Without Peer: 1990 Château d’Yquem

Posted by Ian McFadden

Simply put, there’s nothing like d’Yquem.

Along with 1997 and 1996, the 1990 Yquem forms a holy trinity of 90s vintages.

Currently, the 1990 is at one of its evolutionary high points. Please don't get me wrong. This is a wine that will be stunning for decades. In its current state, the wine is at the peak of its youthful fruited, relatively primary phase.

The multidimensional, layered presentation of Yquem is simply stunning. The 1990 highlights this in a strikingly bold way.

Yquem was the sole Sauternes classified as a First Great Growth in the original classification of 1855. It remains the sole Premier Cru Supérieur in Sauternes. Curnonsky, the famous 20th century Parisian “Prince of Gastronomes” included Yquem along with Montrachet among “the five great white wines of France.”

Yquem delivers an aristocratic, dizzying complexity. It’s jam-packed with nuance and an almost overwhelming impact. The breadth and depth of Yquem is insane.

The 1990 shows its nobility in a profoundly deep and enveloping sort of way. It has ultra-clear honeyed notes that are animated by citrus and further complicated by smoke, flowers, spice and an elusive nuttiness.

The life span is as shocking as the wine itself. There’s an abundance of stories of Yquems that have seen their 100th birthday. With each passing year, finding old Yquem gets increasingly difficult. This is something that you do not want to miss out on.

To order, email offers@crushwineco.com or call the store at (212) 980-9463.

Ian McFadden


Director, Fine & Rare Wine
Crush Wine & Spirits