Château d'Yquem 1947 (6 BT)

Château d'Yquem 1947

Sauternes, 1er Grand Cru Classé

u. 2bn, 2vts, 1hs, 1h/ms, 3 labels missing, 1 badly stained and damaged, 2 stained, 1 of which slightly damaged, vintage embossed short capsules, 2 slight signs of old seepage, 5 corks slightly depressed

One of the hottest, driest years of the century. The harvest at Yquem lasted from 13 September until 13 October, in a heatwave. Warm, bright amber colour. Glorious orange flavour, so elegant for a 1947 and with no volatile acidity perceptible. So poised, so beautiful, so stunning. Ageless beauty and a great bottle. From magnum on its 60th birthday a great caramel brûlé bouquet. Sumptuous and well-structured. More masculine than the 1948. Burnt sugar. Pure mandarins on the palate. So thick. Smoky figs, with a wonderful citrus finish. Then, drunk from magnum in 2011 and château stock. This was, immediately, the greatest Yquem 1947 I have ever had - and I have had a few! A bouquet of caramelised currants, just extraordinary, followed by pomegranates. A touch of bananas, as they are done in New Orleans. So totally creamy and thick in texture and yet with such a 'lift' of freshness at the end. Magical clementine flavours. Flawless perfection. All of us were reduced to reverential silence, for a while anyway! Serena Sutcliffe, MW

6 bts (cn)

Provenance:

HISTORIC SAUTERNES FROM THE TEMPERATURE CONTROLLED CELLAR OF A CONNNOISSEUR WITH A NOTABLY SWEET TOOTH. THESE FABULOUS BOTTLES HAVE BEEN PURCHASED THROUGH SOTHEBY'S, CHRISTIE'S AND TWO WELL KNOWN UK MERCHANTS ALL THIS SIDE OF THE MILLENNIUM

LYING IN GREENFORD, MIDDLESEX Offered Duty Paid only

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