Sourcing Y'quem in Oz.....Step 2

Hi Swoop

What a quandry in which to find oneself.

Co-incidently, I was looking at Ch.d'Yquem at an importer in Auckland just last weekend, where we were discussing vintages.

From what I recall - 1988, 1990, and 2001 are remarkable (say 98+)

1986, 1989, 1997 and 1999 are outstanding (say 90+) 1996 and 2000 are excellent (87+) 1995, 1998 and 2002 rate very good (84+)

Of course, we are talking about Yquem: if they choose to release a wine, then, for us mere mortals, it is a liquid marvel.

Good luck!

st.helier

Have you tried having a word with the retail suppliers? Would they be willing to share their profit by way of giving you a trade discount?

pk

I thought I remembered '94 was rather poor. Looked it up at ebob:

score 78/100.

Amused to see that in Bordeaux only 4 out of last 25 years are "average." Funny math! :)

Hachette rates Bordeaux Liquoreux as 14/20 which although numerically lower is rather a better rating (less inflation.)

Of course not to say that Yquem even from an off year will not be very good.

-E

Only ones I've had on your list are '86, '90, and '94. I thought all very good, but I'm no Yquem exprt. A friend who is more able to afford them feels the '99 is the current QPR winner- not the ager that the '01 is, but a fantastic early drinking Yquem

Just a couple of points. Although I've had some vintages of Yquem that were better than others I don't think I've ever had bottle that I would consider "bad" (except for storage issues) since Yquem doesn't produce wine in years that they don't deem as worthy. Price for Yquem seems to vary with availablity, the dreaded Parker scores, and the overall success of any particular vintage. All that being said, Yquem is considered by many to be one of the finest wines in the world and as the old saying goes....if you have to look at the price tag you probably can't afford it. If I were you I wouldn't feel the least bit bad about charging a fee for services rendered in trying to find one of the world great wines. If your client is so dead set on purchasing multiple bottle of Yquem, why would he/she balk at paying you a reasonable fee for finding it?

I have no issue re price, (well I am a retailer, and he came to me!!), nor does he, (he is loaded!). Nor would I feel any guilt, as he knows the score! I guess I wanted to be sure that I was doing the right thing by him. It's the old story, nice guy, loads of money, but too lazy to research/seek his own wines.

He buys a lot of of my 'cellared- off- premise' wines, and recently had me evaluate a swag wines he had tucked away in a dark and gloomy corner of his palatial home. For the service he handed me a bottle of Elderton Command Shiraz from 1992, AFTER I explained to him how excellent a wine it COULD be. I did not ask for it, it is his way.

He told me how much I could spend, and told me he wanted 6 bottles. He is getting 10 bottles for less than he budgetted for. Both parties win, and I get to taste this nectar!!

hooroo....

Matt,

2001 is a great vintage as you point. 1986 is also very good. I attended a Chateau d'Yquem vertical six months ago with 2002, 2001, 1999, 1997, 1988, 1986 and 1983 which were presented by Monsieur Lurton himself as his favorite "recent" vintages.

I was unfortunate because my taste of 1983 was from an off bottle (other tasters told me it was the best wine in their opinion) but I really thought that 1986 performed really well, and only marginally different from other reputable vintages.

I would substitute 1999 with 1986 since I did not think the 1999 was that good. Not a bad wine, but not really a great vintage. Also, 1997 had a distinctive profile (much more intense) that would be good to balance the selection.

Best,

S.

Thanks for the notes S. Cannot sub another '86 for a '99, as 1 only available. Deal has been done, customer advised, and he is as happy as a pre-schooler at MacDonalds....:>)

hooroo....