Chateau d'Yquem 1981

The 1981 is certainly an outstanding Yquem, but it will not be considered one of this property's greatest efforts. Light golden, with a moderately intense bouquet of spicy, vanillin oak, fresh melons, and tropical fruit, this full-bodied Yquem has average acidity and a plump, viscous, somewhat precocious feel on the palate. Remarkably long and clean in the finish, it will develop relatively rapidly. Anticipated maturity: Now-2015. Last tasted, 3/87.

Rich and just sweet, without the acid-creating, botrytized notes normally found in Yquem. A slight paint varnish, dull character on the nose, and it tastes a bit heavy-handed, but it came somewhat to life and tasted better with goat cheese.--Yquem vertical. Drink now through 2005.

The 1981 Yquem is disappointing after a surprisingly fine bottle in 2021. Still very resinous on the nose, it lacks botrytis and doesn't really improve with aeration. There is a flatness here. The palate is better with orange rind, tangy marmalade and light apricot notes, along with a slightly acrid finish that feels short. Maybe I was just lucky with the previous bottle. Tasted at the Yquem vertical at the château.

Spun gold color, pineapple, marzipan, honey, apples, orange rind, smoke, vanilla and nectarine aromas are easy to find. Medium bodied with light sugary flavors of orange and peach, this medium weight, lighter style of d’Yquem is fully mature and should be drunk up sooner than later.

Served with dessert at a comprehensive 1981 tasting in 1991: an elegant, long wine with concealed signs of botrytis. Certainly one of the best ’81s, but I’d rather buy four bottles of Climens 1983 than a single d’Yquem 1981. If I really have to rate it as a d’Yquem, then my strictness is (hopefully) understandable. It almost seems to me that a juice like this ought to be synthetically constructible. A liqueur for ladies who aren’t particularly demanding. As a rule of thumb, once again: “Better a small Sauternes from a great year than the other way around.” A magnificent wine for label drinkers. But only for that unfortunately not-so-rare species! 95: If, a year later, I hadn’t known it was a d’Yquem blind tasting, one could easily have taken it for a sweet Loire wine. Molasses on the nose, primroses, no botrytis. The sweetness outweighs the medium-length wine. 98: Had already developed a somewhat straw-like color. Open; first sherry, manzanilla notes. On the palate a note of rotten grass, not entirely clean, little fun, and it will develop (too) quickly.

Broad, light, rounded bouquet with a subtle metallic note: honey, linden blossom, Pertinax. Rounded, opulent palate with sweet, powerful aromatics, a generous structure, and a rounded finish. 17/20 drink now.

Medium gold-amber in color, the 1981 d'Yquem opens with subtle scents of white truffle, chalk dust, and saffron, leading to a core of peach preserves and apple pie with a touch of burnt sugar. The palate is intense, with savory layers and a long, mineral finish. The residual sugar is 112 g/l.