Château d'Yquem - The crown jewel of Sauternes
Château d'Yquem is not only the most famous wine estate in the Sauternes region, but also the epitome of perfect noble sweet wine worldwide. For centuries, the name Yquem has stood for unrivalled complexity, beguiling aromas and almost infinite ageing potential. No other sweet wine achieves such a blend of opulence, freshness and precision - each drop is the result of a unique combination of terroir, craftsmanship and infinite patience.
A legend with a royal past
The history of Château d'Yquem dates back to the Middle Ages and the estate was first mentioned in documents in the 16th century, when it belonged to the Sauvage family. In 1785, Françoise-Joséphine de Sauvage married Comte Louis-Amédée de Lur-Saluces, and the estate became the property of this noble family. Under their leadership, Yquem achieved world fame in the 19th century - the wine was drunk at European royal courts and was honoured by both Thomas Jefferson and the Russian Tsar.
In 1855, when Bordeaux wines were officially classified, Château d'Yquem was the only Sauternes vineyard to be awarded the rank of Premier Cru Supérieur - a status it still holds unchallenged today. In 1999, the luxury group LVMH acquired a majority stake, but the tradition and quality standards remained unchanged.
The terroir - where the mushroom is worth its weight in gold
What sets Yquem apart from all other wines in the world is its unique terroir. The 113 hectares of vineyards are located on a gentle hill in the commune of Sauternes, where thick mists from the Garonne and Ciron rivers spread out in autumn. This humidity favours the development of Botrytis cinerea, also known as "noble rot". This fungus penetrates the grape skin, allowing the water to evaporate and thus concentrating sugar, acidity and flavours.
The soil consists of warm, well-draining gravel and clay, which retains heat and helps the vines to achieve optimum ripeness even in cool years. The main grape variety is Sémillon (75%), which gives fullness and texture, while Sauvignon Blanc (25%) provides freshness and flavour.
The art of the Yquem harvest - every berry is unique
The grape harvest at Yquem is one of the most complex in the world. As the noble rot progresses irregularly, the harvest teams have to go through the vineyards up to 12 times and pick only the perfectly botrytised berries - a job that often lasts well into November. A single bottle of Yquem can contain grapes from over 100 vines.
After gentle pressing, the must ferments slowly in new oak barrels, whereby the natural sweetness is only partially converted into alcohol by the yeasts. The wine then matures for three to four years in barriques before being bottled.
The wine - an orchestra of the senses
A young Yquem presents itself in a radiant golden yellow colour with aromas of honey, apricot, peach, almond blossom and exotic spices. As it matures, deeper flavours of caramel, dried figs, truffles and a unique "toasted" note reminiscent of freshly baked cake develop.
In the mouth, Yquem is of unrivalled density, but never heavy or sticky. The lively acidity carries the sweetness like a silk scarf and ensures an endless finish. A good Yquem can age for 50 to 100 years or more - the best vintages (such as 1945, 1967, 2001 or 2009) are considered immortal wines.
Cult, prestige and priceless rarities
Yquem is not just a wine, but a myth. Old bottles fetch six-figure sums at auction; a bottle from the 1811 vintage of the century was sold for over 100,000 dollars. Even in less spectacular years, only around 65,000 bottles are produced - a drop in the ocean in terms of global demand.
Conclusion - the perfection of sweet wine
Château d'Yquem is not a wine that you simply drink - you experience it. Every sip tells of the passion of the winemakers, the magic of botrytis and the patience required to achieve perfection. Whether as an accompaniment to foie gras, blue cheese or simply as a meditation drop in quiet hours: Yquem is and remains the pinnacle of the art of winemaking. Anyone who has ever savoured a real bottle knows that this is not just a place where wine is made, but where history is written.
