Château d'Yquem

100 points - The Wine Advocate
100 points - The Wine Advocate
98 points - The Wine Advocate
98 points - The Wine Advocate
94 points - The Wine Advocate
94 points - The Wine Advocate
98 points - The Wine Advocate
100 points - The Wine Advocate
95 points - The Wine Advocate
95 points - The Wine Advocate
98 points - The Wine Advocate
97 points - The Wine Advocate
100 points - The Wine Advocate
100 points - The Wine Advocate
95 points - The Wine Advocate
95 points - The Wine Advocate
95 points - The Wine Advocate
95 points - The Wine Advocate
95 points - The Wine Advocate
98 points - The Wine Advocate
97 points - The Wine Advocate
98 points - The Wine Advocate
96 points - The Wine Advocate
96 points - The Wine Advocate
Château d'Yquem - 2018 - 75cl - Onshore Cellars

Château d'Yquem

100 points - The Wine Advocate
100 points - The Wine Advocate
98 points - The Wine Advocate
98 points - The Wine Advocate
94 points - The Wine Advocate
94 points - The Wine Advocate
98 points - The Wine Advocate
100 points - The Wine Advocate
95 points - The Wine Advocate
95 points - The Wine Advocate
98 points - The Wine Advocate
97 points - The Wine Advocate
100 points - The Wine Advocate
100 points - The Wine Advocate
95 points - The Wine Advocate
95 points - The Wine Advocate
95 points - The Wine Advocate
95 points - The Wine Advocate
95 points - The Wine Advocate
98 points - The Wine Advocate
97 points - The Wine Advocate
98 points - The Wine Advocate
96 points - The Wine Advocate
96 points - The Wine Advocate
Vintage
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Regular price £445.00
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The nose opens with electric notes of ripe pineapples, green mango, orange blossoms and lemon tart with hints of fungi, lime zest, crushed rocks and jasmine. The freshness on the palate is just astonishing, permeating and lifting layer upon layer of tropical fruits and earthy notions, all encased in a sumptuous texture and culminating in a very, very long, mineral-tinged finish. Truly, this is a legendary vintage for d'Yquem. I've been conservative with my drinking window here, and I would not be at all surprised if our descendants are drinking this vintage well into the next century.
The nose opens with electric notes of ripe pineapples, green mango, orange blossoms and lemon tart with hints of fungi, lime zest, crushed rocks and jasmine. The freshness on the palate is just astonishing, permeating and lifting layer upon layer of tropical fruits and earthy notions, all encased in a sumptuous texture and culminating in a very, very long, mineral-tinged finish. Truly, this is a legendary vintage for d'Yquem. I've been conservative with my drinking window here, and I would not be at all surprised if our descendants are drinking this vintage well into the next century.

Château d'Yquem is a French winery located in the Sauternes region of Bordeaux. The winery has a long and rich history dating back to the 18th century when it was owned by the Lur-Saluces family. The estate was later acquired by LVMH in 1999 and has since been managed by Pierre Lurton.

Château d'Yquem is known for producing some of the world's finest sweet wines, particularly its Sauternes. The winery's vineyards are planted with a combination of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc grapes, which are left on the vine until they are affected by noble rot, a fungus that concentrates the sugars in the grapes and gives the wine its characteristic sweetness.

The winemaking process at Château d'Yquem is meticulous and time-consuming. The grapes are hand-picked and sorted before being pressed, and the juice is then fermented in oak barrels. The wine is aged in oak for up to three years before being bottled.

Château d'Yquem's Sauternes is a complex and elegant wine with a rich golden color and aromas of honey, apricot, and vanilla. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied and luscious with flavors of dried fruit, caramel, and spice. The wine has a long and lingering finish with a perfect balance of sweetness and acidity.

In addition to its Sauternes, Château d'Yquem also produces a dry white wine called Y d'Yquem. This wine is made from a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon grapes and is aged in oak for up to 10 months. The wine is crisp and refreshing with aromas of citrus and white flowers and flavors of grapefruit and honey.

Château d'Yquem's wines are highly sought after and are considered some of the finest in the world. The winery's commitment to quality and tradition has earned it a reputation as one of the most prestigious wineries in Bordeaux. 

Château d'Yquem is a French winery located in the Sauternes region of Bordeaux. The winery has a long and rich history dating back to the 18th century when it was owned by the Lur-Saluces family. The estate was later acquired by LVMH in 1999 and has since been managed by Pierre Lurton.

