CHATEAU D'YQUEM

CHATEAU D'YQUEM

The History

The history of Château d’Yquem begins about four centuries ago with the illustrious Lur Saluces family. Perched on a gentle hill adorned with meadows and century-old pine trees, Château d’Yquem, with its 104 hectares, overlooks the Garonne Valley, the Ciron River, and the Landes forest. The main building dates from the 17th century, and the surrounding walls date from the 15th and 16th centuries.

Château d’Yquem is an exceptional wine from the prestigious Sauternes appellation in Bordeaux. It is considered the most prestigious château in the appellation. In the 1855 classification, it was the only one to receive the title of Premier Cru Supérieur among the Sauternes appellation, marking a clear distinction from the other Premier Crus Classés of Sauternes.

Yquem was once served in palaces and aristocratic courts across Europe and even on the other side of the Atlantic. Yquem quickly conquered the most emblematic places in history, such as the White House. Letters attest that Thomas Jefferson ordered several bottles on behalf of George Washington. “Sauterne. This is the best white wine of France, and the best of it is made by Monsieur de Lur-Saluces,” wrote Thomas Jefferson.

The Liquid Gold Created by Botrytis Cinerea

Botrytis Cinerea, the fungus responsible for the unique character of Sauternes wines, is a microscopic fungus also known as “noble rot” that transforms grape berries. The meeting of the cold waters of the Ciron River and the warmer waters of the Garonne River promotes the development of morning mists in the vineyards of Sauternes. This humidity triggers the appearance of Botrytis. Sunny afternoons allow the mists to evaporate and slow down the development of Botrytis.

A Legendary Concentration

The quality of Botrytis and the expertise of Château d’Yquem give this wine an extremely intense and complex character. The action of Botrytis concentrates the aromas and all the components of the wine. It is said that tasting a glass of Yquem is equivalent to tasting the wine from an entire vine. To achieve this level of intensity, concentration, and complexity, there are no secrets—the wine must come from extremely low yields. The Sauternes appellation allows yields of 25 hL/ha. Yquem's commitment to impeccable quality results in an average yield of 9 hL/ha, one of the lowest in the world, and they do not hesitate to forgo production in years when the vintage does not meet their quality standards (as demonstrated by the 2012 vintage).

An Eternal Wine

Château d’Yquem is a wine that ages divinely well over time. Designed for long aging, Yquem is enhanced and elevated by the passage of time. With bottle aging, the bouquet, already complex and exceptional in the wine’s youth, evolves, and the notes of spices and wood related to fermentation and aging subtly integrate into the aromatic profile.

Its unparalleled aging capacity has been recognized by the most respected critics, notably Robert Parker in 1996 when he awarded a perfect score of 100/100 to the 1811 vintage of Château d’Yquem. The 1811 vintage stands out in the château’s wine library due to a rare astrological phenomenon: the passage of a comet visible to the naked eye in 1811. Among winemakers, it is a legend that wines produced during the passage of comets are regularly deemed exceptional because they come from particularly ideal weather conditions.

 

The Greatest Vintages of Yquem That Have Marked History

1900 is an exceptional vintage for Château d’Yquem, whose quality marked the beginning of the new century. The rainy weather at the end of the season led to four weeks of intense harvesting, with a total yield of barely 20 hL/ha.

Château d’Yquem 1900 was described by Pekka Nuikki, Editor of Fine Wine and Champagne magazine: “Decanted for 1 hour. Dark brown but brilliant color. The bouquet is fabulously rich, floral, and creamy, with great presence. Very sweet, rich, and concentrated. Despite its admirable age, it was filled with jammy fruit, giving it a sparkle, with bursts of fruit on the palate. Good balance and structure. Elegant and sweet, while being quite powerful and warm with good acidity. This 1900 vintage offered everything that makes this great vintage renowned!” 97 / 100

 

1921: An extraordinary year, extremely dry, with early and prolonged harvests. 1921 is a vintage of great richness and complexity.

 

1929 was an arid and very hot year at Château d’Yquem, allowing for simple, uninterrupted harvests. The berries reached a very high alcohol potential. “A monument of power, richness, and a deeply amber color that sets it apart.” - Château d’Yquem

Jancis Robinson MW describes it as, “A dark reddish-brown hue. According to Richard Olney, who wrote the famous monograph on Yquem, this wine has always been mahogany in color. So dense! Sommelier Dominique Baduel of Hambleton Hall suggests it resembles licorice. Sweet nose, almost coconut-like. Very full, sweet but with a lot of acidity. Stewed plums and extraordinarily fresh. No sign of oxidation. Very slightly tannic on the finish.”

 

1937: A dry and mild time with ideal harvest conditions. According to Château d’Yquem, the vintage is characterized by a finesse “that is extremely rare, resulting from the purity of the rot.”

