5 things you need to know about Château d'Yquem

Somewhere between a tourist attraction, a vineyard and a fine wine, the " Château d'Yquem "remains divided.

First, you'll discover, through an authentic description, the exceptional character of this prestigious Château. Next, you'll learn about this winery's commitment to the culture of excellence. Then you'll learn about the riches of this terroir, which produces some of the finest wines in the world. Finally, we'll give you a detailed introduction to the town of SauternesYou'll be treated to a brief overview of the grape varieties that make our wines so famous. Château d'Yquem.

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1. An exceptional place

For many tourists, the mythical Château d'Yquem is a place to remember. Located just outside Bordeaux, on the highest hill in the Sauternes region, this magnificent 16th-century building offers charm, refinement and beauty in an exceptional landscape. Its architectural complexity and unprecedented elegance make it visible for miles around..
A visit to this marvelous place will allow you to discover 18th-century biblical scenes in its chapel, and august 17th-century hunting scenes in its grand salon.
Note that since May 2004, Pierre Lurton manages this Château, whose group LVMH has been the majority shareholder since 1999. On the other hand, if you'd like to enjoy a few privileged moments in a setting and landscape worthy of kings, while visiting a historic monument, then Château d'Yquem would be a very wise choice. It is listed on the "Historic buildings since 2003.

2. Choosing excellence

Far from simply being an illustrious Château or an exceptional tourist destination, Château d'Yquem is also a wine estate of excellence. Château d'Yquem boasts a vineyard of some 113 hectares, spread over a very wide range of Sauternes geological mosaics. The Château d'Yquem vineyard always makes sure that its wines are of sensational quality, combining power, complexity and elegance in every bottle. This feat is made possible by the combined effect of a number of essential factors:
-the presence of Botrytis cinerea, a fungus with exceptional aromatic qualities;
-very favorable weather conditions;
-well exposed gravelly hilltops;
-the soil's richness in water and its clayey character remarkably condition its terroir.
Added to these factors of excellence is the undeniable skill of the Château's winemakers, who use the "selective" harvesting method to optimize the aromatic qualities of the mushrooms for the benefit of the wine.
True to its culture of excellence, the Château prefers to refrain from producing when faced with an unpromising harvest. This explains the non-production of the 2012 vintage. Clearly, any Yquem is, and always will be, a great success.

3. Premier Cru Supérieur

Counted among the most coveted in the world, the wines produced at this château are a guarantee of the great qualities sought after by true connoisseurs.
In this batch, you'll find his legendary sweet white wine.
Visit Château d'Yquem Blanc Liquoreux is the only Sauternes wine classified Premier Cru Supérieur according to the official Sauternes wine classification of 1855.
To this day, Château d'Yquem remains best liquoreux in the world. Discover the greatest vintages of Château d'Yquem according to Robert Parker in our article dedicated to this subject. Thanks to their prestige and ageing potential, Yquem wines are sought-after by wine collectors and connoisseurs alike.

4. Two grape varieties

If Château d'Yquem remains an atypical wine producer, this is easily justified by the grape varieties it features. The Château d'Yquem vineyard is planted with two grape varieties. These are, Sémillon which remains dominant with 4/5 of the vineyard and Sauvignon, 1/5. Each of these grape varieties plays a very specific role in the quality of the wines. Sémillon, rich and sappy, gives the wine structure and volume. Sauvignon, for its part, is early and less regular, giving the wine aromas and finesse.

5. The town of Sauternes

Sauternes is a small commune in south-western France, situated in the heart of the Sauternes vineyardin the Gironde department (Aquitaine region). This town of just over 600 inhabitants is one of France's most prestigious, thanks to its sweet white wine, considered the best-known in the world.

By the end of this article, it's clear that Château d'Yquem no longer holds any secrets for you. I'm sure you'll agree that Château d'Yquem has its place in the the most prestigious wines of the world.

 

6. What are the best vintages of Château d'Yquem?

Read our article on : Classification of the Best Vintages of Château d'Yquem