Château d'Yquem is known for producing some of the world's finest sweet wines, particularly its Sauternes. The winery's vineyards are planted with a combination of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc grapes, which are left on the vine until they are affected by noble rot, a fungus that concentrates the sugars in the grapes and gives the wine its characteristic sweetness.

The winemaking process at Château d'Yquem is meticulous and time-consuming. The grapes are hand-picked and sorted before being pressed, and the juice is then fermented in oak barrels. The wine is aged in oak for up to three years before being bottled.

Château d'Yquem's Sauternes is a complex and elegant wine with a rich golden color and aromas of honey, apricot, and vanilla. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied and luscious with flavors of dried fruit, caramel, and spice. The wine has a long and lingering finish with a perfect balance of sweetness and acidity.

In addition to its Sauternes, Château d'Yquem also produces a dry white wine called Y d'Yquem. This wine is made from a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon grapes and is aged in oak for up to 10 months. The wine is crisp and refreshing with aromas of citrus and white flowers and flavors of grapefruit and honey.

Château d'Yquem's wines are highly sought after and are considered some of the finest in the world. The winery's commitment to quality and tradition has earned it a reputation as one of the most prestigious wineries in Bordeaux. 

Containing 135 grams per liter of residual sugar, the pale lemon-gold colored 2016 d'Yquem leaps from the glass with honeyed apricots, pineapple, green mango, crushed rocks, candied ginger, coriander seed and citrus peel with hints of orange blossom. The palate is very tightly wound, vibrant and refreshing with layer upon layer of minerals and spices, finishing with epic poise and persistence.

Château d'Yquem is a French winery located in the Sauternes region of Bordeaux. The winery has a long and rich history dating back to the 18th century when it was owned by the Lur-Saluces family. The estate was later acquired by LVMH in 1999 and has since been managed by Pierre Lurton.

Château d'Yquem is known for producing some of the world's finest sweet wines, particularly its Sauternes. The winery's vineyards are planted with a combination of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc grapes, which are left on the vine until they are affected by noble rot, a fungus that concentrates the sugars in the grapes and gives the wine its characteristic sweetness.

The winemaking process at Château d'Yquem is meticulous and time-consuming. The grapes are hand-picked and sorted before being pressed, and the juice is then fermented in oak barrels. The wine is aged in oak for up to three years before being bottled.

Château d'Yquem's Sauternes is a complex and elegant wine with a rich golden color and aromas of honey, apricot, and vanilla. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied and luscious with flavors of dried fruit, caramel, and spice. The wine has a long and lingering finish with a perfect balance of sweetness and acidity.

In addition to its Sauternes, Château d'Yquem also produces a dry white wine called Y d'Yquem. This wine is made from a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon grapes and is aged in oak for up to 10 months. The wine is crisp and refreshing with aromas of citrus and white flowers and flavors of grapefruit and honey.

Château d'Yquem's wines are highly sought after and are considered some of the finest in the world. The winery's commitment to quality and tradition has earned it a reputation as one of the most prestigious wineries in Bordeaux. 

It has a captivating bouquet. But it entrances with its pure, wild honey notes mixed with almond and white chocolate scents, bestowed with beguiling delineation and focus. The palate is very poised with the acidity nigh on perfect. Occasionally an Yquem only reveals its components parts at this early juncture, necessitates conjecture. However, the 2014 has a sense of harmony and completeness already, as if the élevage is merely there to usher it on to its finished state. There is undeniably great depth here, perhaps less conspicuous than other vintages because of that silver thread of acidity: notes of lemon sherbet, orange zest, shaved ginger and again, a few "flakes' of white chocolate. It is extremely long with tenderness rather than power on the finish.
Tasted blind at the Sauternes 2011 horizontal tasting. The Château Yquem 2011 has a complex bouquet, one that is very well defined with hints of petrol infusing the rich honeyed fruit, later melted wax and fresh peach coming through. The palate is well balanced with a strong viscous entry. There is plenty of residual sugar here and I would have preferred a little more acidic bite to offset that rich, decadent finish (this is despite their correct policy of blending non-botrytized berries in order to increase acidity.) Powerful, burly even, I would give this several years in the cellar to allow this Yquem to mellow and enter its stride.
Tasted blind at the Sauternes 2011 horizontal tasting. The Château Yquem 2011 has a complex bouquet, one that is very well defined with hints of petrol infusing the rich honeyed fruit, later melted wax and fresh peach coming through. The palate is well balanced with a strong viscous entry. There is plenty of residual sugar here and I would have preferred a little more acidic bite to offset that rich, decadent finish (this is despite their correct policy of blending non-botrytized berries in order to increase acidity.) Powerful, burly even, I would give this several years in the cellar to allow this Yquem to mellow and enter its stride.