The best vintages of Comte Lur Saluces
Over the past 200 years, a number of outstanding wines have been produced at Chateau d'Yquem. In the Comte's opinion, the best vintage ever produced at Yquem is the 1811. In 1811, the weather, the harvest and the cellar work played into the hands of the owners at the time and a millennium wine was produced. The current owner of D'Yquem is often reserved about older vintages, for example: "It depends very much on the situation and how sensitive my palate is" ... "I love old Sauternes, especially when they stand the test of time." Secretly, however, he considers mature Sauternes vintages to be the epitome of elegance and finesse. The 1945, 1947 and 1949 vintages were fantastic, in 1967 a very good wine was produced at Chateau D 'Yquem, the 1975, 1976, 1988 and 1990 vintages were top wines with long ageing potential. Very good even older vintages at Chateau Yquem were 1893, the legendary 1900, a great 1928 and another century Yquem wine from 1921.
The 1921 vintage: a look back
The 1921 vintage came at a time when winemaking practices were already well developed, yet uniquely characterised by the climatic conditions of that particular year. The winter of 1920 was cold, followed by a warm spring. These climatic conditions allowed the development of a perfect Botrytis cinerea, known as noble rot, which is crucial for the production of Sauternes wines.
The dryness of the summer, combined with cool nights, created ideal conditions for the grapes, particularly for the Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon varieties, which are predominant in the region. The grapes were able to ripen in peace, which led to an increased concentration of sugars and flavours.
Winemaking at Château d'Yquem is an extremely meticulous process. Each grape is harvested by hand and only the perfectly ripe, botrytis-infested grapes are selected. This guarantees high quality and allows only the best fruit to be used.
After the harvest, the grapes are taken to the press, where they are gently pressed and the must ferments in new oak barrels, which gives the wine additional complexity and structure. It is important to note that the wine usually remains in the barrels for several years before it is bottled. The 1921 vintage was produced in the tradition of Château d'Yquem, with great emphasis placed on the perfection of the workmanship.
A glass of Château d'Yquem 1921 offers the connoisseur an overwhelming experience. The colour is a deep gold that takes on almost amber tones. Complex aromas of dried fruit, honey, caramel and spices unfold on the nose. These olfactory impressions bear witness to the long ageing period that the wine has spent in wooden barrels.
On the palate, the sweetness of the wine is overwhelming, but perfectly balanced by a lively acidity. Notes of apricot, peach and a hint of citrus harmonise wonderfully. The aftertaste is surprisingly long and lingers with hints of nuts and a subtle mineral note that gives the wine remarkable depth.
Château d'Yquem is known for its longevity. Many vintages, including 1921, are considered "timeless" - wines that not only last for decades, but evolve and refine over time. The perfect balance between sweetness and acidity ensures that the wine remains fresh and appealing even after more than 100 years. In fact, wine lovers report that the complexity and flavours have only increased over the years.
Château d'Yquem Sauternes 1921 remains a shining example of top class winemaking. The vintage-specific character, combined with the unique climatic conditions, makes this wine an unforgettable experience. For wine lovers and collectors, savouring such a wine is not only a taste experience, but also a piece of history. In the world of noble sweet wines, the 1921 Yquem is at the top and will probably continue to inspire many generations of wine lovers.
A quote from the Comte:
"A Château d'Yquem must be grasped with the nose, the palate and the whole soul; it must be smelled, tasted and loved. Anyone who does this will recognise what this wine was, what it is and what it will always be - a mystery."
Here are some tasting notes of the Chateau D'Yquem wines:
Château D' Yquem 1811
The bottle of 1811 Yquem that I had the pleasure of drinking in the summer of 2005 was definitely genuine. Strong, brownish, but still brilliant colour, fine caramel sweetness, incredibly creamy texture, not unpleasant austerity, nice bitter note. Can't deny its age, but what this almost immortal wine legend still delivers after almost 200 years is more than impressive. Of course, this wine could now be dissected according to some template of colour, palate and nose in order to place it somewhere on the 10-point scale, but I can't and don't want to do that. A wine like this must be seen as a kind of total work of art, for which nothing other than 100/100 is appropriate (source: wineterminator.com Dr Becker).
