- CRITICAL REVIEWS
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RP
95
Robert Parker Wine Advocate
A vintage of exceptional weather, 1997 was a relatively warm, drought vintage equating to a very slow onset of botrytis this year. The warm temperatures contributed plenty of sweetness, while light rains late in the season finally spurred the spread of noble rot, making for a potentially very good Sauternes vintage in the end. However, strict selection was critical, ultimately allowing d'Yquem to craft an impressive wine well above the vintage’s standard.
Medium gold colored, the 1997 d'Yquem rolls effortlessly out of the glass with super spicy gingersnap, coriander seed, cinnamon stick and cloves scents over a core of toffee, preserved kumquats, praline, lemon curd and crème brûlée. Silken textured, rich, opulent and stacked with flavor layers, it has an understated, beautifully knit backbone of freshness and a very long toasted-nut finish. The alcohol came in at 13.9% this year, with a residual sugar of 120 grams per liter, and total acidity is 4.8 grams per liter of H2SO4. Reviewed by: Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Issue date: August 2019, Drinking window: 2019 - 2044
1997 Chateau d'Yquem, Sauternes, France
The growing season was affected from the start by very high temperatures. Flowering was very early (the 5th of May) and the harvest began on the 4th of September, a record at Yquem. Picking was nevertheless called to a halt for 2 months because morning mists alone were insufficient to develop botrytis. This is a year of excesses that necessitated 7 passes and 32 days of picking lasting until the 4th of November. The end result is that 1997 Yquem shows rare complexity and perfect balance!