Château d'Yquem is a French winery located in the Sauternes region of Bordeaux. The winery has a long and rich history dating back to the 18th century when it was owned by the Lur-Saluces family. The estate was later acquired by LVMH in 1999 and has since been managed by Pierre Lurton.

Château d'Yquem is known for producing some of the world's finest sweet wines, particularly its Sauternes. The winery's vineyards are planted with a combination of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc grapes, which are left on the vine until they are affected by noble rot, a fungus that concentrates the sugars in the grapes and gives the wine its characteristic sweetness.

The winemaking process at Château d'Yquem is meticulous and time-consuming. The grapes are hand-picked and sorted before being pressed, and the juice is then fermented in oak barrels. The wine is aged in oak for up to three years before being bottled.

Château d'Yquem's Sauternes is a complex and elegant wine with a rich golden color and aromas of honey, apricot, and vanilla. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied and luscious with flavors of dried fruit, caramel, and spice. The wine has a long and lingering finish with a perfect balance of sweetness and acidity.

In addition to its Sauternes, Château d'Yquem also produces a dry white wine called Y d'Yquem. This wine is made from a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon grapes and is aged in oak for up to 10 months. The wine is crisp and refreshing with aromas of citrus and white flowers and flavors of grapefruit and honey.

Château d'Yquem's wines are highly sought after and are considered some of the finest in the world. The winery's commitment to quality and tradition has earned it a reputation as one of the most prestigious wineries in Bordeaux. 

Pale to medium lemon-gold color, the 2010 d'Yquem has retreated into its shell at this youthful stage, offering spritely suggestions of lemon curd, lime cordial and green mango with wafts of honeysuckle, spice cake, sea spray and beeswax plus a hint of gingerbread. The palate really comes through with super intense, tightly wound citrus, savory and mineral layers carried by a laser-precise backbone of freshness, finishing with crazy persistence that lingers a full three minutes and then some. This is going to be a very exotic, opulent Yquem!
Pale to medium gold colored, the 2009 d'Yquem bursts from the glass with gregarious crème caramel, allspice, dried apricots, mandarin peel and pineapple upside down cake scents plus a fragrant undercurrent of fungi, acacia honey, candied ginger, musk perfume and frangipani. Full-bodied and full-on hedonic in the mouth, the rich, tightly wound layers are still amazingly youthful with bags of citrus sparks and an incredibly long, perfumed finish. Possessing a residual sugar of 157 grams per liter and 13.6% alcohol as well as a laser-focused line of freshness, the rock-solid structure and through-the-roof opulence here is simply mind blowing. Pure perfection.
Sporting a medium lemon-gold color, the 2008 d'Yquem is forward, displaying an already complex, compellingly savory/earthy nose of toasted almonds, cloves, damp soil, crushed stones and yeast extract with a core of peach preserves, lemon tart, dried pineapple and allspice. Rich, spicy and decadent in the mouth, with a racy backbone lifting the fruit, it finishes long and multilayered.
Sporting a medium lemon-gold color, the 2008 d'Yquem is forward, displaying an already complex, compellingly savory/earthy nose of toasted almonds, cloves, damp soil, crushed stones and yeast extract with a core of peach preserves, lemon tart, dried pineapple and allspice. Rich, spicy and decadent in the mouth, with a racy backbone lifting the fruit, it finishes long and multilayered.

Château d'Yquem is a French winery located in the Sauternes region of Bordeaux. The winery has a long and rich history dating back to the 18th century when it was owned by the Lur-Saluces family. The estate was later acquired by LVMH in 1999 and has since been managed by Pierre Lurton.

Château d'Yquem is known for producing some of the world's finest sweet wines, particularly its Sauternes. The winery's vineyards are planted with a combination of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc grapes, which are left on the vine until they are affected by noble rot, a fungus that concentrates the sugars in the grapes and gives the wine its characteristic sweetness.

The winemaking process at Château d'Yquem is meticulous and time-consuming. The grapes are hand-picked and sorted before being pressed, and the juice is then fermented in oak barrels. The wine is aged in oak for up to three years before being bottled.

Château d'Yquem's Sauternes is a complex and elegant wine with a rich golden color and aromas of honey, apricot, and vanilla. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied and luscious with flavors of dried fruit, caramel, and spice. The wine has a long and lingering finish with a perfect balance of sweetness and acidity.

