Château d'Yquem Sauternes 2020 - 1er Cru Classé Supérieur

Bettane & Desseauve

About the domain :

Yquem enjoys a unique status in Bordeaux production, virtually beyond critical judgment. The hundred or so hectares farmed are divided between Semillon and Sauvignon, on gravelly hilltops with a more clayey subsoil. There are no small or even average vintages for this cru, which is uncompromising. In fact, the 2012 vintage was not produced, as the quality was not deemed high enough for the cru. The LVMH group (which took it over in 1999 with Pierre Lurton at the helm, having joined in 2004), like the Lur-Saluces family (now at Château de Fargues), can't even imagine the possibility of taking the easy way out! Now more than ever, Yquem has earned its place as the Premier des Premiers vins du Sauternais. The arrival of Sauvignon in the blends, the flexible adaptation of ageing to the nature of the vintage, and of course a unique agronomic know-how make each vintage an even more precise and balanced feast than in previous decades, satisfying both our senses and our intelligence.

Decanter

About the wine:

A masterclass in purity and delicacy for this 2020 vintage, which manages to convey Yquem's beauty and allure in a watered-down, subtle and bewitching way. Aromas of white flowers and honeysuckle, delicately caramelized mirabelle plums and fresh apricots with hints of clementine and grapefruit marrow abound on the nose - richly perfumed in their individual aspects but delivered quietly, almost sensual and shy. Immediately full and unctuous, clean and fresh, with a touch of sweetness that strikes first before tantalizing acidity lends sumptuous succulence and vivacity. Apricot, peach, fleshy mango and lively pineapple give the exotic fruit a spiciness balanced by a salty, flinty aspect that adds slight angles to the expression. Juicy, bright, clean and complete, with notes of cinnamon spice and just-roasted bread that give it structure and backbone and remind you that it's made to last. It's not as opulent as some vintages, much more restrained and relaxed - and, coincidentally, one of the lowest in residual sugar at 135 g/l - but it's a wonderful expression, with obvious control and confidence. It's also extremely easy to drink, even today, with tension, clarity and energy, so don't be afraid to open it up and enjoy it in its joyous youth. 2023-2070

Guide Hachette des vins

About the domain :

A superb 17th-century fortified manor house surrounded by vines, set at the top of hills overlooking the Garonne valley, Château d'Yquem has - uniquely for a grand cru - remained in the same family, the Sauvages and then the Lur-Saluces, for almost four hundred years. By the 18th century, the estate had become the jewel in the crown of the Sauternes region. In addition to its stability, the estate benefits from an extremely varied and nuanced terroir, made up of a multitude of small hills, with vines at the top of the plateau and others in the middle and at the bottom of the slope. This diversity makes it possible to adapt to the vagaries of the climate, and contributes to the great complexity of Yquem wines. Classified as a Premier Cru Supérieur in 1855, the only one in its category, it has belonged to the LVMH group since 1999, which entrusted its management to Pierre Lurton in 2004. Conversion to organic farming is scheduled for 2019.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the domain :

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the wine:

Its intense fragrance explores a register of candied orange, with a delicate pastry note. This vintage was aged 3 months longer than previous vintages, for a total of 24 months. As a result, the fruit and wood duo is more melted and better integrated. Pure and dense, the liqueur seems to be poised with fine bitters. A liqueur that's full and bright, yet intense and digestible. A great Sauternes that should be drunk young just for the pleasure of it, despite its age-old ageing potential.

About the domain :

Recognized as the world's most famous sweet wine, Yquem has been owned since 1999 by the LVMH group, headed by businessman Bernard Arnault. The château is now run by Pierre Lurton, also head of Château Cheval Blanc in Saint-Émilion. Before him, from 1967 to 2004, Alexandre de Lur Saluces wrote some of the finest pages in the history of the only premier cru classé supérieur in 1855, following in the footsteps of his forebears. For this wine has been perhaps the most consistent in Bordeaux for a hundred years. Even in small vintages and difficult periods, Yquem has held its ground through to its incomparable ageing. It owes this to its unique terroir, which reacts to botrytis development like no other, and to the men who have understood and exploited its qualities. If Yquem doesn't necessarily impress when young, it irreparably widens the gap with its neighbors after a few years of ageing. Tasting an old vintage of the château is an experience every sweet wine lover should have.

Vinous A. Galloni

About the wine:

D'Yquem 2020 is a blend of 75% Semillon and 25% Sauvignon Blanc, grown at a meager 10l/ha. It has a very sensual bouquet. It is very changeable as it unfolds in the glass, with scents of freshly sliced white peaches, almonds and pineapple. The oak is beautifully integrated, and if you give the wine time to blossom, you'll discover aromas of verbena tea, pressed white flowers and saffron. The palate has an immediate impact, with a mineral-rich, surprisingly saline entry that immediately gives it a certain liveliness. The assurance of this Yquem will have you glued to the spot. Compared to recent vintages, this wine remains very closed and tightly controlled right through to the finish, where it blossoms with incipient ardor. Notes of ginger, caramelized pear and orange peel are delivered with excellent delineation. This lively, opulent Yquem is destined to age gracefully over the coming decades. 2040-2100

James Suckling

About the wine:

Very transparent and elegant, with aromas of white peach, lilac and light caramel. Medium-bodied, soft and agile, with notes of salted caramel and dried orange. Spicy botrytis on the finish. Give it 3 or 4 years to blossom.

Yves Beck

About the wine:

The wine reveals plenty of fresh, intense fruit. Citrus fruits, orange zest and verbena, for example. The attack is suave and saline, and the wine displays a lovely creaminess countered by a salinity that frames the sweetness, without overpowering it but accompanying it right through to the finish. This is where the bitterness takes over, stretching out the finish in the company of the acid structure. The result is a wine of exceptional precision and great persistence. The advantage for us: it can be drunk at any stage of its life! The freshness of the bouquet is key. Now - 2060

Jean-Marc Quarin

About the wine:

Yellow color with green highlights. Intense, fine, fruity and subtle nose. Nuances of blood orange, mint and pepper. Meticulous on entry, extremely refined to the touch, with great grace in its unfolding, the wine evolves spicy, on a melting body. Long persistence, with royal attention to detail. Incratchable.

The Wine Cellar Insider - Jeff Leve

About the wine:

It's fresh, lively and racy, focusing on its complex core of honeysuckle, dried oranges, apricots, lemon cream, saffron, marzipan, pineapple, vanilla and just the right drizzle of honey to top it all off. It's sharp and well-defined, with length, purity, lift and a generous acidity that gives it breadth, length and vibrancy, as well as richness, balance and complexity. I love this style of Yquem because it's a sweet wine that can be enjoyed on its own or with a myriad of savory dishes. So, if you can't live without it, enjoy it in its youth with all its succulent, sweet, ripe, overripe and racy fruit, or age it for decades to acquire secondary nuances. Drink between 2025 and 2065.