Château D' Yquem 1918
The evening humidity was slowly creeping up. Time for a last sip on the terrace and then a change of scene. A great, noble sweet wine with a brilliant mahogany colour flowed into our glasses. My friend Philippe from France quickly realised: this is a great, old Yquem. He was spot on. 1918 d'Yquem stood before us in a Vandermeulen bottling. Wonderful nose with beeswax and honey tones, on the palate the classic orange-bitter note, crême brulée, incredibly balanced, not at all old or even outdated, but still very lively, harmonious and slender in a positive sense, a timeless monument - 97/100 (source: wineterminator.com Dr Becker).
Château D' Yquem 1921
A legend was also produced in Sauternes - Yquem - and many beautiful wines. I only experienced the Yquem once, in 1995, when it was really great with a dark, yet very clear colour, a beautiful mocha/coffee nose, fresh(!), strong and pleasant acidity, on a hopeful path into the next millennium. Several other bottles on large samples simply weren't it. Sometimes a bottle recorked in 1993 still had strong acidity, but little boytritis and sweetness, plus an unpleasantly sour aftertaste. Then other bottles were simply too old or tasted of everything but 21 Yquem. As with many wine legends, there are two main problems. Firstly, these wines are often counterfeited due to their high price. Therefore, where it says 21 Yquem on the label, it is by no means 21 Yquem inside. Secondly, Yquem and Mouton are among the most travelled wines in the world. If you come across such a well-travelled bottle with 12 previous owners, proudly displayed a hundred times and presented on mantelpieces, then you'd better close it and maintain the illusion. The contents are not (source: wineterminator.com Dr Becker).
Château D' Yquem 1947
Wine Spectator: 97/100 (05-1999) A refined Yquem blending wonderful finesse and terrific power. From a very good and famous vintage, this '47 is rich, ripe and sweet, yet more elegant than the '45. Offers caramel and tropical notes, racy botrytis-spiked acidity and a long, clean finish.--Yquem vertical. Drink now through 2050 - Michael Broadbent: 5***** (09-1998) First tasted in 1954:::: 'incomparable, luscious', and 14 times since. Never a poor bottle. Perfect, glowing amber-gold with apple-green rim; bouquet -well, the usual thing only more so, yet totally harmonious; still remarkably sweet, mouthfilling with a singed hot-vintage character.
Château D' Yquem 1967
From Sauternes, I have "only" drunk Yquem from the great, long-lived 1967 vintage, but I have drunk it several times. Undoubtedly a great Sauternes and a wine with a life expectancy of several decades. But the great German noble sweet wines have probably ruined me. The very richly endowed, powerful Yquem cannot match their perfect interplay of sweetness and acidity. Consistently rated 95-96/100 (source: wineterminator.com Dr Becker).
Château D' Yquem 1971
Parker N° Bordeaux Book 1998 (01.01.1998) : 92 Drinking maturity : 1990-2010 This is an outstanding Yquem, but I have been plagued by bad bottles in tastings, which I hope is only attributable to poor storage and handling. The top bottles exhibit plenty of ripe, concentrated tropical fruit and botrytis. Full bodied, deep golden in colour, with a spicy, caramel, toasted roti, fat flavour, this big, rich wine is developing quickly for a Yquem. Although irrefutably outstanding, this may be a slightly overrated vintage for Yquem. - Wine Spectator: 93/100 (05-1999) A celebrated vintage--a beautiful wine. Thick, rich and dense, with banana, tropical, dried fig flavours. The texture is creamy and the balance is marvellous--Yquem vertical. Best after 2010. (PM)
Château D' Yquem 1976
d'Yquem was still almost youthfully fresh in 1987, a fantastic Sauternes, not as fat as in '67 with fine acidity, wonderful nose with honey and exotic fruits, great and long future - 95/100. Almost 20 years later, in 2006, it still showed no age at all. The colour is slowly darkening. Very nice nose with dried apricots and bitter English orange marmalade. Powerful on the palate with great, slightly caramelly sweetness, crême brulée in perfection and fine bitter notes. A great sweet wine that still has its best days ahead of it - 95/100 (source: wineterminator.com Dr Becker).
