Château d'Yquem

Why we follow Château d'Yquem

The estate

The only Premier Cru Supérieur of the 1855 Sauternes classification, on a hilltop in the Sauternes commune. Owned by LVMH, majority from 1999 and in full from 2004, and managed by Pierre Lurton, who also runs Cheval Blanc, since May 2004.

The vineyards

Around 113 hectares in total, of which roughly 100 to 103 are productive. Plantings run about 75 to 80 per cent Sémillon and 20 to 25 per cent Sauvignon Blanc, on clay-gravel over limestone slopes that fall away on all sides of the château — ideal for the morning mists that bring botrytis.

In the glass

Multiple selective hand-harvest passes, or tries, picking only nobly rotted berries. Whole-cluster pressing, usually three presses combined, fermentation in entirely new oak with indigenous yeasts, and more than three years in barrel. The finished wine sits around 13 to 13.5 per cent alcohol with 120 to 130 grams per litre of residual sugar. In 2006 a 135-year vertical, every vintage from 1860 to 2003, sold for US$1.5 million. The lot notably included nine empty bottles for the non-declared vintages, signed by Pierre Lurton. Because Yquem is released years after the vintage and ages for a century, older bottles are a prime counterfeiting target, and fill level and provenance matter.

With Lamont’s

Offered through the Private Cellar Selection, generally following the April release. Register your interest and we will contact you when the next allocation is confirmed.