1953 Yquem

Lovely pale rose-tawny colour. Rich and round with a hint of rose petals and almonds on the nose. Wonderful richness with race and delicacy too. Deep undertow of substance and on the finish a note of orange peel. Very complete testament to the longevity of great Sauternes. Very vibrant still. (JR)

Dark tawny with a fox red sheen. Very tangy and concentrated and, having lost its youthful sweetness, it had an almost savoury finish. This reminded me of nothing more than polished walnuts, both in look and taste. There was a creaminess of texture and a certain burnt note. Very long indeed.  There was no need for any food with this complex, still vibrant marvel though it could happily be served with something as salty as a hard cheese, or nuts.  Almost indestructible, I'd have thought. (JR)

71 g/l RS, TA 4.4. Rain interrupted this vintage but the first part of the crop produced a very beautiful Yquem – like 2000. 5-10 Oct. Brownish copper – reddish. Spicy nose and then really quite dry on the finish but with lovely haunting aroma, which Michael Twelftree called fish fingers – fingers from those fishing trips. Dances along. (JR)