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1967 Château d'Yquem Sauternes Bordeaux France Wine Tasting Note

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1967
Château d'Yquem  (Sauternes)
99
This bottle rocked it! The gold, mahogany hue brought you to the perfume, packed with marshmallows, orange rind, creme brulee, caramel, butterscotch, spice, brown butter, popcorn, roasted cashews, and pineapple coated with brown sugar. The wine is concentrated, lush, silky, sweet, vibrant, fresh, and packed with oranges, tangerines, mango, pineapple, spice, brown sugar, and almonds. The mid-palate, and finish provided a memorable experience that shows why Chateau d'Yquem is in a league all of its own. This bottle was particularly-strong, much better than any previous example I remember tasting. This is a stellar example of a mature d'Yquem! Drink from 2023-2067.

This bottle rocked it! The gold, mahogany hue brought you to the perfume, packed with marshmallows, orange rind, creme brulee, caramel, butterscotch, spice, brown butter, popcorn, roasted cashews, and pineapple coated with brown sugar. The wine is concentrated, lush, silky, sweet, vibrant, fresh, and packed with oranges, tangerines, mango, pineapple, spice, brown sugar, and almonds. The mid-palate, and finish provided a memorable experience that shows why Chateau d'Yquem is in a league all of its own. This bottle was particularly-strong, much better than any previous example I remember tasting. This is a stellar example of a mature d'Yquem! Drink from 2023-2067.

3,594 Views   Tasted
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The gorgeous copper, golden, amber hue is a sight to see. Aromas of marshmallow, caramel, brown butter, creme brûlée, almonds, spice, and roasted apricots are off the hook. The wine is rich, silky, concentrated and with a serious depth of flavor, opulent and lush, with silky tannins that deliver waves of sweet, caramel coated fruits with the balance of racy acidity makes this a compelling tasting experience. Drink now, or over the next 30-40 or 50 years!

The gorgeous copper, golden, amber hue is a sight to see. Aromas of marshmallow, caramel, brown butter, creme brûlée, almonds, spice, and roasted apricots are off the hook. The wine is rich, silky, concentrated and with a serious depth of flavor, opulent and lush, with silky tannins that deliver waves of sweet, caramel coated fruits with the balance of racy acidity makes this a compelling tasting experience. Drink now, or over the next 30-40 or 50 years!

3,626 Views   Tasted
This was majestic. The gorgeous, orange, copper mahogany color looked great in your glass. Butterscotch, creme de caramel, orange zest, cinnamon, caramelized pineapple, apricot and cashew nuts that create the perfume are showstopping! At almost 54 years of age, the wine has filled out, fleshed out and gained in richness, delicacy and decadence without losing its vibrant lift. The opulence in the sweet, honey, caramel, spice box and honey-coated frut and nuts lingers on your palate. In their youth, other sweet wines might compete with d'Yquem. But, at maturity, there is nothing else like it.

This was majestic. The gorgeous, orange, copper mahogany color looked great in your glass. Butterscotch, creme de caramel, orange zest, cinnamon, caramelized pineapple, apricot and cashew nuts that create the perfume are showstopping! At almost 54 years of age, the wine has filled out, fleshed out and gained in richness, delicacy and decadence without losing its vibrant lift. The opulence in the sweet, honey, caramel, spice box and honey-coated frut and nuts lingers on your palate. In their youth, other sweet wines might compete with d'Yquem. But, at maturity, there is nothing else like it.

4,267 Views   Tasted
The nose kills with its intoxicating blend of honeyed apricot, marshmallow, creme de caramel, orange, butterscotch, stone, smoke candied orange, vanilla, cocoa and floral notes. Rich and full on the palate, everything here is perfectly balanced between sweet, orange and yellow honeyed fruits and a jolt of acidity. At 52 years of age, this is just now entering its stride and is only going to get better from here!

The nose kills with its intoxicating blend of honeyed apricot, marshmallow, creme de caramel, orange, butterscotch, stone, smoke candied orange, vanilla, cocoa and floral notes. Rich and full on the palate, everything here is perfectly balanced between sweet, orange and yellow honeyed fruits and a jolt of acidity. At 52 years of age, this is just now entering its stride and is only going to get better from here!

4,215 Views   Tasted
Copper in color, the nose offered that great blend of caramel, butterscotch, orange, candied pineapple, apricot and burnt sugar nose that comes from great, older Sauternes. But on the palate, the wine lacked the richness and lush character, buttressed with acidity I look for. The sweet, honeyed, orange and tropical essence was not as strong as I have tasted in other recent examples. I imagine this bottle suffered moderate storage at some point, because while it was quite good, it was not at the level of the best bottles I\'ve tasted. As the old saying goes, there is no such things as great wines after 20 years of age, just great bottles.

Copper in color, the nose offered that great blend of caramel, butterscotch, orange, candied pineapple, apricot and burnt sugar nose that comes from great, older Sauternes. But on the palate, the wine lacked the richness and lush character, buttressed with acidity I look for. The sweet, honeyed, orange and tropical essence was not as strong as I have tasted in other recent examples. I imagine this bottle suffered moderate storage at some point, because while it was quite good, it was not at the level of the best bottles I\'ve tasted. As the old saying goes, there is no such things as great wines after 20 years of age, just great bottles.

