Château d'Yquem
Raised to the ranks of Premier CruSupérieur appellation in 1855, Château d'Yquem is the product of meticulouswork in the vineyard. Since its beginnings, it has benefited from anexceptional terroir, as well as being the result of a unique ancestral know-howsince 1593.
IDENTITY
Long before it was enjoyed by the first USPresident George Washington, the wines of Yquem had already begun writing theirchapters in the history books. It all began in 1453 when Aquitaine, previouslyEnglish, was brought under French rule. A century later, a local nobleman bythe name of Jacques Sauvage was granted feudal tenure over Yquem and thusbecame the first in a long line of dedicated winemakers. This outstandingterroir in the sauternes appellation has exceptional climate conditions andgeological features. Château d’Yquem was attributed the esteemed title PremierCru Supérieur in 1855. From that point, the genius of this sweet wine wasacknowledged, and the Sauvage and Lur Saluces families went on preserving theirtreasure for over 400 years. The LVMH group acquired the estate in 1999, withthe continued desire to go on writing the legendary Yquem story, both inkeeping with tradition and remaining open to modern advances. From the vineyardto the cellar, the great art which crafts each vintage is also maintainedthrough respect for the label, and determines the destiny of each year’sproduction.
ICON
Widowed at 20 years old,Françoise-Joséphine de Lur Saluces found herself responsible for the familyestate and developed the reputation of Yquem wine beyond the borders of thekingdom of France. When she died in 1851, the Countess left her grandson withone of the most successful properties in Bordeaux.
SAVOIR-FAIRE
Château d’Yquem is renowned for itsabsolute mastery of selective harvesting in waves. This technique is dictatedby the gradual development of Botrytis cinerea, also known as “noble rot”.The fungus colonizes the grape and causes water to evaporate through the skinof the fruit. This change of state is widely feared, but can transform thegrapes into “drops of gold” given the right climate conditions. With the effectsof noble rot, the sugar and juice of the grapes become highly concentrated,well beyond ordinary ripeness, until they reach the “signature” level at Yquem,which is 20% of potential alcohol for the must, with 360 grams of sugar perliter. Pickers must ensure that the fruit is at the correct stage of Botrytisdevelopment, and on average they carry out 5 or 6 selections over six weeks.This risky process involves a long wait, with late and extended harvests aswell as a high risk of losing the crop as winter approaches, and a reduction ofaround 50% of the total juice volume. As a result, yields are very low atYquem, on average 9 hectoliters per hectare, and is one of the reasons for itsconsistently outstanding quality.
OUTLOOK
While the oldest vintages of Yquem arehighly appreciated, new ways of tasting are now being embraced and the winescan be enjoyed at all stages, including in their youth. Amongthe youngest vintages, aromas are characterized by fresh fruit and sumptuousnotes, and a unique aromatic palate that evolves after two or three years ofcellaring. When served chilled, each bottle of young Yquem tells its ownstory and expresses all the meticulous work carried out in the vineyardsthrough its purity, elegance and complexity.
🏅 James Suckling 99-100 pts
This is an incredible young Yquem that is so vinous like a great vintage of Montrachet but then on the palate it turns to Yquem with spice, dried fruit and mushroom as well as sweet fruit. Last for minutes. Acidity is all there giving it a dynamic vibrance that jolts your senses. Special wine. It has a little more than than 140 grams of residual sugar, less than the legendary of 2001. But is very close in greatness. Let’s wait and see.
🏅 Wine Advocate 99+ pts
A blend of 75% Sémillon and 25% Sauvignon Blanc with 144 grams of residual sugar, the 2015 d'Yquem offers up a multifaceted, entrancing bouquet with aromas of jasmine, lime leaves, grilled bread, saffron, ripe orchard fruits, lemon oil and spices. Crystalline and pure, it’s full-bodied, seamless and layered, with excellent concentration on the mid-palate (thanks to clay soils), concluding with an energetic yet saline finish brought by calcareous soils. This is an opulent but charming vintage for Château d'Yquem, and it could reach the optimum score with a minimum of 20 years of aging. Harvest began on September 3rd and finished on October 21st.
🏅 Vinous 98 pts
The 2015 Yquem is without question one of the wines of the vintage. just as alluring from bottle as it wasfrom barrel, the 2015 is a wine that engages all of the senses, from the intellectual to the more hedonistic.Lilting notes of pineapple, mint, orange peel and white flowers grace the palate, but it is the wine's sense ofbalance and total harmony that impress most. ln 2015, Yquem had its earliest start to the harvest since 1893Even so, the winemaking team did a magnificent job of preserving freshness. The 2015 was fermented in00% new oak, and residual sugar is 145 qrams per liter, but great wine is never about numbers. Above alelse, the 2015 Yquem is a wine of energy and class. Don't miss it!
