As seems to be the norm on this forum, I found a cheeky half of d’Yquem that’s been left in a fridge for too long. Granted it wasn’t a neighbour’s fridge, and the bottle hadn’t been opened 3 years in advance, but still. I’ll expand in the comments.
by Rallerboy888
5 Comments
How was it? 2013 is a fantastic Sauternes vintage!
Hi peeps!
There’s been a lot of Yquem posts recently, and somehow people keep finding half empty bottles of it at the most random occasions. While that’s strictly never happened to me, this is vaguely similar. I’ve worked part time in a wine shop for almost 8 years, and ever since I started, we’ve had three halves of Yquem 13 stocked in the wine fridge display, and we’ve only managed to sell one in that time. Seeing as us youngsters hadn’t tasted it, we decided to chip in and split a bottle for a pour each.
**2013 Chateau d’Yquem**
The nose was absolutely singing! All the ripeness and botrytis you’d want from a Sauternes, yet somehow it was just amplified. Extremely pure, concentrated fruit, honeysuckle, pineapple, canned peach, and a modest but relatively sufficient acidity. Very long, complex finish. They used 30% Sauvignon in 2013, which amped up the acidity to a measly 6g/L, but it definitely completes the experience. I was really impressed with how young and clean this wine felt compared to other Sauternes, but it’s still ridiculously overpriced when you take Tokaji and Mosel into the equation. I’m happy to have tried it and that’s that.
**2018 J.F. Ganevat Cuvée Marguerite**
A slightly uncommon bottle from Ganevat made from a strain of Chardonnay called *Melon a Queue Rouge*, which is only really found in the Jura. The vines were planted in 1902, so I imagine there’s hardly any crop, which could explain the scarcity of this cuvée only bottled in magnums after 4 years of elevage on the lees in amphorae and large barrels.. On opening it’s like having a salt-brined lemon squeezed in your mouth, it was so ridiculously concentrated and tight. While the intensity and acidity never faded, it did give way to some more complexity and refinement, but it’s so young. How this wine is 14,5% I’ll never understand. Cellar them if you have them.
**2005 Kesselstatt Scharzhofberger Beerenauslese**
I’ve had this before, where it knocked my socks off, and was fortunate enough to score another bottle albeit from dubious provenance. As you can tell from the colour it was rather advanced, and we wrote it off at first. After 15 minutes it erupted from the glass with massive concentration, ripe botrytis, and all the intensity you’d want in a world class Riesling. While this wine felt 20 years older than it is, it doesn’t matter much, as I imagine it could easily have reached 50 years. This was in many ways more interesting than the Yquem, and it confirms my opinion that Mosel BA is severely underrated.
**2008 Duval-Leroy Blanc de Blancs**
Don’t know much about this, but it was not my preferred style of BdB. Very full and creamy, but lacked tightness and tension. Perhaps the Zalto Burgundy didn’t do it any favours, but this was far from the best Duval-Leroy I’ve had. It felt a bit too heavy on the dosage as well.
**2023 Jean-Pierre Maldant Savigny 1er Cru Aux Fourneaux**
This is a wine that I’ve always loved, and while it’s scarce, it’s worth seeking out. Very old vines from a 0.3ha plot. This was way too young, but a charming treat. At first it was almost purple in its profile and reminiscent of Cru Beaujolais, but it settled and turned red fruited. I’d love to retaste it again in 2-5 years.
**2021 Yves Cuilleron Signé**
85% Syrah, 15% Viognier I believe. This is the most archetypical Syrah I can imagine. So immensely perfumed and refined, bursting with black pepper and violets. No tannin to speak of, just a lovely treat to drink. I quite like 2021 Northern Rhone, and this must be the best bargain I’ve had so far!
Hope you enjoyed my notes!
How to was that monster energy drink. Got tasting notes?
Thanks for the great notes!
Jeez what a lineup and plenty of wines I haven’t heard of before!