Château d'Yquem Sauternes 2019 - 1er Cru Classé Supérieur

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

Yquem enjoys a unique status among Bordeaux producers, placing it virtually beyond critical judgment. The hundred or so hectares under cultivation are divided between Sémillon and Sauvignon, on gravelly hilltops with a more clayey subsoil. The estate does not produce any small or even average vintages, as it does not tolerate any compromise. In fact, it decided not to produce a 2012 vintage, as the quality was not considered high enough for the estate. The LVMH group (which took it over in 1999, headed by Pierre Lurton, who arrived in 2004), like the Lur-Saluces family before them (now at Château de Fargues), cannot even imagine the possibility of taking the easy option! Yquem deserves more than ever its rank as the Premier among the Premier wines of Sauternes. The arrival of Sauvignon in the blends, the flexibility of adapting the aging process to the nature of the vintage, and of course a unique agronomic know-how make each vintage even more precise and balanced than in previous decades, satisfying both our senses and our intellect.

Decanter

About wine:

Château d'Yquem 2019 contains the highest proportion (45%) of Sauvignon Blanc of any modern Yquem. The Sauvignon Blanc adds freshness, acting as an excellent counterbalance to the succulent, sweet, and voluptuous palate. Intense peach and apricot, combined with lemon and orange zest, make this wine very appealing to drink now—an ideal vintage to start Yquem's "flagship" project. However, it would be a shame not to give it more than 10 years of maturation to see how it evolves. Very good, I think. The growing season was both hot and humid, with mildew posing a major threat. After a fairly dry September, 40 mm of rain fell at the end of the month, resulting in a very short harvest window. All of Yquem's grapes were picked in two stages over a period of one week. Residual sugar: 138g/L. 2025-2060

Guide Hachette des vins

About wine:

2019: a very hot and dry year, with heavy rainfall at the end of July that restored soil moisture reserves and accelerated berry ripening. Then the heat returned, above seasonal norms, with very little rain; Botrytis took a long time to set in: it was not until the rains at the end of September that noble rot began, followed by an ideal anticyclonic phase in early October. A narrow "sorting window" emerged between October 10 and 22, with only five days of harvesting on the healthiest plots. In the glass, this Sauternes has an exceptionally high proportion of Sauvignon (45%), which undoubtedly explains the admirable freshness of its aromas of bitter orange, mandarin zest, exotic fruits, verbena, and menthol. A full and smooth attack opens onto a very rich palate, supported by the superb freshness perceived on the nose and a long, well-spiced finish with notes of pepper and ginger. A highly expressive, vibrant Yquem with perfect balance. 2030-2050

About the estate:

A magnificent 17th-century fortified manor house surrounded by vineyards, perched atop the hills overlooking the Garonne Valley, Château d'Yquem is unique among grands crus in that it has remained in the same family, first the Sauvages and then the Lur-Saluces, for nearly four hundred years. Since the 18th century, the estate has been the jewel in the crown of the Sauternes region. In addition to its stability, it benefits from a highly varied and nuanced terroir, composed of a multitude of small hills, with vines at the top of the plateau and others in the middle and lower slopes. This diversity allows the estate to adapt to the vagaries of the climate and contributes to the great complexity of Yquem wine. 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. The conversion to organic farming began in 2019.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the estate:

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

About the estate:

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 represented by Pierre Lurton, who also heads Château Cheval Blanc in Saint-Émilion. Before him, Alexandre de Lur Saluces wrote some of the finest pages in the history of the unique premier cru classé supérieur in 1855, following in the footsteps of his ancestors. This wine is perhaps the most consistent in Bordeaux over the last hundred years. Even in poor vintages and difficult periods, Yquem has maintained its status thanks to its incomparable aging potential. It owes this to a unique terroir, which reacts to the development of botrytis like no other, and to people who have understood and enhanced its qualities. While Yquem may not necessarily impress in its youth, it inevitably pulls ahead of its neighbors after a few years of aging. Tasting an old vintage from the château remains an experience that every sweet wine lover should have in their lifetime.

Yves Beck

About wine:

At 45%, Yquem 2019 has the highest proportion of Sauvignon Blanc in the château's history! In Sauternes, the hot, dry weather in September certainly helped to increase the concentration in the berries, but it wasn't until early October that the rains arrived, promoting the development of botrytis, although its spread was very slow. In the end, the harvest window was very short, lasting from October 7 (a few Sauvignon parcels) to October 13. The wine was aged in 100% new barrels for 21 months. It has 138 grams of residual sugar and a total acidity of 4.5. The bouquet is beautifully complex and reveals itself gradually. It displays nuances of basil, mint, Ricola candies, and white pepper. When aerated, it releases aromas of orange blossom and pineapple. The wine has body and density and is pleasantly refreshing and lively, despite lower than usual acidity. This is a Yquem that can be enjoyed in its youth, but this in no way detracts from its aging potential. 2026-2059

Jean-Marc Quarin

About wine:

Pale yellow color. Intense, refined, subtle, complex, deep, and noble nose. This splendid aromatic bouquet remains difficult to describe. The palate opens up to a world of airy subtleties. Very complex, silky, and crystalline, the wine melts on the palate before offering, oh surprise, the noble roasted notes of candied grapes on the finish. Impossible to spit out. Blend: 45% Sauvignon and 55% Sémillon. Residual sugar: 138 g/l. pH: 3.90. This wine is produced from a small yield of 10 hl/ha. Selection: 50% of the harvest. This is the second vintage after 2013 to have so much Sauvignon in the blend. Harvested in 7 days.

The Wine Cellar Insider - Jeff Leve

About wine:

Pale yellow and golden in color, the wine imposes itself on the nose with its spectacular display of flowers, honeysuckle, candied apricots, orange peel, pineapple, mango, lemongrass, vanilla, and spices. Perched at the intersection of richness, sweetness, and acidity, the wine is opulent, fresh, sweet, rich, and, above all, spicy, so that everything seems optimistic and racy on the finish. As this wine has a lot of energy and momentum, it will be easy to pair with a wide range of cuisines. You can enjoy it young, without much aging, or even without aging at all, for its sweetness and exuberance. You can also age it for its secondary characteristics and nuances. Made from a blend of 55% Sémillon and 45% Sauvignon Blanc, the 2019 has the highest percentage of Sauvignon Blanc ever used in d'Yquem. There is more Sauvignon Blanc this year due to the shorter harvest window. But as you will see from my notes or when tasting the wine, it works really well here! Drink between 2025 and 2075.