This displays an understated golden hue in the glass, not really hinting at the joy waiting to be found within. Aromatically it displays a fine figure, despite the evident richness of the aromatics, with honey and butterscotch, dried and caramelised fruits, and a touch of acacia, it maintains a very vigorous presence. Polished and dense on the palate, freshly textured, this feels compact and impressive. It opens into a brilliant midpalate which introduces a sense of energy, minerality and acidity to the composition, laid over a bed of sweet caramelised apricot and orange fruit. With its notes of powdered chalk and acid drive this is clearly youthful, with impressive vigour. An excellent showing and a vintage with decades of cellaring potential ahead of it. Hold for now.

The 2010 Château d’Yquem is an utterly stunning young wine and a very worthy follow-up to the magical wine produced at this estate in 2009. The bouquet is deep, complex and flat out brilliant, as it soars from the glass in a celestial mélange of pineapple, tangerines, a touch of passion fruit, honeycomb, beautifully complex and chalky soil tones, spring flowers and a very gentle touch of vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, suave and utterly seamless, with great mid-palate depth, bright acids and surreal length and grip on the dancing and very intensely flavored finish. The 2010 d’Yquem is not quite as ethereally complex at this stage as the hauntingly beautiful 2009, but in terms of sheer quality, it seems likely to be every bit as profound. 98+

A blend of 70% Semillon and 30% Sauvignon Blanc, with 138 grams per liter of residual sugar, the 2010 Yquem has a pale to medium straw-gold color. After considerable aeration, it erupts from the glass with a powerhouse of flamboyant notes of crystalized ginger, honeydew melon, mango pudding, and lime leaves, followed by nuances of honeysuckle, white pepper, fennel seed, and crushed rocks. The palate is fantastically fruity, youthful and oh-so-rich, delivering citrus and tropical fruit layers with compelling tension, finishing very long and with wonderful purity. (LPB)