1er Grand Cru Classé Supérieur en 1855
Availability : End of May 2023
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What Domaine more famous throughout the world to evoke the great sweet wines of the Sauternes vineyard than Château of Yquem? A name associated with a myth whose reputation has undoubtedly crossed borders. It was in 1593 that Jacques Sauvage was granted "tenure rights", and a few years later began the construction of Château. Françoise-JosépHine de Sauvage d'Yquem married Count Louis Amédée de Lur-Saluces in 1785. At the death of the latter, she will gradually raise the Domaine to the top of the hierarchy of great wines of Sauternes.
During the classification of Bordeaux wines formalized in 1855 at the request of Napoléon III for the Paris World's Fair, Yquem's Château would be the only Domaine to obtain the distinction of Premier Cru Superior.
A page will turn for Yquem Château when it is acquired in 1999 by the LVMH group. Pierre Lurton has been its Chairman and CEO since 2004. The Château d'Yquem has long adopted the philosophy of producing a great wine only if nature has allowed it, in other words if the vintage has been up to La Tâche thus conducive to giving a botrytized grape of quality.
Yquem's Château rests on the highest point of the Sauternes appellation, covering a 103-hectare vineyard planted on gravelly-sandy soils with clay-limestone outcrops at the break of slope. The grape varieties are 75% Semillon and 25% Sauvignon Blanc. The wines are aged for 24 months in 100% new barrels.
The property produces a white wine Sec from the same grapes named Y. In addition, for a small portion of the production, Domaine produces blended wines named simply Sauternes. These wines are the result of an average of 4 to 5 years of blending.
At Yquem Château, one vine will yield only one glass of the famous sweet nectar. This illustrates the drastic work and impeccable selection that goes into this Domaine of excellence.
The Château d'Yquem is a nectar that leaves an unforgettable memory, delivering a finesse and complexity that only it manages to achieve. Its exquisite aromatic expression, freshness and elegance are the fruit of an exceptional terroir coupled with impeccable know-how.
The 2020 vintage in Sauternes was first marked by a dry winter whose mildness favored an early budding of the vine. The flowering took place under mixed conditions, followed by a summer marked by heat and drought. A few rains in August helped to boost the ripening of the grapes, and the grapes were perfectly ripe at the beginning of September. But the dry weather delayed the installation of the noble rot brought by the Botrytis Cinerea fungus. At Château d'Yquem, the conditions did not allow to wait long enough to have a good concentration of botrytis, the teams had to be very reactive and very precise, and the result is only delicate.
Blend of the 2020 vintage: 75% Semillon, 25% Sauvignon Blanc.
The robe is a beautiful golden color.
The nose is bright, with notes of fresh apricot, orange zest, peach and white flowers that make it playful. It is a magnificent aromatic symphony.
In the mouth it is delicate, balanced and surprisingly drinkable despite its young age. With freshness and vivacity, it evolves in roundness by offering notes of citrus fruits and a very perceptible acidity. The finish is long and punctuated with zesty notes, which makes it wonderfully enjoyable.
Food and wine pairing:
Château d'Yquem 2020 will go wonderfully with starters such as foie gras or scallops fried in vanilla and lemon butter, as well as dishes such as tuna tartar or cod fillet. It can also accompany meats such as Wagyu beef, roast chicken or duck breast, because let's not forget that Yquem is a world of complexity
Enjoy it with blue-veined cheeses such as Roquefort, Bleu d'Auvergne, Caesar Regalis or Fourme d'Ambert.
For dessert, finish it off with a citrus salad with cinnamon, saffron rice pudding or a pear-caramel bavarois.
Ageing potential and tasting:
Château d'Yquem 2020 is a great Sauternes that has exceptional ageing potential, and deserves to wait in the cellar for several years in order to refine and show itself to be grandiose. It will be ideal to drink between 2040 and 2045, but can be kept longer.
However, it will lend itself very well to tasting if properly prepared. To do so, open the bottle 2 to 3 hours in advance and keep it refrigerated. Take it out a few minutes before tasting so that it can be served between 10 and 12°C.
The bottles will be kept in the cellar protected from the light, lying down, with an optimal hygrometric degree of 70%.
Available packaging: Original wooden case 1 bottle, 3 bottles, 6 bottles and large sizes (on request).
Availability: End of May 2023
