Producer Profile
The Pinnacle of Sauternes
Château d’Yquem is widely regarded as the greatest sweet wine estate in the world. Located on the highest hill in the Sauternes appellation of Bordeaux, it is the only estate to hold the prestigious Premier Cru Supérieur (Superior First Growth) classification, a rank created specifically for Yquem in the 1855 Classification.
Since 1999, the estate has been under the stewardship of LVMH, maintaining a standard of quality so rigorous that if a vintage does not meet their exacting requirements, no wine is released (as seen in 1952, 1972, 1992, and 2012).
The “Y” (Ygrec) Philosophy
While the estate is defined by its botrytized dessert wine, the “Y” (Ygrec) represents a different side of the terroir. First produced in 1959, “Y” is a dry white wine crafted from the same vines as the Grand Vin but harvested at a different moment in the season.
- The Harvest: Unlike the dessert wine, which requires “noble rot,” the grapes for “Y” are picked at the very beginning of the harvest. The goal is to capture maximum freshness and aromatic intensity before the botrytis fungus sets in.
- The Terroir: The vineyards sit on a complex mosaic of clay, gravel, and sand. The Sauvignon Blanc provides the racy acidity and citrus drive, while the Sémillon adds the creamy, honeyed texture that is the Yquem signature.