Château d’Yquem 1937: “Deep orange-brown color with a palate that verges on caramel, with layers of dried flowers, butterscotch, and mango tart. There is still an incredible acidic structure and intense energy in this wine that is nearly 80 years old. What a spectacular Yquem, still displaying all its splendor.” - Jeannie Cho Lee MW 98 / 100

 

1945: The spring and summer were very hot, and the frost in May did not impact the inflorescences. Harvest conditions were perfect, and the grape berries had beautiful complexity and acidity.

Château d’Yquem 1945 “I will say nothing other than it is a perfect bottle of Sauternes. It still possesses the ethereal delineation on the nose with vibrant aromas of Seville orange marmalade and quince, perhaps with a little more hazelnut compared to previous bottles. The palate is exceptionally brilliant, offering tangy marmalade mingled with satsuma, mango, and crushed stone, so crystalline and pure. A magnificent wine at the height of its power.” - Neal Martin 100 / 100

 

1947: A sumptuous vintage, rich, fine, and balanced. The vintage is characterized by its summer, one of the hottest of the 20th century.

Château d’Yquem 1947 “It revealed this patinated amber color, then the glorious bouquet, intense and rich with dried honey, quince, and mandarin, with a hint of red fruits in the background reminiscent of the birth year, that hot post-war summer. The palate is creamy, almost heavy in the mouth, with the acidity keeping enough freshness and balance, with a powerful, quite spicy finish that seems extraordinarily long on the palate. To repeat my previous sentiment, although the 1947 may not be up to the greatest Yquems like 1929, 1945, or 2001, it ranks just below… and that’s enough for me.” - Robert Parker 97 / 100

 

1949: An exceptional vintage, sumptuous and extremely rare, similar to 1947.

Château d’Yquem 1949 “Transparent tile. Very rich and sumptuous. Round and much like 1948, but perhaps a bit rounder and richer. Long and satisfying. Perhaps more elegant than 1948.” - Jancis Robinson MW 19.5 / 20

 

1959: Yquem at its highest style. The year was very hot but also rainy, allowing for excellent botrytis development.

Château d’Yquem 1959 “A great wine at its peak but showing no signs of decline. Tanned with a greenish hue at the edge. Wonderfully acidic. 120 g/l. Superb balance with some notes of gunpowder and smoke. It was extremely hot when the grapes were harvested. It’s amazing that it’s so good in an era before sophisticated temperature control. Extremely rich with notes of dried fruit. Superb balance with pronounced notes of dried citrus peel. Vital. Slightly more pronounced acidity than another bottle I had the chance to taste late last year in London.” - Jancis Robinson MW 19.5 / 20

 

1962: The harvests were very late but generous with high-quality potential.

Château d’Yquem 1962 “This is an excellent, even exceptional Yquem, but I must admit to being less impressed than others who have enthusiastically rated it as one of the greatest Yquems produced. It is rich and honeyed, with a spicy, woody aroma of tropical fruits, rich flavors of butterscotch, grilled fruits, and caramel, and an astringent, dry, slightly coarse finish that, for me, prevents it from achieving a higher rating. Anticipated maturity: now-2025. Last tasted 11/82.” - Robert Parker 90 / 100

 

1967: A legendary vintage for Château d’Yquem. The berries were very ripe, rich with intense concentration due to a hot, dry summer and excellent harvests.

Château d’Yquem 1967 “In general, 1967 was not a great vintage for Bordeaux's dry red wines. After a mixed start to the harvest for Yquem in early October, a period of rain followed, then warm and dry temperatures in mid-October triggered an explosion of botrytis. The rest is history: 1967 was a legendary year for Yquem. And indeed, it was a very good bottle, tasted at the Château in spring 2019.” - Robert Parker 99 / 100

 

1975: The reference vintage of the 1970s, oscillating between purity and power in perfect balance.

The vines received just the right amount of water, enough to avoid water stress. The harvest required only 3 tries, with the quality of the berries compensating for the low yields.

Château d’Yquem 1975 “Deep golden color, the 1975 Yquem initially reveals notes of cashew butter, manuka honey, dried apricots, musk fragrance, and dead leaves, with a background of spice cake, apple compote, mushrooms, and lemongrass. On the palate, it is loaded with lively, vibrant flavors of stone fruits and candied citrus, interwoven with honey and nut accents, with a provocative and earthy finish. Though intense and hedonistically satisfying, this enchanting vintage reveals so many nuances as it unfolds that it takes your breath away. Be sure this is the last wine of the evening, as once you taste it, everything else will seem insignificant.” - Robert Parker 99 / 100

 

1983: A great Yquem. The exceptional quality of the juice reflects the more than ideal conditions at the start of the harvest, which lasted more than 6 weeks.

Château d’Yquem 1983 “The 1983 vintage is one of the most concentrated wines from this property in the last 20 years, with an amazing display of extract and an incredible amount of glycerin. The harvest began early for Yquem, starting on September 29 and ending on November 18. Most observers believe that the 1983 will mature more slowly than the 1986 and will last nearly 100 years. Given Yquem's incredible aging potential, such comments do not seem exaggerated. Currently, the 1983 is huge, with intense flavors of honey, pineapple, coconut, and caramel, a massive extract, and a creamy quality barely framed by acidity and new oak. I don’t think the wine has changed since bottling, and I wouldn’t start drinking it for at least 10-15 years. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2050.” - Robert Parker 96 / 100

 

1986: A vintage whose magnitude and depth result from a fabulous late season and a large amount of botrytis. Noble rot developed thanks to mid-September rains after a hot and dry summer. The misty and sunny conditions of November allowed the harvesters to pick berries of irresistible richness.