4,247 Views   Tasted
A dream wine shared with a friend for his 50th birthday, this did not disappoint. Caramel, butterscotch, candied orange rind, marzipan, overripe pineapple, apricot and tangerine all slathered in honey with some marzipan to boot. Lusciously textured, yet equally fresh and diabolically sweet, the reason Yquem earns its accolades and high price becomes apparent as the wine hits 50 years of age in the best vintages.

A dream wine shared with a friend for his 50th birthday, this did not disappoint. Caramel, butterscotch, candied orange rind, marzipan, overripe pineapple, apricot and tangerine all slathered in honey with some marzipan to boot. Lusciously textured, yet equally fresh and diabolically sweet, the reason Yquem earns its accolades and high price becomes apparent as the wine hits 50 years of age in the best vintages.

4,336 Views   Tasted
If creme caramel, butterscotch, sweet, ripe, tropical fruits, orange, flowers, honey, roasted chestnuts and silky, plush, opulent textures is your thing, this wine is for you. This wine was for me and I loved it! What a stunning beauty. Happy I was able to share it with my father for our end of the year dinner. There was just a bit of wine left in the bottle overnight and it was still going strong. At days before its 50th birthday, this is really delivering the goods. I know it's popular to knock Yquem for its price when measured against its peers. And there is something to that, especially when the wine is young. But when Yquem hits 50, or even older, this is when the magic really happens and the other wines are left behind.

If creme caramel, butterscotch, sweet, ripe, tropical fruits, orange, flowers, honey, roasted chestnuts and silky, plush, opulent textures is your thing, this wine is for you. This wine was for me and I loved it! What a stunning beauty. Happy I was able to share it with my father for our end of the year dinner. There was just a bit of wine left in the bottle overnight and it was still going strong. At days before its 50th birthday, this is really delivering the goods. I know it's popular to knock Yquem for its price when measured against its peers. And there is something to that, especially when the wine is young. But when Yquem hits 50, or even older, this is when the magic really happens and the other wines are left behind.

3,907 Views   Tasted
It's always sad when great wines don't deliver, especially when the exalted bottle is pricey as well. I've had great bottles of 1967 d'Yquem before, but not this time. The color was that beautiful, orange, amber, copper hue. The nose, with its butterscotch, creme brulee, orange and sweet aromas seemed more subdued than exuberant. On the palate is where this bottle fell short. While there was good concentration of flavor, this bottle lacked the length and vigor the wine can produce. It's important to always keep in mind with old bottles, each is a unique tasting experience, some are going to be better, while others will be worse the for wear. The no great wines, only great bottles comment works perfectly here.

It's always sad when great wines don't deliver, especially when the exalted bottle is pricey as well. I've had great bottles of 1967 d'Yquem before, but not this time. The color was that beautiful, orange, amber, copper hue. The nose, with its butterscotch, creme brulee, orange and sweet aromas seemed more subdued than exuberant. On the palate is where this bottle fell short. While there was good concentration of flavor, this bottle lacked the length and vigor the wine can produce. It's important to always keep in mind with old bottles, each is a unique tasting experience, some are going to be better, while others will be worse the for wear. The no great wines, only great bottles comment works perfectly here.

6,052 Views   Tasted
This was from the chateau so my experience could be better than most bottles in the marketplace. Copper, orange and caramel in color, the wine offers a complex array of carmelized fruits, vanilla, grilled nuts, apricot, pineapple, lemon curd and candied orange rind. Fresh, rich, soft and sweet, this is very good now and I imagine perfectly stored bottles will get even better.

This was from the chateau so my experience could be better than most bottles in the marketplace. Copper, orange and caramel in color, the wine offers a complex array of carmelized fruits, vanilla, grilled nuts, apricot, pineapple, lemon curd and candied orange rind. Fresh, rich, soft and sweet, this is very good now and I imagine perfectly stored bottles will get even better.

5,205 Views   Tasted
Caramel in color, with an intoxicating nose of smoke, caramel, roasted pineapple, spice, orange rind and burnt sugar. While rich, some of the intense sweetness seems to have faded. The wine is more focused on the caramel and crème brulee, than decadent honeyed fruits. That is not to say this was not wonderful, but it’s not in the same league as the perfect 1975 Chateau d’Yquem. 95

Caramel in color, with an intoxicating nose of smoke, caramel, roasted pineapple, spice, orange rind and burnt sugar. While rich, some of the intense sweetness seems to have faded. The wine is more focused on the caramel and crème brulee, than decadent honeyed fruits. That is not to say this was not wonderful, but it’s not in the same league as the perfect 1975 Chateau d’Yquem. 95

