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Sweet sweet
A sweet wine from the Sauternes appellation in Bordeaux, France. Château d’Yquem is the only estate classified as “Premier Cru Supérieur” in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification. Its distinction stems not only from its historic reputation, but also from meticulous winemaking and highly selective harvesting, with grapes picked in several passes to select berries affected by noble rot (Botrytis cinerea) that have reached the desired level of ripeness and aromatic concentration.
The 2023 vintage displays purity and intensity on the nose, revealing notes of stewed rhubarb, flowers and citrus fruit, complemented by nuances of beeswax and cedar. The palate is rich, silky and enveloping, yet retains vitality and precision. Flavours of apricot, dark plum and mandarin marmalade combine with refreshing acidity, providing balance. The long, expressive finish reveals the concentration and subtlety of this vintage.
The Château d’Yquem vineyards are located in Sauternes, where autumn morning mists forming around the Garonne and its tributary, the Ciron, followed by warmer, drier afternoons, create favourable conditions for the development of noble rot. It affects the grape skins, causing the berries to lose some of their water and increasing the concentration of sugars and aromatic compounds. Harvesting takes place in several passes, with careful selection of the most suitable berries.
The 2023 harvest took place between 14 September and 11 October. The wine is made from 70% ‘Sémillon’ and 30% ‘Sauvignon Blanc’. Fermentation takes place in new French oak barrels. During ageing, each batch is assessed individually before the lots that best express the intended style of the wine are selected and blended.
The residual sugar level of this vintage is 153 g/l. Despite its high concentration, the wine maintains an excellent balance between sweetness, acidity and aromatic intensity. The producer describes the 2023 vintage as a result of exceptional balance: concentrated yet pure, powerful and subtle, with considerable ageing potential.
Serve at a temperature of 10–12 °C; pair with foie gras and toasted brioche, baked lobster with a butter and citrus sauce, or aged blue cheese with fresh pears.
Château d’Yquem – a true Bordeaux legend whose history spans more than four centuries. In the Middle Ages, the estate belonged to the King of England, and in 1593 the Sauvage family acquired the property, laying the foundations of today’s vineyard and introducing the distinctive practice of late harvesting. In 1711, under Louis XIV, they became full owners of Yquem. In the 18th–19th centuries, Yquem’s reputation was cemented by Françoise Joséphine de Sauvage d’Yquem, whose remarkable leadership during the turbulent years of the French Revolution secured the estate’s international acclaim. By the late 19th century, Château d’Yquem had become the benchmark of Sauternes, a wine for which aristocrats were willing to pay astronomical prices. In the 20th century, the Lur-Saluces family safeguarded the estate’s philosophy with dedication. Since 1999, it has been owned by LVMH Moët Hennessy-Louis Vuitton, and today Château d’Yquem remains the ultimate symbol of sweet wine excellence worldwide.
Wine Style
Château d’Yquem is celebrated for its unparalleled combination of elegance, richness, and precision. It is the only Sauternes producer classified as Premier Cru Supérieur in the 1855 Bordeaux classification. The wine is crafted from ‘Sémillon’ and ‘Sauvignon Blanc’, grapes affected by noble rot (Botrytis cinerea). The result is a wine bursting with concentrated aromas of apricot, peach, candied orange peel, honey, spice, and vanilla, balanced by vibrant acidity and a silky texture. Yquem is distinguished not only by its luscious sweetness but also by its extraordinary freshness and harmony, making it the reference point for all sweet wines.
Prestigious Vineyards
The estate comprises about 100 hectares of vineyards in the Barsac and Sauternes appellations, of which only around 65 hectares are harvested each year to maintain the highest quality. The dominant clay-limestone soils combined with a unique microclimate provide the perfect conditions for noble rot. Strict selection – often just a few berries from each bunch – is one of the key elements that sets Yquem apart.
Aging and Drinking Window
Every bottle of Château d’Yquem is the result of extended maturation. The wine is aged for about 36 months in French oak barrels, all of which are new, imparting depth and complexity. While it can be enjoyed young, with its vibrant fruit and freshness, its true greatness unfolds with age – Yquem can mature gracefully for more than a century, retaining its incomparable vitality and harmony.
