Yquem 1990

An extraordinary effort, Yquem's 1990 is a rich and fabulously superb, sweet wine. This wine also possesses lots of elegance and finesse. The wine's medium gold color is accompanied by an exceptionally sweet nose of honeyed tropical fruits, peaches, coconut, and apricots. High quality, subtle toasty oak is well-integrated. The wine is massive on the palate, with layers of intensely ripe botrytis-tinged, exceptionally sweet fruit. Surprisingly well-integrated acidity, and a seamless, full-bodied power and richness have created a wine of remarkable harmony and purity. Certainly it is one of the richest Yquems I have ever tasted, with 50-100 years of potential longevity. An awesome Yquem! Anticipated maturity: 2003-2050+.

A stunning wine that should continue to beguile us for decades but that is sufficiently sweet and round that it can already be drunk with great pleasure. Excellent acidity and everything tucked in there for the future. Drink: 2004 - 2040.

Mid tawny. Ripe and round and almost a hint of brûlé. Quite open - like molten crème brûlée juice. Quite light and rather simple and sugary. Very readable already. I'm not sure I can see the ageability that Pierre talks about. Drink 2000-2020. Date tasted 13th Feb 08.