Château d'Yquem 1980

This year is a perfect example of a vintage that was much better for the sweet wines of Barsac and Sauternes than it was for the red wines. Yquem produced its greatest wine since the twin titans of 1975 and 1976. Medium golden, with a big, opulent, honeyed, oaky, flowery, tropical fruit bouquet, this wine is rich and concentrated, has very good acidity, a lot of botrytis, and a stunning finish. It is a great success, and it continues to evolve at a snail's pace. Anticipated maturity: Now-2035. Last tasted, 12/90.

A good year for Sauternes, a very good vintage for Yquem. Fresh, with lemon, grapefruit and quince notes, this is lovely and sympathique, with honey tones but not much botrytis concentration.—Yquem vertical. Drink now through 2010.

The 1980 Yquem has a simple nose with white mushroom, marmalade and beeswax scents, though I have encountered a better bottle before. The palate is fresh on the entry with a tang of marmalade and just a bit of gray rot on the nutty, smoky finish. The bottle at Medlar restaurant was better than this. Tasted at the Yquem vertical at the château.

When expectations are low, it's always a nice surprise when a wine performs much better than expected. This off vintage of d'Yquem offered an attention grabbing perfume filled with ripe apricots, pineapple, honey, vanilla, nectarines, toffee coated nuts and spiced peaches. Ripe, sweet and concentrated with delicious, honey coated tropical fruit in the rich finish, this is probably one of the best deals for a mature bottle of Chateau d'Yquem in the marketplace today. This was my last bottle. A perfect ending to a great case of Sauternes wine.

Medium gold. For a long time I hoped that this wine would one day deliver on the palate what it promises on the nose, but it simply lacks a bit of substance. Not that it’s bad, but with such elegant notes as honey, apricot, and pineapple, expectations rise. Pleasantly sweet, charming, and well-balanced. It lacks density and depth, but not enjoyment!

The 1980s are generally underestimated in Sauternes. That’s why these wines could be found for quite a long time at sensible prices. It evolves rather quickly, perhaps because of the fairly low acidity: an open, multi-layered bouquet; smoky note, marzipan, ripe fruit, medium sweetness. Cereal-like palate, still has extract, little sweetness; unfortunately it comes across rather dry and flowing, with a straw note on the finish showing that any remaining bottles should be drunk as soon as possible. 98: Medium yellow. Rich bouquet with a gentle vegetal aroma, but also lovely dried-fruit accents. On the palate it’s a bit clumsy at first, then balanced out by very good extract, with a jammy finish. Quite good for this small, difficult vintage. But looking back at my notes on Rieussec, I’d much rather go hunting for that—and save a lot of money, too. 07: Brought along for the Obwalden wine friends after Yquem and uncorked there at 11 a.m.; lacking glasses, or for added originality, it was passed around straight from the bottle. On the palate it shows a dry, slightly bitter sweetness; the finish also has a fine bitterness, partly balanced by its medium body. Still, it was a “hell of a moment”! 08: Yves Beck opened this wine to finish off a Treberwurst dinner in Twann. I saw the Yquem label but not the vintage. From the nose I rated it quite highly, around 18 points. But the aromatic promise didn’t fully carry through on the palate. 11: At a dinner at Rauzan-Ségla, just before coffee. Pretty cloyingly sweet nose, no botrytis. On the palate it was at least a Yquem—but not by taste, rather by looking at the label. (16/20). 16: You can praise for once instead of grumbling. A wonderful wine that has held up very well over 25 years. I drank it with a custard slice by Lake Soppensee, with very good friends. It was worth it. (16/20). 17: At a cellar table. Sweet, malty, almost fat, but unfortunately without much tension. Drink now. It still passes as a very good 1980. (16/20). 18: Still going very strong. Lots of apricot, but little botrytis. On the palate, a salty sweetness and a fine bitter note that remains in the extract. One of the best bottles so far. This bottle: 17/20.

Very nice opulent, complex bouquet: honey, dried apricots, raisins and chalky notes. Medium-bodied, finely creamy palate with intense aromatics, a delicate sweetness, an elegant structure and a long, full finish. 19/20 drink through 2030.

The 1980 d’Yquem is medium gold-amber in color. Delicate, mature notes of unsmoked cigars and tea leaves lead to a waft of toffee and wild mushrooms. The medium-bodied palate is savory, with dried berries and nice freshness, finishing peppery. The residual sugar is 94 g/l.

Coppery color. Fruity, toasty nose. While the attack is pleasant, the wine becomes simpler as it develops, though it remains flavorful. Medium length.