Château d'Yquem 1945 (1 BT)

Château d'Yquem 1945

Sauternes, 1er Grand Cru Classé

u. ms, torn and bin-soiled label, label partly missing, corroded capsule, signs of old seepage, short capsule revealing fully-branded cork, ex-Sotheby's Aulden Cellars

I have had this many times - don't ask! Huge sugar, high alcohol wine. It was the year of an extremely rare frost on 2 May. There were 6 'waves' of picking over 6 weeks, similar to 2005. Wonderful nose of the caramel crust of a crème brûlée and Seville oranges. Drink with a cream made with ground almonds. So multi-dimensional, deep and intense. The volatility varies with the bottles, but the majestic quality does not. Last tasted from magnum in 2007. Incredible Seville oranges bouquet. The most pure, figgy fruit of any 1945 I have had. Pomegranates. So much balance and fabulously complete and complex. Endless on the palate. On this showing, not 3 star, but 4 star. Serena Sutcliffe, MW

1 bt (cn)