A living myth, unique Premier Cru Supérieur

Classified as Premier Cru Supérieur in 1855, Château d’Yquem remains an unmatched monument in the world of great wines. Located at the top of the Yquem hill, in the commune of Sauternes, it dominates its appellation both geographically and symbolically. Since its founding in the 16th century, and even more so since the imperial classification of 1855, Yquem embodies excellence pushed to its ultimate degree.

Owned by the LVMH group since 1999, the estate is now managed with the utmost rigor by Pierre Lurton, an essential figure in Bordeaux viticulture (also director of Cheval Blanc). He is surrounded by an elite team, including Francis Mayeur (cellar master) and Sandrine Garbay, former chief oenologist who stayed for nearly 30 years, now replaced by Lorenzo Pasquini, a talented Italian-Bordeaux oenologist.

A unique terroir, with historical plots

The Yquem vineyard extends over approximately 113 hectares planted, spread over more than 150 distinct plots, some of which have evocative names like La Montagne, Le Sillon, Le Ciron, Les Palombes, and Le Dauphin. The diversity of these plots allows for blends of incredible complexity.

The soils mix deep clays, sandy gravel, and limestone subsoils, on a slightly elevated plateau. But what makes Yquem unique is the interaction between the Garonne and its tributary, the Ciron, which creates in autumn a misty microclimate in the morning and sunny in the afternoon, an essential condition for the appearance of noble rot (botrytis cinerea).

Vinification methods: the art of extreme patience

The harvest is a ritual of extreme meticulousness: up to 7 to 10 passes in each row, over more than 6 weeks, to harvest only perfectly botrytized berries. Each berry is hand-sorted. The yield is drastic, often less than 9 hl/ha – or one glass per vine.

The musts are vinified by plot and by selection in new French oak barrels. Fermentation is slow and can last up to a month. Aging continues for 20 to 36 months, with fine stirring, and a draconian plot selection: some barrels are discarded if they do not meet the year's standards.

The Yquem style: mastered richness

Château d’Yquem offers a unique alchemy between concentration and freshness, density and finesse. The aromas evoke roasted apricot, candied mandarin, saffron, acacia honey, wax, mango, and sometimes gingerbread. The palate is luminous, creamy, but never heavy, thanks to an underlying acidity that balances the sugar. The wine evolves wonderfully for more than 50 to 100 years.

The iconic cuvées

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  Château d’Yquem: The legend. Vinified only when the vintage reaches excellence. No Yquem is produced in years deemed insufficient (like 2012 or 1992).

  
  
  
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  Y d’Yquem (Ygrec): The great dry white wine of the estate, produced since 1959. A blend of predominantly Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon, chiseled, floral, tense, with great aging potential.

  
  
  

A goldsmith's philosophy

Yquem follows no calendar. Here, they harvest as long as it takes, vinify with respect and rigor, and age without compromise. Each vintage is the expression of an artisanal vision supported by a luxury of means, but above all by a vision: to make the greatest sweet wine in the world, without yielding to ease.

Why choose Château d’Yquem?

Because a glass of Yquem is the dazzling of fruit, the poetry of time, and the hand of man united. It is the ultimate liquid emotion, at the crossroads of refinement and eternity.

Production 100,000 bottles;

Area 105 ha;

Average age of the vines: 30 years;

Planting density: 7,000 vines / ha;

Maturity: 15 to 100 years depending on the vintage;

Grape composition 80% Sémillon, 20% Sauvignon;

Best vintages 2009, 2007, 2001, 1990, 1988, 1986, 1975, 1945, 1847, 1811.