In addition to its Sauternes, Château d'Yquem also produces a dry white wine called Y d'Yquem. This wine is made from a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon grapes and is aged in oak for up to 10 months. The wine is crisp and refreshing with aromas of citrus and white flowers and flavors of grapefruit and honey.

Château d'Yquem's wines are highly sought after and are considered some of the finest in the world. The winery's commitment to quality and tradition has earned it a reputation as one of the most prestigious wineries in Bordeaux. 

Pale to medium gold colored, the 2007 d'Yquem delivers powerful scents of tropical fruits—dried mangoes and pineapple paste—accented by acacia honey, toasted almonds and woodsmoke with hints of chalk dust, kettle corn and lime blossom. The palate reveals one of those vintages that shape-shifts into an apparently drier style than it is, largely thanks to its uber-racy backbone of freshness and layered mineral-inspired flavors, finishing with a regal, satin-textured savoriness. Difficult to resist now, this will be one of those Rip Van Winkle vintages that can be predicted to cellar not just for decades but for generations.

Château d'Yquem is a French winery located in the Sauternes region of Bordeaux. The winery has a long and rich history dating back to the 18th century when it was owned by the Lur-Saluces family. The estate was later acquired by LVMH in 1999 and has since been managed by Pierre Lurton.

Château d'Yquem is known for producing some of the world's finest sweet wines, particularly its Sauternes. The winery's vineyards are planted with a combination of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc grapes, which are left on the vine until they are affected by noble rot, a fungus that concentrates the sugars in the grapes and gives the wine its characteristic sweetness.

The winemaking process at Château d'Yquem is meticulous and time-consuming. The grapes are hand-picked and sorted before being pressed, and the juice is then fermented in oak barrels. The wine is aged in oak for up to three years before being bottled.

Château d'Yquem's Sauternes is a complex and elegant wine with a rich golden color and aromas of honey, apricot, and vanilla. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied and luscious with flavors of dried fruit, caramel, and spice. The wine has a long and lingering finish with a perfect balance of sweetness and acidity.

In addition to its Sauternes, Château d'Yquem also produces a dry white wine called Y d'Yquem. This wine is made from a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon grapes and is aged in oak for up to 10 months. The wine is crisp and refreshing with aromas of citrus and white flowers and flavors of grapefruit and honey.

Château d'Yquem's wines are highly sought after and are considered some of the finest in the world. The winery's commitment to quality and tradition has earned it a reputation as one of the most prestigious wineries in Bordeaux. 

The pale to medium lemon-gold colored 2005 d'Yquem opens with a provocative, mineral and earth-tinged nose of chalk dust, wet pebbles and dried wild mushrooms over a core of warm apricots, green mango, honeyed toast, ginger and pink grapefruit plus wafts of honeycomb, orange blossoms and saffron. The palate confirms the wine is still a little closed and shut down, offering achingly gorgeous glimpses at the tightly wound, intricate layers structured with a racy acid line and wonderfully creamy texture, finishing incredibly long and perfumed. This decadent flavor bomb still needs a good five to seven years in bottle before it is set to go off, but oh what a spectacle it will give then!

Château d'Yquem is a French winery located in the Sauternes region of Bordeaux. The winery has a long and rich history dating back to the 18th century when it was owned by the Lur-Saluces family. The estate was later acquired by LVMH in 1999 and has since been managed by Pierre Lurton.

Château d'Yquem is known for producing some of the world's finest sweet wines, particularly its Sauternes. The winery's vineyards are planted with a combination of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc grapes, which are left on the vine until they are affected by noble rot, a fungus that concentrates the sugars in the grapes and gives the wine its characteristic sweetness.

The winemaking process at Château d'Yquem is meticulous and time-consuming. The grapes are hand-picked and sorted before being pressed, and the juice is then fermented in oak barrels. The wine is aged in oak for up to three years before being bottled.

Château d'Yquem's Sauternes is a complex and elegant wine with a rich golden color and aromas of honey, apricot, and vanilla. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied and luscious with flavors of dried fruit, caramel, and spice. The wine has a long and lingering finish with a perfect balance of sweetness and acidity.

In addition to its Sauternes, Château d'Yquem also produces a dry white wine called Y d'Yquem. This wine is made from a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon grapes and is aged in oak for up to 10 months. The wine is crisp and refreshing with aromas of citrus and white flowers and flavors of grapefruit and honey.

Château d'Yquem's wines are highly sought after and are considered some of the finest in the world. The winery's commitment to quality and tradition has earned it a reputation as one of the most prestigious wineries in Bordeaux. 

