1977 Yquem
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Tasting notes
The 1977 Yquem, my third bottle in the last couple of years, was picked from October 20 until November 26, though nothing after November 7 was usedl. Just 30% of the production was bottled. It has a pretty nose with dried honey, mandarin and light minty scents that are well defined. The palate is well balanced with crisp acidity, fresh and vibrant with a tangy, short-but-refreshing finish. Probably the best bottle I've encountered. Just 81 g/l residual sugar. Tasted at the château.
Critic scores
Average Score
Wine Spectator
Neal Martin
More reviews and scores
The 1977 Yquem, my third bottle in the last couple of years, was picked from October 20 until November 26, though nothing after November 7 was usedl. Just 30% of the production was bottled. It has a pretty nose with dried honey, mandarin and light minty scents that are well defined. The palate is well balanced with crisp acidity, fresh and vibrant with a tangy, short-but-refreshing finish. Probably the best bottle I've encountered. Just 81 g/l residual sugar. Tasted at the château.
The 1977 Yquem has a Tokaji-like bouquet with a touch of marmalade and a strong adhesive scent. True, the palate does miss acidity and complexity, yet it is clean with a tang of orange rind on the short, blunt finish. This is my second bottle of this seriously off-vintage Yquem.
This curio was bought at auction by someone with a penchant for very off-vintages! But this 1977 Yquem is actually quite drinkable. After one-third of the crop had been lost earlier in the season due to frost, a delayed harvest saw pickers enter the vines on 20 October with "mini-passes" until 13 November. A weak but not offensive bouquet that has a light adhesive whiff, the palate is simple and displays little botrytis, but nor is there signs of rot. You will probably obtain more enjoyment from this than a lot of its dry red counterparts, so it is a Pyrrhic victory of sorts.
About the producer
The undisputed finest sweet wine in the world, Château d'Yquem is the only Premier Cru Supérieur estate in Sauternes, classified in 1855. With a long history stretching back to the Middle Ages, the château is entwined with that of the Lur-Saluces family – who remain involved today.