Who makes it
The 150 parcels at Château d'Yquem run across three undulating slopes. The estate has maintained a massal selection program since 1992, selecting vine material from existing plantings for future replanting. Vines average 25 years of age and are generally replaced before reaching 50.
The Lur Saluces family controlled Château d'Yquem for approximately 400 years before LVMH's takeover. The estate's white wine remains built around Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc.
Where it grows
Sauternes is the appellation attached to Château d'Yquem. Starting with the 2011 vintage, the estate removed Sauternes from its front label and placed it on the back label. The move presented Yquem as a brand in its own right, with less reliance on the appellation's reputation.
What they make
Château d'Yquem is a white wine from Sauternes, made from 70% Sémillon and 30% Sauvignon Blanc. The 2014 vintage has 135 grams per litre residual sugar and 4.9 grams per litre acidity, with pineapple, grapefruit and candied lemon.
The 2020 vintage is fresh, bright, vibrant and racy. Honeysuckle, dried oranges, apricots, lemon curd, saffron, marzipan, pineapple and vanilla appear on the nose and palate, while its acidity prevents cloying sweetness. Full maturity arrives after 35 to 50 years or longer.