Château d'Yquem is a French winery located in the Sauternes region of Bordeaux. The winery has a long and rich history dating back to the 18th century when it was owned by the Lur-Saluces family. The estate was later acquired by LVMH in 1999 and has since been managed by Pierre Lurton.

Château d'Yquem is known for producing some of the world's finest sweet wines, particularly its Sauternes. The winery's vineyards are planted with a combination of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc grapes, which are left on the vine until they are affected by noble rot, a fungus that concentrates the sugars in the grapes and gives the wine its characteristic sweetness.

The winemaking process at Château d'Yquem is meticulous and time-consuming. The grapes are hand-picked and sorted before being pressed, and the juice is then fermented in oak barrels. The wine is aged in oak for up to three years before being bottled.

Château d'Yquem's Sauternes is a complex and elegant wine with a rich golden color and aromas of honey, apricot, and vanilla. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied and luscious with flavors of dried fruit, caramel, and spice. The wine has a long and lingering finish with a perfect balance of sweetness and acidity.

In addition to its Sauternes, Château d'Yquem also produces a dry white wine called Y d'Yquem. This wine is made from a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon grapes and is aged in oak for up to 10 months. The wine is crisp and refreshing with aromas of citrus and white flowers and flavors of grapefruit and honey.

Château d'Yquem's wines are highly sought after and are considered some of the finest in the world. The winery's commitment to quality and tradition has earned it a reputation as one of the most prestigious wineries in Bordeaux. 

I have had the very good fortune to taste the 2001 d'Yquem perhaps a dozen times since its release and have never been less than absolutely floored by its combination of poise, purity, precision and layer upon intricate, jaw-dropping layer of flavor nuances. It is among a very small clutch of incredible wines that crash through the 100-point ceiling and rocket beyond the stratosphere! A testament to that magic that can be created when an uncommonly great vintage for Sauternes brings out the best of an extraordinary vineyard and is skillfully, sensitively crafted, the 2001 is a true wine rarity that must be tried to be believed. Pale to medium lemon-gold, the nose is simply WOW—an absolute show-stopper, delivering vibrant, youthful lime cordial, pink grapefruit and lemon meringue pie scents followed up by suggestions of chamomile tea, saffron, cassis and nutmeg plus wafts of marzipan, crushed rocks and beeswax. The palate is beyond-belief intense, offering a myriad of decadent citrus fruit preserves and earthy/mineral-inspired nuances, instilling incredible depth, all punctuated by profound freshness and finishing epically long and exquisitely delicious.
I have had the very good fortune to taste the 2001 d'Yquem perhaps a dozen times since its release and have never been less than absolutely floored by its combination of poise, purity, precision and layer upon intricate, jaw-dropping layer of flavor nuances. It is among a very small clutch of incredible wines that crash through the 100-point ceiling and rocket beyond the stratosphere! A testament to that magic that can be created when an uncommonly great vintage for Sauternes brings out the best of an extraordinary vineyard and is skillfully, sensitively crafted, the 2001 is a true wine rarity that must be tried to be believed. Pale to medium lemon-gold, the nose is simply WOW—an absolute show-stopper, delivering vibrant, youthful lime cordial, pink grapefruit and lemon meringue pie scents followed up by suggestions of chamomile tea, saffron, cassis and nutmeg plus wafts of marzipan, crushed rocks and beeswax. The palate is beyond-belief intense, offering a myriad of decadent citrus fruit preserves and earthy/mineral-inspired nuances, instilling incredible depth, all punctuated by profound freshness and finishing epically long and exquisitely delicious.

Château d'Yquem is a French winery located in the Sauternes region of Bordeaux. The winery has a long and rich history dating back to the 18th century when it was owned by the Lur-Saluces family. The estate was later acquired by LVMH in 1999 and has since been managed by Pierre Lurton.

Château d'Yquem is known for producing some of the world's finest sweet wines, particularly its Sauternes. The winery's vineyards are planted with a combination of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc grapes, which are left on the vine until they are affected by noble rot, a fungus that concentrates the sugars in the grapes and gives the wine its characteristic sweetness.

The winemaking process at Château d'Yquem is meticulous and time-consuming. The grapes are hand-picked and sorted before being pressed, and the juice is then fermented in oak barrels. The wine is aged in oak for up to three years before being bottled.

Château d'Yquem's Sauternes is a complex and elegant wine with a rich golden color and aromas of honey, apricot, and vanilla. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied and luscious with flavors of dried fruit, caramel, and spice. The wine has a long and lingering finish with a perfect balance of sweetness and acidity.

