1969 Château d’Yquem- France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes (1/10/2019)
So…dusted off the old Coravin…my wife and I both turn the big 5-0 this year…she in 11 days…I get to enjoy the 40’s till May! Bought this 750 bottle a long time ago, for such the occasion. Plan of accessing this bottle as much as we can, to celebrate the great year! Now to the wine…wonderful subtle sweetness to dryness…still quite youthful and sweet with botrytis semillon…peach apricot tea, saffron thread florals, creme brule crust, honey butter, orange marmalade. On the delicate side, yet still quite rich…alive with citrus acidity, complex essential oils, florals, roasted hazelnut and barrel oak spice. Doesn’t taste like a 50yr old wine…very youthful and quite fresh, showing a slight aged mothball mustiness. Has amazing persistence and vibrancy…all delicate and classy nobility. Has held up just as well as my wife!!! Super bottle…worthy of a 50th celebration! (97 pts.)
Weird coincidence—I just (maybe 90m ago) used the Coravin to take a glass of the ‘76 (my birth year) from a .375.
I’ve only had the chance to try 3-4 other vintages and this bottle is they oldest by quite a bit, but it still seemed like an adolescent. Anyway, huge congrats on the birthdays! The only 1969 I’ve ever tasted was at Latour this summer and it was shockingly good given the reputation of the vintage in that part of Bordeaux.
Thank you so much for the note…highly appreciated as I’m turning 50 in Feb as well and bought a 69 Yquem for the same purpose so great to hear it was quite enjoyable! Looking forward to it next month along with some 69 Champagne
My vintage, too. I don’t recall having had the '69 d’Yquem. But, around ten years ago, I did open a 1969 Climens Barsac which was amazing and impressed a room full of wine people. More recently, a '69 Conterno Cascina Francia Barolo was a bad bottle, but a '69 Ruffino Riserva Ducale Chianti Classico still had some fruit sweetness and one experienced Italian taster called it fascinating. I have a '69 Produttori Barbaresco to open this year.
That’s a gorgeous looking bottle Buzz. I’m hitting 50 this year and have a few random bottles to try, including a ‘69 Leoville Barton. Tough year but we’ll see.
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You ballers should find some ‘69 Leroys if you can. Amazing wines … at least the two bottles I’ve had!