Château D' Yquem 1977
Robert Parker : 85/100 (Ed 1998) In what was a miserable vintage, Yquem managed to produce a toasty, ripe, pineapple, buttery-scented wine with a predominate oaky character. Seventy per cent of the crop was eliminated in 1977, and the result is a wine that may well turn out to be almost as good as the underrated 1973.
Château D' Yquem 1988
The sunny autumn gave the winegrowers in Sauternes a good sweet wine year, although it cannot compete with 89 and 90. 1995 D'Yquem was still quite closed with a light colour. In 2001 at the wine summit in Arosa, it presented itself much more open and accessible with a fine, somewhat herbal honey nose, exotic fruits and good acidity, a good, but not a great Yquem - 92/100. In 2007, it was still somewhat restrained with a smoky nose, honey and lots of herbs. In its closed nature at the moment almost somewhat filigree with beautiful length - 93+/100 (source: wineterminator.com Dr. Becker).
1. key historical data
Founded: 1593 (official domain from 1711)
Golden era: 19th century under Marquis de Lur-Saluces (until 1999)
Modern era: Part of the LVMH Group (Moët Hennessy) since 2004
Location: Sauternes, Bordeaux (France)
Classification: Premier Cru Supérieur (sole holder since 1855)
Vineyard area: 113 hectares (including 100 hectares for Sauternes)
2. terroir & botrytis - The miracle of Yquem
✅ Unique conditions:
Ciron Valley fog (morning humidity)
Late autumn sun (afternoon dryness)
Soil: Gravel & clay over limestone
✅ Grape varieties:
Sémillon (75%) (for fullness & longevity)
Sauvignon Blanc (25%) (for freshness)
✅ Noble rot (Botrytis cinerea):
Hand-picked in up to 12 passes ("Trie" selection)
Yield: 1 glass of wine per vine (extreme concentration)
3. the wines at a glance
| The wine | Characteristic | Price (€/bottle) | Legendary vintages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Château d'Yquem | Honey, apricot, exotic spices | 300-50.000+ | 1811, 1847, 1921, 1945, 1967, 2001, 2009, 2015 |
| Y (Ygrec) | Dry white wine | 150-300 | 2015, 2017, 2020 |
4. production secrets
✅ Vinification:
Spontaneous fermentation (3-6 weeks)
Ageing: 36 months in 100% new oak barrels
Ageing potential:
Centuries (1847s still drinkable!)
Development: honey → caramel → truffle
✅ Ecology:
Organic cultivation since 2019
5. legendary vintages & auction records
1811 "Comet Vintage": oldest drinkable bottle
1847: Last "ice wine vintage" (€50,000+)
2001: 100 Parker points (€1,500+)
2015: Perfect balance (€500+)
6. sensory profile (Yquem 2001)
Colour: Liquid gold
Nose: Mango, honey, saffron, candied orange
Palate: Opulent, floating acidity, 60+ second finish
Drinking window: 50-100+ years
7. economic importance
Production: ~90,000 bottles/year (depending on botrytis)
Market value: Most expensive sweet wine in the world
Auction turnover: #1 among dessert wines (Liv-ex)
8th Yquem vs. German TBA - sweet wine comparison
| Criterion | Yquem | German TBA |
|---|---|---|
| Style | Opulent, complex | Delicate, fruity |
| Grape varieties | Sémillon-dominant | Riesling |
| Price level | the same | equal |
| Shelf life | 100+ years | 100+ years |
9. current developments (2024)
🔹 New cuvée: "Yquem Sec" (experiments with dry style)
🔹 Climate change strategy:
Earlier harvest (against over-ripening)
More Sauvignon Blanc (for freshness)
🔹 Digitalisation:
NFT certificates for top bottles
Château d'Yquem is not a wine - it is an epoch. Its unrivalled balance of sweetness and acidity makes it the ultimate in noble rot.