In addition to its Sauternes, Château d'Yquem also produces a dry white wine called Y d'Yquem. This wine is made from a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon grapes and is aged in oak for up to 10 months. The wine is crisp and refreshing with aromas of citrus and white flowers and flavors of grapefruit and honey.

Château d'Yquem's wines are highly sought after and are considered some of the finest in the world. The winery's commitment to quality and tradition has earned it a reputation as one of the most prestigious wineries in Bordeaux. 

Pale gold coloured, the 1998 d'Yquem features a flamboyant, rock-star nose of allspice, candied ginger, honeycomb, and crème brûlée with a core of preserved lemons, mandarin peel, and musk perfume plus a waft of potpourri. Beautifully balanced in the mouth, with seamless freshness lifting the decadent sweetness, it culminates with fantastically persistent layers of exotic spices.
Pale gold coloured, the 1998 d'Yquem features a flamboyant, rock-star nose of allspice, candied ginger, honeycomb, and crème brûlée with a core of preserved lemons, mandarin peel, and musk perfume plus a waft of potpourri. Beautifully balanced in the mouth, with seamless freshness lifting the decadent sweetness, it culminates with fantastically persistent layers of exotic spices.
Medium gold coloured, the 1997 d'Yquem rolls effortlessly out of the glass with super spicy gingersnap, coriander seed, cinnamon stick, and cloves scents over a core of toffee, preserved kumquats, praline, lemon curd and crème brûlée. Silken textured, rich, opulent, and stacked with flavour layers, it has an understated, beautifully knit backbone of freshness and a very long toasted-nut finish.
Compared with the flamboyant aromatics of the 1997, Yquem's 1996 plays it closer to the vest, although there is a lot going on. Light gold with a tight but promising nose of roasted hazelnuts intermixed with creme brulee, vanilla beans, honey, orange marmalade, and peaches, this medium to full-bodied offering reveals loads of power in its restrained, measured personality. There is admirable acidity, weight, texture, and purity in this impeccably made Yquem. However, patience will be a virtue.
Compared with the flamboyant aromatics of the 1997, Yquem's 1996 plays it closer to the vest, although there is a lot going on. Light gold with a tight but promising nose of roasted hazelnuts intermixed with creme brulee, vanilla beans, honey, orange marmalade, and peaches, this medium to full-bodied offering reveals loads of power in its restrained, measured personality. There is admirable acidity, weight, texture, and purity in this impeccably made Yquem. However, patience will be a virtue.

Château d'Yquem is a French winery located in the Sauternes region of Bordeaux. The winery has a long and rich history dating back to the 18th century when it was owned by the Lur-Saluces family. The estate was later acquired by LVMH in 1999 and has since been managed by Pierre Lurton.

Château d'Yquem is known for producing some of the world's finest sweet wines, particularly its Sauternes. The winery's vineyards are planted with a combination of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc grapes, which are left on the vine until they are affected by noble rot, a fungus that concentrates the sugars in the grapes and gives the wine its characteristic sweetness.

The winemaking process at Château d'Yquem is meticulous and time-consuming. The grapes are hand-picked and sorted before being pressed, and the juice is then fermented in oak barrels. The wine is aged in oak for up to three years before being bottled.

Château d'Yquem's Sauternes is a complex and elegant wine with a rich golden color and aromas of honey, apricot, and vanilla. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied and luscious with flavors of dried fruit, caramel, and spice. The wine has a long and lingering finish with a perfect balance of sweetness and acidity.

In addition to its Sauternes, Château d'Yquem also produces a dry white wine called Y d'Yquem. This wine is made from a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon grapes and is aged in oak for up to 10 months. The wine is crisp and refreshing with aromas of citrus and white flowers and flavors of grapefruit and honey.

Château d'Yquem's wines are highly sought after and are considered some of the finest in the world. The winery's commitment to quality and tradition has earned it a reputation as one of the most prestigious wineries in Bordeaux. 