5,816 Views   Tasted
Expresses a stunning cornucopia of caramel, pineapple, apricots, smoke, molasses, honey, coconut, toast and brown sugar nose, this Bordeaux was intoxicating. This was made better by the rich, decadent, seemingly endless, hedonistic mouth feel. The long finish left memories of a honey drenched, tropical fruit filled creme brulee. Paired with a sweet corn risotto and foie gras, this was off the charts! As a comparison, the 67 was better than a recent bottle of 59 D'Yquem, but not as good as the sublime 75 D'Yquem which remains my favorite vintage

Expresses a stunning cornucopia of caramel, pineapple, apricots, smoke, molasses, honey, coconut, toast and brown sugar nose, this Bordeaux was intoxicating. This was made better by the rich, decadent, seemingly endless, hedonistic mouth feel. The long finish left memories of a honey drenched, tropical fruit filled creme brulee. Paired with a sweet corn risotto and foie gras, this was off the charts! As a comparison, the 67 was better than a recent bottle of 59 D'Yquem, but not as good as the sublime 75 D'Yquem which remains my favorite vintage

12,443 Views   Tasted

When to Drink Chateau d'Yquem, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time

Chateau d'Yquem can be enjoyed on the young side with no decanting. Of course, the wine is sweet, but there is so much, incredible, racy acidity, the wine always feels fresh, and never cloying, which makes it quite fun to enjoy young. With Chateau d'Yquem and frankly, all Sauternes, the temperature is more important than decanting.

Chateau d'Yquem is delicious on release. But d'Yquem does not reach full maturity for 35-50 years, or even longer in the best vintages! That is when the magic happens! But that is unrealistic for 99% of the world's wine drinkers. So, enjoy it on any special occasion that calls for it.

Serving Chateau d'Yquem with Wine and Food Pairings

Chateau d'Yquem is best served at 14 degrees Celsius, 57 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift. The wine will naturally, slowly warm in the glass, while it develops more aromatic complexities and fleshes out.

Chateau d'Yquem can be served with seafood dishes, especially shellfish, lobster, crab, and oysters on the half shell. Foie gras is a perfect pairing with its natural sweet, salty and savory characteristics. Chateau d'Yquem can also be paired with roasted chicken, veal, and pork dishes that are either spicy or prepared with a touch of sweetness.

Spicy Asian cuisine, raw fish, like sushi or sashimi, and cheese, both hard and soft also make great pairings with Chateau d'Yquem.

Chateau d'Yquem Dry White Wine

Chateau d'Yquem also produces a dry, white Bordeaux wine called "Y," which is pronounced (Ygrec). The wine is only made in select vintages. The first vintage for the production of dry, white wine at Chateau d'Yquem took place in 1959.

To make the dry white Bordeaux wine of d'Yquem, the fruit the estate uses does not only come from declassified grapes. Most of the berries are picked before the harvesting of the grapes for the production of Chateau d'Yquem has started.

When harvesting for Ygrec, the vines and grapes are chosen prior to harvest. However, while one bunch of Sauvignon Blanc on the vine is designated for Ygrec, the remaining bunch can be used for d'Yquem, if the necessary amount of noble rot develops.

For the Semillon used in Ygrec, the grapes are harvested just prior to the full development of noble rot.

Close to 80% of the parcels used to produce their dry white wine can change from vintage to vintage.

The blend of "Y" is normally close to 80% Sauvignon Blanc and 20% Semillon. Interestingly, this is almost the complete opposite of the grape blend that is placed in Chateau d'Yquem! Since 2000, it has become more common to see vintages of "Y," than in previous years.

This is due to an increase in production. However starting with 2005, Ygrec has been made in every vintage. Today, slightly less than 1,000 cases are produced of "Y" each year.

To produce the dry white Bordeaux wine from d'Yquem, the wine is vinified in stainless steel vats. In fact, in 2012, the estate added several new, gleaming, stainless steel for the vinification. There is no malolactic fermentation. The wine is aged in 50% new, French oak barrels for an average of 10 months.

During its aging time, the wine is aged on its lees. This marks a major change in the wine, as previously, the wine was aged for up to 18 months in barrel before bottling.

Starting with the 2011 vintage, the chateau completely redesigned the label for "Y". The dry white wine of Yquem, "Y" is sold as a Bordeaux Superieur Blanc. Chateau d'Yquem does not produce a second wine. Instead, they declassify unwanted grapes or wine.

While the estate strives to make vintages of Chateau d'Yquem every year, that is not always possible. Chateau d'Yquem ended up declassifying the entire harvest and did not make wine in the following vintages, 1910, 1915, 1930, 1951, 1952, 1964, 1972, 1974, 1992, and 2012.

Even with as many as thirteen separate passes in the vineyards, as the grapes were not up to their high standard to produce a wine worthy of Chateau d'Yquem, they did not produce any wine in those years.

So, what does Chateau d'Yquem do with the declassified wine? In the past, declassified grapes that were not used in the production of their dry, white wine "Y", were sold off in bulk and used to produce a generic, Sauternes wine.

Today, declassified grapes are also used to produce a special blend of declassified d'Yquem that is only available to employees through internal sales at the property. The wine is not meant to be sold as a commercial product. The wine is classed as a generic AOC Sauternes wine.

www.yquem.fr