Michel Bettane and Thierry Desseauve | Incredible finesse, aromatic purity, and sheer drinkability here, despite the 14% ABV and 150g of residual sugar. The berry selection centered on a great week of rapid botrytization of perfectly ripe grapes, and a magical development of noble flavors, which were preserved by exemplary winemaking and ideal oak integration. Another legendary Yquem ending in 7—worthy of the 1967, but with greater purity, and arguably the equal of the sublime 1937 and 1947. The dry “Y” harvested in August, though not yet offered for tasting, should also be memorably special. We can only note yet again the exceptional status of this cru in a vintage that was favorable to the Haut-Sauternes area as a whole. | 99

Michael Schuster | A wonderfully fresh, almost floral nose of fresh honey and lemon and subtle Semillon wax; full, concentrated, vital, a lovely balance on the palate; rich, intensely sweet, very vibrant and exciting from the spice and complexity of the botrytis, long and energetic across the palate, a constant frisson of pleasure and with great fruit- and aroma-saturated length to finish. An ample yet well defined, very complete Yquem. | 95–97+