A warm to hot vintage ideal for producing outstanding reds does not necessarily make for a great Sauternes vintage, but in the case of 1990 it did. Dry, warm winds in the autumn contributed to the level of concentration that this wine exhibits. Fortunately, a little rain in late September and early October ensured that botrytis flourished well in the end, the final factor necessary to achieve this extraordinary expression. Medium to deep golden coloured, the 1990 d'Yquem opens with unabashed opulence, giving expressive notes of dried apricots, toffee, candied walnut, tree bark and sandalwood with nuances of preserved mandarin peel, lemongrass and fallen leaves. The palate is entering that stage where it still has bags of fruit and yet appears quite dry, with a lively line contributing jaw-dropping tension and finishing with epically long-lingering honey nut and earth-inspired notes. Pure. Hedonism.
Medium to deep gold colored, the 1989 d'Yquem is little closed to begin, slowly unfurling to give gorgeous dried mango, pineapple paste and candied peel scents with hints of praline, nutmeg, lemon butter and crème caramel plus a waft of crushed stones. The palate delivers powerful, wonderfully concentrated notes of dried stone fruits with provocative nutty nuances and a seamless acid backbone, packaged within a satiny texture and finishing on a lingering lemon tea and minerals note.

Château d'Yquem is a French winery located in the Sauternes region of Bordeaux. The winery has a long and rich history dating back to the 18th century when it was owned by the Lur-Saluces family. The estate was later acquired by LVMH in 1999 and has since been managed by Pierre Lurton.

Château d'Yquem is known for producing some of the world's finest sweet wines, particularly its Sauternes. The winery's vineyards are planted with a combination of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc grapes, which are left on the vine until they are affected by noble rot, a fungus that concentrates the sugars in the grapes and gives the wine its characteristic sweetness.

The winemaking process at Château d'Yquem is meticulous and time-consuming. The grapes are hand-picked and sorted before being pressed, and the juice is then fermented in oak barrels. The wine is aged in oak for up to three years before being bottled.

Château d'Yquem's Sauternes is a complex and elegant wine with a rich golden color and aromas of honey, apricot, and vanilla. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied and luscious with flavors of dried fruit, caramel, and spice. The wine has a long and lingering finish with a perfect balance of sweetness and acidity.

In addition to its Sauternes, Château d'Yquem also produces a dry white wine called Y d'Yquem. This wine is made from a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon grapes and is aged in oak for up to 10 months. The wine is crisp and refreshing with aromas of citrus and white flowers and flavors of grapefruit and honey.

Château d'Yquem's wines are highly sought after and are considered some of the finest in the world. The winery's commitment to quality and tradition has earned it a reputation as one of the most prestigious wineries in Bordeaux. 

There is no other wine in the world like it, and there is no other luxury wine that can possibly justify its price as much as Yquem. The remarkable amount of painstaking labor necessary to produce the nectar known as Yquem is almost impossible to comprehend. This is a fascinating effort. With greater evidence of botrytis than the colossal 1983, but less power and alcohol, the 1986 Yquem tastes reminiscent of the 1975, only more precocious, as well as more concentrated. Several highly respected Bordeaux negociants who are Yquem enthusiasts claim the 1986 Yquem is the greatest wine produced at the property since the legendary 1937. Its enthralling bouquet of pineapples, sauteed hazelnuts, vanillin, and ripe apricots is breathtaking. Compellingly concentrated, the breadth as well as depth of flavor seemingly know no limits. This full-bodied, powerful, yet impeccably balanced Yquem should provide memorable drinking for 40-55 more years.
The 1976 Chateau d'Yquem reaffirms its reputation as one of the great wines of the decade, although I would suggest that that 1971 and 1975 are the true pinnacles. However, in no way do I wish to slight this Sauternes. Deep and slightly burnished in color, it offers dried pineapple, barley sugar, almond and a cheeky puff of café latte. There is wonderful definition here. The palate is underpinned by nigh on perfect acidity with orange rind, mango, crème brûlée and minerals. As it fans out towards the finish, there is a tang of Seville orange marmalade, and though it does not quite possess the persistence of the 1975 Yquem, you will be craving for the next sip.
The 1947 d'Yquem is a beautiful wine, soaring from the glass with scents of marmalade, vanilla pod, crème brûlée, apricot preserve and honeycomb. Full-bodied, rich and powerful while remaining lively and defined for the vintage, it's a seamless, layered wine that concludes with a long, penetrating finish.
Type:
Sweet
Country:
France
Region:
Bordeaux
Appellation:
Sauternes
Producer:
Château D'Yquem
Grapes/Blend:
Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc
Serving temp:
12° - 14° C
ABV:
13%
Pairing Sugesstions:
Fruit-Based Desserts, Foie Gras, Blue Cheese, Berries and Fresh Fruits, Cakes, Cream

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Behind the bottle

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Château D'Yquem

Often described as the greatest sweet wine in the world Château d’Yquem has a reputation that has followed it from the middle ages to today. Back...

