, in the blend, bringing density and precision along with an energetic and splendidly balanced interplay of bitterness and sweetness. Residual sugar levels reach 160 grams per liter, marking it as the second-highest since the iconic 1945 vintage. 01/2025

98

Jean-Marc Quarin

Jean-Marc Quarin

Couleur jaune pâle. Brillante. Nez intense, fin, fruité et subtil. Nuances complexes de fruits blancs, de fruits exotiques, de beurre chaud, de fleurs, de pomme, de verveine. Demeure très fin à l'agitation du verre. Texture minutieuse dès l'entrée en bouche, se développant de suite sur un corps aérien. Un gras fin parcourt le palais. Le vin évolue juteux, délicat et en même temps puissant dans le dernier tiers, avec un retour nuancé du rôti. Mais le plus important est la forte sapidité de la réalisation. Elle témoigne de l'adresse de ce cru pour tempérer les sensations inférées par les extrêmes climatiques. Alors qu'il s'agit sur le papier du Yquem le plus riche en sucres résiduels (160 gr/l) depuis 1945. Assemblage : 80 % sémillon, 20 % sauvignon blanc. 02/2025

100

James Suckling

James Suckling

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. 01/2025

99

Yves Beck

Yves Beck

Elegantes, tiefgründiges Bouquet mit subtiler Vielschichtigkeit, in dem jedes Element fundamental ist. Auch der Holzausbau präsentiert sich trotz 100 % Neuholz und 22-monatiger Reifung, einschliesslich der Gärung in Barriques, ausgesprochen fein. Nuancen von Nougat, Enzian, weissen Früchten, Bitterorangen sowie Grapefruit unterstreichen Komplexität und Frische. An der Luft gewinnt der Yquem 2022 ständig an Tiefe mit Noten von Sellerie, gerösteter Ananas, Mirabellen und einem Hauch von Safran. Der Wein ist äusserst konzentriert, cremig, tiefgründig und frisch. Letzteres verdankt er einer belebenden, salzigen Note sowie feinen Bitternoten, die Langlebigkeit und Nachhall stärken. Ein aussergewöhnlich ausgewogener Yquem mit der zweitgrössten Restzuckermenge nach 1945.