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6 bottles per lot
Details
Château d'Yquem 1921
Sauternes, 1er grand cru classé
Branded original corks. One raised cork. Five pristine labels. One bin-soiled label. Levels: two top-shoulder and four upper-shoulder
Unquestionably the greatest Sauternes vintage of the 20th century. The hottest summer since 1893; the grapes had a very high sugar content which, after fermentation, led to high levels of alcohol and residual sugar.
Tating note: A colossus. Perhaps the richest Yquem of all time, certainly since the towering 1847. Do not be put by the dark colour. This is correct. I have had the pleasure of tasting the wine over 30 times, from magnums as well as bottles. Not all have warranted 5 stars for, as always, provenance, storage, and state of cork has a bearing. But most have been unforgettable. The differences are more due to bottle variation than the wine’s evolution which, for the past 30 or so years seems to be relatively stable.
Most recently probably the best ever. Old Yquem always looks its richest in a decanter, this time a ‘ruddy’ old gold, deep with brush of brown, almost red highlights and open apple-green rim; its bouquet both easy and, in truth, difficult to do justice to: the anticipated crème brûlée, old apricots, honeyed, whiff of caramel and unplumbable depth; medium-sweet, drying out a little after 85 years, glorious rich, intense and persistent flavour, perfect sustaining acidity and lingering after taste. Sheer perfection. Last tasted April 2006 ****** (6stars) Michael Broadbent
6 bottles per lot
Sauternes, 1er grand cru classé
Branded original corks. One raised cork. Five pristine labels. One bin-soiled label. Levels: two top-shoulder and four upper-shoulder
Unquestionably the greatest Sauternes vintage of the 20th century. The hottest summer since 1893; the grapes had a very high sugar content which, after fermentation, led to high levels of alcohol and residual sugar.
Tating note: A colossus. Perhaps the richest Yquem of all time, certainly since the towering 1847. Do not be put by the dark colour. This is correct. I have had the pleasure of tasting the wine over 30 times, from magnums as well as bottles. Not all have warranted 5 stars for, as always, provenance, storage, and state of cork has a bearing. But most have been unforgettable. The differences are more due to bottle variation than the wine’s evolution which, for the past 30 or so years seems to be relatively stable.
Most recently probably the best ever. Old Yquem always looks its richest in a decanter, this time a ‘ruddy’ old gold, deep with brush of brown, almost red highlights and open apple-green rim; its bouquet both easy and, in truth, difficult to do justice to: the anticipated crème brûlée, old apricots, honeyed, whiff of caramel and unplumbable depth; medium-sweet, drying out a little after 85 years, glorious rich, intense and persistent flavour, perfect sustaining acidity and lingering after taste. Sheer perfection. Last tasted April 2006 ****** (6stars) Michael Broadbent
6 bottles per lot
Special Notice
This lot is subject to standard Swiss VAT rules and 7.7% VAT will be charged on the ‘hammer’ and the ‘buyer’s premium’
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Edwin Vos
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