Often described as the greatest sweet wine in the world Château d’Yquem has a reputation that has followed it from the middle ages to today. Back then, d’Yquem was owned by the King of England and has since had an interesting history, including being used as a military hospital in both World Wars. In 1996 d’Yquem was bought by LVMH (Moët-Hennessy-Louis Vuitton) from Alexandre de Lur Saluces after centuries of family ownership.

Château d’Yquem has 113 hectares of vines planted with 80% Semillon and 20% Sauvignon Blanc situated at the highest point in Sauternes which has a unique microclimate. This is hugely important as it allows for winds from the east to move through the vineyard which is crucial to remove unwanted moisture during the growing season as the noble rot sets in. Only fully botrytized fruit is picked by 150 very highly skilled vineyard workers and yields are so low that each vine only produces one glass of wine.

In the 1855 classification of Bordeaux, Château d’Yquem was lauded not only to be the greatest wine of Sauternes, but of the entire Bordeaux region with its golden wines declared almost immortal.

“I do not call Yquem a wine because there are an infinite number of “wines” as such, but Yquem is unique. I prefer the word nectar – the drink of the gods – and if I found one that was more noble, I would be less ashamed of our restrictive vocabulary so poorly suited to superlatives.” Frederic Dard

Château d’Yquem was also one of the first major estates to fight fraud by introducing a watermark on their label.

Château D'Yquem
Bordeaux - Onshore Cellars

Bordeaux

Bordeaux, in the southwest of France, needs little introduction as one of the world's most famous, prestigious and prolific wine regions. The majority of Bordeaux wines (nearly 90...
Bordeaux, in the southwest of France, needs little introduction as one of the world's most famous, prestigious and prolific wine regions. The majority of Bordeaux wines (nearly 90 percent of production volume) are the dry, medium- and full-bodied red Bordeaux Blends that established its reputation.

The finest (and most expensive) of these are the wines from the great châteaux of the Haut-Médoc and the Right Bank appellations Saint-Émilion and Pomerol. The former is focused (at the top level) on Cabernet Sauvignon, the latter pair on on Merlot.

The legendary reds are complemented by high-quality white wines based on Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc. These range from dry whites to challenge the best from the Burgundy region (Pessac-Léognan is particularly renowned) to the sweet, botrytized nectars of Sauternes.
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Our collection of Sauternes - Find this at Onshore Cellars your yacht wine supplier

Sauternes

Sauternes is a wine appellation located in the Graves region of Bordeaux, France. The history of Sauternes dates back to the 17th century when the Dutch drained the...

Sauternes is a wine appellation located in the Graves region of Bordeaux, France. The history of Sauternes dates back to the 17th century when the Dutch drained the marshes and created a unique microclimate that allowed for the production of sweet wines. The appellation covers five communes: Sauternes, Barsac, Bommes, Fargues, and Preignac.

The style of production in Sauternes is unique and labor-intensive. The grapes are left on the vine until they are affected by Botrytis cinerea, also known as noble rot. This fungus causes the grapes to shrivel and concentrate the sugars, resulting in a sweet and complex wine. The grapes are harvested by hand in several passes, selecting only the grapes that have been affected by noble rot. This process can take up to six weeks and requires perfect weather conditions.

The main grape variety grown in Sauternes is Semillon, which accounts for around 80% of the plantings. Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle are also grown, but in smaller quantities. Semillon is a thin-skinned grape that is susceptible to noble rot, making it ideal for the production of sweet wines. Sauvignon Blanc adds acidity and freshness to the blend, while Muscadelle contributes floral and fruity aromas.

The typical wines from Sauternes are sweet, complex, and age-worthy. They have a golden color and aromas of honey, apricot, and orange peel. On the palate, they are rich and full-bodied, with flavors of dried fruit, caramel, and spice. The sweetness is balanced by a refreshing acidity, which gives the wine a long and elegant finish.

The most famous producer in Sauternes is Chateau d'Yquem, which has been producing wine since the 18th century. Their wines are considered some of the best in the world and are highly sought after by collectors. Other notable producers include Chateau Suduiraut, Chateau Coutet, and Chateau Rieussec.

In conclusion, Sauternes is a unique and prestigious wine appellation that produces some of the world's finest sweet wines. The labor-intensive production process and the unique microclimate make these wines rare and expensive. Semillon is the main grape variety grown, and the wines are characterized by their sweetness, complexity, and age-worthiness. Chateau d'Yquem is the most famous producer in the region, but there are many other excellent producers to discover.

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