2019 Chateau d'Yquem

The wine is made from the grape varieties sémillon (80%) and sauvignon blanc (20%). Due to the specific (micro)climate of Sauternes, the grapes undergo the so-called noble rot (caused by the fungus Botrytis cinerea). This gives the wine a unique sweetness, but the yield in terms of yield is exceptionally low (the moisture from the grapes is almost completely lost).

This wine has elegance and finesse of an unprecedented quality. The Yquem has a beautiful golden color in the glass. The wine has an exceptionally sweet nose of honeyed tropical fruits, peaches, coconut, and apricots. High quality where the oak is subtly but wonderfully integrated. The wine has a huge palate with layers of intensely ripe botrytis-tinged, exceptionally sweet fruit.

The wine is individually packaged in a beautiful wooden box (OWC).

Lisa Perrotti-Brown : 97+/100 : “ Pale lemon-gold in color, the 2019 Château d'Yquem springs forth with confident, alluring scents of lime blossoms, mandarin peel, and candied lemon slices over a core of fresh pineapple, white peaches, and crushed stones, plus a hint of shaved ginger. The palate absolutely pops with vibrant citrus flavors accented by tropical fruits and peachy nuances, supported by an achingly velvety texture and seamless freshness, finishing with long-lasting mineral and floral fireworks. An irresistible fat-cheeked baby with that Mona Lisa smile at the moment, give it 6-8 years in the cellar to begin to reveal its opulent personality, and then drink it over the next 30-35 years+. The blend is 55% Semillon and 45% Sauvignon Blanc with 138 g/L of residual sugar and a pH of 3.9. The alcohol weighs in at 14.4 ”.

Falstaff : 97/100 : “ Medium golden yellow, silver reflections. Fine blossom honey, a hint of bourbon vanilla, ripe yellow tropical fruit, candied orange zest, delicate ripe mango, mace and orange blossom in the background. Juicy, the residual sweetness of 138g/l is evident in this opulent but not lush style, well-integrated oak, salty minerality, still somewhat underdeveloped, a hint of apricot on the finish, good length, very harmonious and already easy to drink, endowed with certain aging potential. (Tasted by Peter Moser in early 2022) ”.

Decanter : 97/100 : “ The 2019 vintage of Château d'Yquem has the highest proportion (45%) of Sauvignon Blanc in any modern Yquem. The Sauvignon Blanc adds to the freshness, acting as a great balance to the succulent, sweet and voluptuous palate. Intense peach and apricot, combined with lemon and orange zest, make this highly appealing to drink right away – an ideal vintage with which to start Yquem's 'lighthouse' project. However, it would be a shame not to give this 10+ years maturation to see how it develops. Very well, I suspect. The growing season was both warm and wet, with mildew a big threat. After a mostly dry September, 40mm rain came at the end of the month, leading to a very short harvest window. All of the Yquem grapes were picked in two tries within a one-week period. Residual Sugar: 138g/L ”.