1998 d'Yquem
By Chateau d'Yquem
1998 d'Yquem from Chateau d'Yquem, Sauternes, Bordeaux
In the lexicon of vinous treasures, the 1998 vintage of the legendary d'Yquem from Chateau d'Yquem occupies a special chapter. An exemplar of nature's alchemy, this Sauternes is not merely a wine but an odyssey in a glass—one which unwaveringly traverses the palates of collectors and enthusiasts alike.
Singular Sophistication: A Vintage Assessment
The 1998 harvest in Bordeaux saw conditions that were maddeningly mercurial—capricious enough to unsettle the most stoic vigneron. Yet, it is precisely such climatic complexities that have sculpted the 1998 d'Yquem into its illustrious stature. The year’s erratic weather culminated in an autumn that held enough reprieve for the noble rot to do its requisite work, transmuting Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc grapes into shrivelled orbs ripe with concentrated potential.
The Artistry of Assemblage
The wine whispers tales of meticulous assemblage, narrating a delicate interplay between opulence and elegance. A tapestry woven with threads of crystallised ginger, apricot compote, and honey-drizzled almonds unfurls on the palate. It carries with it the hallmark vibrancy one expects from Chateau d'Yquem's careful cultivation and inherent grandeur.
Acidity—that faithful friend of longevity—plays its role with graceful poise in the 1998 vintage, promising superior cellaring potential. The wine's deft balance speaks to both its immediate allure and its capacity to thrive as a centrepiece within a discerning investor’s collection.
Investment-wise, the 1998 d'Yquem sits comfortably amidst the pantheon of liquid assets that both pleasure the senses and promise burgeoning returns. It is a lustrous gem within any investment portfolio, respected for its storied pedigree and venerated for its enchanting complexity.
Conclusively, 1998 bestowed upon Chateau d'Yquem an offering that continues to sparkle in the firmament of fine wines—a Sauternes that weaves golden threads through time’s rich tapestry. A bottle cradling this elixir is not merely placed into a cellar; it is enshrined as quintessence—the very essence of Sauternes unmatched by any other year's caprice.
Market price (USD)
$3,300.00
12x75cl
Highest score
95
POP score
180
Scores and tasting notes
Pale gold colored, the 1998 d'Yquem features a flamboyant, rock-star nose of allspice, candied ginger, honeycomb and crème brûlée with a core of preserved lemons, mandarin peel and musk perfume plus a waft of potpourri. Beautifully balanced in the mouth, with seamless freshness lifting the decadent sweetness (134.4 grams per liter of residual sugar), it culminates with fantastically persistent layers of exotic spices.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown - The Wine Advocate, 31 May 2018
The 1998 Chateau Yquem was released several months ago. This estate does not allow tasting from cask (where the wine spends 42 months), and it is not released until five years after the vintage. The 1998 Yquem (95 points) is a great success. Made in an elegant style, it is not a blockbuster such as 1990, 1989, and 1988. It is well-delineated, with wonderfully sweet aromas of creme brulee, pineapples, apricots, and white flowers. Medium to full-bodied, it is not as sweet as the biggest/richest Yquem vintages, but it is gorgeously pure, precise, and strikingly complex. Already approachable, it should evolve for 30-50 years ... without a doubt.
Robert Parker Jr - Wine Advocate #95 October 2003
Tasted at Bordeaux Index’s Christmas lunch. The ’98 d’Yquem has a more extravagant nose than I remember, less mineralite than it displayed in its youth and perhaps a little more alcoholic on the nose. There are touches of pineapple, mango, treacle and custard cremes, becoming peachier with time in the glass. The palate is viscous on the entry and very well balanced with honeycomb, white peach, apricot and wild honey that leads to a powerful, if not elegant finish. The ’98 is a little “unruly” at present. Drink 2016-2030. Tasted December 2010.
Neal Martin - Wine Journal Sep 2011