Château d'Yquem 2013 - 1er Cru Classé Supérieur (Magnum)

Bettane & Desseauve

About the wine:

Fully refined by its aging, this wine reaches the heights of perfection with its flavor, texture, and that inimitable blend of richness and freshness. It’s hard to imagine a more perfect expression of this fine vintage in Sauternes.

About the estate:

Yquem enjoys a unique status in Bordeaux wine production, which places it virtually beyond any critical judgment. The approximately 100 hectares under cultivation are divided between Sémillon and Sauvignon, planted on gravelly hilltops with a clay-rich subsoil. The estate does not produce small or even average vintages, as it tolerates no compromise. In fact, it chose not to produce the 2012 vintage, as the quality was not deemed high enough for the estate. The LVMH Group (which took it over in 1999 under the leadership of Pierre Lurton, who arrived in 2004), just as the Lur-Saluces family did in the past (now at Château de Fargues), cannot even imagine the possibility of taking the easy way out! Yquem deserves its status as the Premier among the Premier wines of Sauternes more than ever. The introduction of Sauvignon Blanc into the blends, the flexibility in adapting the aging process to the nature of the vintage, and, of course, a unique agronomic expertise make each vintage an even more precise and balanced celebration than in previous decades, satisfying both our senses and our intellect.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the estate:

A magnificent 17th-century fortified manor surrounded by vineyards, perched atop the hills overlooking the Garonne Valley, Château d'Yquem is unique among grand cru estates in that it has remained in the same family—first the Sauvages, then the Lur-Saluces—for nearly four hundred years. An estate that became the jewel of the Sauternes region as early as the 18th century. In addition to its stability, it benefits from a terroir of great variety and nuance, composed of a multitude of small hills, with vines at the top of the plateau and others on the mid- and lower slopes. This diversity allows the estate to adapt to the whims of the climate and is what gives Yquem wine its great complexity. 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 transition to organic farming began in 2019.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

First of all, the color stands out; it is a shade deeper than recent vintages at this stage. The bouquet is honeyed and rich for Yquem at this early stage, with subtle notes of peach skin, white flowers, and hints of chalk and frangipane. The attack is syrupy, and the texture is initially enveloping, coating the palate with superb botrytized fruit. There are notes of Seville orange marmalade, fresh apricot, a hint of spice, and passion fruit. The whole is imbued with impressive depth and volume—perhaps a Yquem determined to make a strong impression after last year’s absence. It may not possess the finesse of a top-tier Yquem, but it possesses immense power and persistence.

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, led by businessman Bernard Arnault. The château is now led by Pierre Lurton, who also heads Château Cheval Blanc in Saint-Émilion. Before him, from 1967 to 2004, Alexandre de Lur Saluces wrote some of the finest chapters in the history of the only First Growth classified as “Superior” in 1855, following in the footsteps of his ancestors. For this wine is perhaps the most consistent in Bordeaux over the past century. Even in poor vintages and difficult periods, Yquem has maintained its standing through its incomparable aging. It owes this to a unique terroir, which responds to the development of botrytis like no other, and to the men who have understood and brought out 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 lover of sweet wine must have had at least once in their life.

Wine Spectator

Jancis Robinson

James Suckling