Chateau d'Yquem Sauternes Premier Grand Cru 2002
Discovering Chateau d'Yquem stats with the bouquet. Although not always very outgoing in young vintages, it is marked by fruit (apricot, mandarin, and occasionally tropical fruit) and oak (vanila and toasty aromas). Older vintages, on the other hand, have extraordinarily complex fragrance as soon as the bottle is opened. The bouquet is amazingly suble, with hints of dried fruit (dried apricot, prune, stewed fruit, and marmalade), spice (cinnamom, saffron, and liquorice), and even flowers (linden blossom, etc).
The first impression of Chateau d'Yquem on the palate is always very silky, and often sumptuous. It then fills out, "coating the palate". This fine wine has a strong, but never overbearing character, with great elegance and poise. It always mantains a balance between sugar and acidity (sweetness and freshness). A touch of bitterness can also contribute to the overall harmony. Chateau d'Yquem aftertaste is legendary, and it tells another story, which lasts and lasts...