Some background –
One of my favorite local shops was contracted to cater a massive event using a customer's own wine collection, which happened to include a massive jeroboam of 1993 d'Yquem. The eventgoers couldn't finish the bottle, so the rest of it was given to the shop.
As a frequent patron of the shop, they gave me a glass to sample when I visited – just my 2nd d'Yquem after a 1983 I had last May. I wasn’t expecting that at all! Hell of a treat. While I may not be too familiar with d'Yquem, I am familiar with Sauternes as a whole – had bottlings across 6 decades and over 10 different producers, so I happily and thankfully appreciated the opportunity to taste another.
Visually, color a dark amber, bronze.
On the nose, very little fruit remains – dried mango at best, primarily tertiary – burnt sugar, caramel, almonds, baking spice, hint of smoke. I know 1993 was not that great of a year for the region, but I expected a 5L to age more gracefully – having just recently had a 1988 Lafaurie Peyraguey that was exquisite, a perfect balance of fruit/botrytis/tertiary components. It may just be that the bottle had been opened for a few days already by the time a glass got to me, so the nose could be fading. I had a 1980 Clemens once where the fruit notes lasted just the first whiff!
On the palate, wonderful balance of elements. Mouthfeel – wonderful. Not too thick, not too light – with the right zing of acidity balanced by the right amount of sweetness. No one component out of wack. This is what I love about the two d'Yquem's I've had. Flavors were all tertiary at this point on the way down, with that trademark e-t-e-r-n-a-l finish.
Knowing that it will be very rare for me to drink out of a 5L bottle of d'Yquem again, I was glad to taste it, but I have had better Sauternes at that age. However, knowing the condition of the wine by the time it got to me, I'm hesitant to say I was disappointed. I will just pin it as a great learning experience, a rare moment to sample d'Yquem, and keep my eyes open for my next one.
by JJxiv15