Château d’Yquem 1986 “There is no other wine in the world like this, and no other luxury wine can justify its price as much as Yquem. The remarkable amount of meticulous work required to produce the nectar known as Yquem is almost impossible to comprehend. It is a fascinating effort. With a more marked botrytis presence than the colossal 1983 but less power and alcohol, the 1986 Yquem recalls the 1975 vintage, but it is both earlier and more concentrated. Several highly respected Bordeaux wine merchants, Yquem lovers, claim that the 1986 Yquem is the greatest wine produced on the property since the legendary 1937. Its enchanting bouquet of pineapple, toasted hazelnuts, vanilla, and ripe apricots is breathtaking. With irresistible concentration, the magnitude and depth of flavors seem limitless. This powerful, rich, yet impeccably balanced Yquem should offer memorable tastings.” - Robert Parker 98 / 100

 

1988: An astonishing vintage due to its structure and concentration, it is “a wine full of fullness and a great classic of its kind” according to Château d’Yquem and many wine journalists and critics. The weather was perfect, with botrytis quality allowing the berries to evolve homogeneously until they reached perfect maturity.

Château d’Yquem 1988 “Dark tawny. The most intriguing nose. Brilliant and lively, and more intellectual than the other two. Extremely long - a hint of ginger and a real zest. It certainly seemed to be the best of the three, without a doubt. Very classy and seductive - perhaps classier than 1989. Powerful and very, very long.” - Jancis Robinson 19.5 / 20

 

1989: A vintage whose rare and exceptional character is only comparable to the great Yquem vintages of 1947 and 1949. Excess seems to characterize the weather of this vintage: hailstorm in July, scorching harvests, torrid heat, and very low yield. Yquem emerges stronger, more concentrated, and more powerful.

Château d’Yquem 1989 “The 1989 Yquem is one of my favorite vintages and certainly my choice among the famous trio of the late decade. This bottle is even more spectacular than the one served at Hide restaurant three years ago. Still a clear gold, it offers an enchanting bouquet of orange blossom, quince, and freshly sliced apricot, all with striking precision. With ineffable purity and full of tension, this Yquem has such a fluid nature that it leaves the taster almost hypnotized by its presence. Delicate touches of fig and Seville orange marmalade adorn the finish. Brilliant.” Neal Martin 99 / 100

 

1990: Following the excesses of 1989, 1990 is characterized by its intensity. An intensely dry and hot year, a frantic pace of harvest lasting a full month thanks to favorable weather. An exceptional vintage, described by Château d’Yquem as “a rare success.”

Château d’Yquem 1990 “An extraordinary effort, the 1990 Yquem is a rich and fabulously superb, sweet wine. This wine also possesses a lot of elegance and finesse. Its medium-gold color is accompanied by an exceptionally sweet nose of honeyed tropical fruits, peaches, coconut, and apricots. A high-quality toasted oak, subtle and well-integrated, stands out. On the palate, the wine is massive, with layers of intensely ripe fruit, tinted with botrytis, and exceptionally sweet. A surprisingly well-integrated acidity, along with full power and richness, creates a wine of remarkable harmony and purity. This is certainly one of the richest Yquems I have ever tasted, with a potential longevity of 50 to 100 years. An extraordinary Yquem!” - Robert Parker 99 / 100

 

1995: A fabulous vintage. The late spring and summer were dry and hot. Botrytis developed harmoniously after a rainy episode, 110 mm of rain in 24 hours.

Château d’Yquem 1995 “Deep golden color, it presents a dense bouquet, almost similar to a Barsac, with notes of tangerine, apricot, acacia, and melted candle wax. It shows good intensity, unfolding beautifully in the glass. On the palate, the attack is lively, with a slight bitterness that gives this Yquem great tension. Layers of marmalade infused with honeyed fruits can be discerned, with a powerful and spicy finish that lingers long on the palate.” - Robert Parker 95 / 100

 

1997: The vintage of extremes but with rare complexity, depth, and balance resulting from particular weather conditions. The very early harvests, starting on September 4, continued for two long months. The absence of rain just after the start of the harvest led to up to 7 tries on this vintage.

Château d’Yquem 1997 “A sensational Yquem, 1997 may be the best achievement of this estate since 1990. The pale gold color of the 1997 is accompanied by a magnificent perfume of caramel, honeysuckle, peach, apricot, and smoked wood. Full-bodied with a creamy texture, with good underlying acidity and great sweetness and a lot of glycerin, it seems to be a great vintage for this famous Sauternes estate.” - Robert Parker 96 / 100