Chateau d’Yquem holds just under 300 acres of vineyard land on gravelly, well-drained soil, but only uses about 250 to make wine in any given year. The remainder is due to a program of continual replanting which ensures that producing vines are always in their prime. And the vineyard is planted only to Semillion (75%) and Sauvignon Blanc (25%), eschewing Muscadelle which is commonly used in the area but makes less distinguished wine.

Within an hour of harvest, the grapes of Chateau d’Yquem are in the winery and being pressed. Unlike most white wines, quality actually improves with multiple pressings as that extracts more sugar and flavor intensity. Chateau d’Yquem three or four times, with the initial effort yielding about 75% of the total volume.

Chateau d’Yquem does all its fermentation in new French oak barrels. This is unsual for Sauternes, but results in the most flavorful and pristine wine. Although there is variation from one vintage to the next, the typical Chateau d’Yquem wine finishes fermentation at 13.5% alcohol with 150 grams/liter of sugar.

All the barrels age for six to eight months after fermentation. At that point, under-performing barrels are set aside. The remaining barrels go to the aging cellar for 20 months, where they are topped up twice weekly to maintain freshness. For pure flavors and clarity, the wines are also racked 15 times and then fined before the final, blind tasting which determines the blend that will go into bottle.

Although not always very outgoing when young, Chateau d’Yquem is marked by fruit (apricot, mandarin, and occasionally tropical fruit) and oak (vanilla and toasty aromas). Older vintages, on the other hand, have an extraordinarily complex fragrance as soon as the bottle is opened, with hints of dried fruit (dried apricot, prune, stewed fruit, and marmalade), spice (cinnamon, saffron, and liquorice), and even flowers (lime blossom, etc.). The first impression of Chateau d'Yquem on the palate is always very silky, and often sumptuous. It then fills out, "coating the palate". This fine wine has a strong, but never overbearing character, with great elegance and poise. It always maintains a balance between sugar and acidity (sweetness and freshness). A touch of bitterness can also contribute to the overall harmony.

The 2009 Chateau d'Yquem is a distinguished Sauternes blend from Bordeaux, France. This wine, produced by Chateau d'Yquem, is composed of 80% Semillon and 20% Sauvignon Blanc, and boasts an alcohol content of 14.0%. The wine has been sealed with a traditional cork and presents itself as a white varietal.

This vintage has garnered exceptional praise from multiple reviewers. Geoffrey Binder of JJ Buckley awarded it a near-perfect score of 99, describing it as "a beautiful balanced elegant and textured wine" with "incredible focus and length loaded with creme brulee, citrus, honey, and apricots."

Wine Spectator's review, with a score of 98, notes that while the aromas are "closed today," the wine has a core "loaded with apricot, nectarine, and orange notes" and is supported by "toasted almond and piecrust accents." It is characterized as a "large-scale Yquem that shows the richness of the vintage," with an advised consumption window from 2020 through 2050.

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate's Yohan Castaing gives the wine a perfect score of 100, highlighting its concentration and complex bouquet featuring "pineapple, apricot, saffron, flowers, spices, and orchard fruits." Castaing emphasizes the wine's "crystalline texture" and "superb finish" with "pristine harmony."

James Suckling also scores the wine at 98, praising its "exceptional" length and "intensity yet subtlety," with flavors of "creme brulee, pineapple, and papaya." He suggests it is better enjoyed from 2020 onward.

Wine Enthusiast, scoring it 100 points, commends its rich and powerful aromas of "great ripe apricots," with notes of "honey, spice, and beautiful sweet spiced pears." This review underscores the exceptional quality of the 2009 vintage in Sauternes.

Vinous' Neal Martin, who awarded the wine a 97, observed that while the first bottle tasted felt "scalped," the second had a "very refined and sophisticated bouquet" with flavors of "wild honey, brioche, vanilla pod, and light orange blossom." Despite this, it "does not quite hit the high notes" this time.

Jeff Leve from TheWineCellarInsider.com, giving it a 99, notes the "insanely concentrated levels of ripe and overripe, honey-drenched tropical fruit" balanced by "bracing acidity."

Decanter's review, scoring it 95, mentions a "voluptuous honeyed nose" with "peach compote aromas and spicy oak," describing the wine as "leaner and more precise than the nose suggests."

Lastly, The Wine Independent's Lisa Perrotti-Brown gives another perfect score of 100, highlighting the "concentrated, decadently rich palate" balanced with "a laser-precise line of freshness" and a "very long" finish.

The 2009 Chateau d'Yquem is broadly acclaimed for its balance, complexity, and potential for aging, making it a standout example of Sauternes.