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

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

Yquem enjoys a unique status within Bordeaux wine production, placing it virtually beyond the reach of any critical judgment. The hundred or so hectares under vine are planted with Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc on gravelly slopes with a more clay-rich subsoil. The estate does not experience poor or even average vintages, as it tolerates no compromises. In fact, it decided against producing the 2012 vintage, as its quality was deemed insufficient for the appellation. The LVMH group (which acquired it 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 taking the easy way out! Yquem deserves its status as the premier wine of Sauternes more than ever. The arrival of Sauvignon Blanc in the blends, the flexibility of adapting the aging process to the nature of the vintage, and obviously a unique agronomic expertise make each vintage an even more precise and balanced celebration than in previous decades, satisfying both our senses and our intelligence.

Decanter

About the wine:

The 2019 Château d'Yquem contains the highest proportion (45%) of Sauvignon Blanc of any modern Yquem. The Sauvignon Blanc adds freshness, providing an excellent balance to the succulent, sweet, and voluptuous palate. Intense peach and apricot, combined with lemon and orange zest, make this wine very appealing to drink right away—an ideal vintage to kick off Yquem’s “flagship” project. However, it would be a shame not to give it at least 10 years of aging 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 passes over a one-week period. Residual sugar: 138 g/L. 2025–2060

Guide Hachette des vins

About the wine:

2019: a very hot and dry year, with heavy rains in late July that replenished soil moisture reserves and accelerated berry ripening. Then the heat returned, with temperatures above seasonal averages and very little rain; Botrytis was slow to take hold: it wasn’t until the rains in late September that noble rot began to develop, followed by an ideal high-pressure phase in early October. A narrow “harvest window” opened between October 10 and 22, with only five days of harvesting on the healthiest plots. In the glass, a Sauternes featuring an exceptionally high proportion of Sauvignon (45%), which likely explains the admirable freshness emanating from its aromas of bitter orange, mandarin zest, exotic fruits, verbena, and menthol. A full-bodied and smooth attack opens onto a palate that is certainly very rich, yet supported by the superb freshness perceived on the nose and a long, well-spiced finish, with notes of pepper and ginger. A highly expressive, dazzling Yquem of absolute 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, uniquely for a Grand Cru, has remained in the same family—first the Sauvage family, then the Lur-Saluces—for nearly four hundred years. The estate became the jewel of Sauternes as early as the 18th century. Beyond its stability, it benefits from a remarkably diverse and nuanced terroir, composed of numerous small hills, with vines planted on the upper plateaus and others in the middle and lower slopes. This diversity allows the vineyards 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 of its kind—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 by the LVMH group, headed by businessman Bernard Arnault, since 1999. The château is currently managed by Pierre Lurton, who also manages 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 this unique First Growth classified in 1855, following in the footsteps of his ancestors. For this wine is perhaps the most consistent in Bordeaux over the last century. Even in lesser vintages and difficult periods, Yquem has maintained its status, even in its incomparable aging. This is due to its unique terroir, which reacts to the development of botrytis like no other, and to the people who understood and showcased its qualities. While Yquem may not be particularly impressive in its youth, it undeniably distinguishes itself from its neighbors after a few years of aging. Tasting an older vintage from the château remains an experience that every lover of sweet wines should have at least once in their life.

Yves Beck

About the wine:

At 45%, the 2019 Yquem has the highest proportion of Sauvignon Blanc in the château’s history! In the Sauternes region, the hot, dry weather in September certainly allowed for a significant increase in concentration within the berries, but it wasn’t until early October that the rains favorable to the development of botrytis arrived—though the fungus spread very slowly. Ultimately, the harvest window was very short, taking place between October 7 (a few Sauvignon plots) and October 13. Aging took place in 100% new barrels for 21 months. The wine has 138 grams of residual sugar and a total acidity of 4.5. The bouquet has lovely complexity that unfolds gradually. It displays notes of basil, mint, Ricola cough drops, and white pepper. Upon aeration, aromas of orange blossom and pineapple emerge. The wine has body and density, along with a pleasant and refreshing liveliness, despite lower acidity than usual. This is a Yquem that can be enjoyed in its youth, though this in no way detracts from its aging potential. 2026–2059

Jean-Marc Quarin

About the wine:

Pale yellow in color. The nose is intense, refined, subtle, complex, deep, and noble. This splendid aromatic profile remains difficult to describe. The palate opens onto a world of ethereal subtleties. Highly complex, silky, and crystalline, the wine melts on the palate before revealing, to one’s surprise, the toasty nobility of candied grapes in the finish. Impossible to spit out. Blend: 45% Sauvignon Blanc and 55% Sémillon. Residual sugar: 138 g/L. pH: 3.90. This wine comes from a low yield of 10 hl/ha. Selection: 50% of the harvest. This is the second vintage after 2013 to feature such a high proportion of Sauvignon in the blend. Harvested over 7 days.

The Wine Cellar Insider - Jeff Leve

About the wine:

Pale yellow in color with golden hues, the wine makes a striking impression on the nose with its spectacular array of floral notes, honeysuckle, candied apricots, orange peel, pineapple, mango, lemongrass, vanilla, and spices. Straddling the line between richness, sweetness, and acidity, the wine is opulent, fresh, smooth, rich, and, above all, lively, so that everything feels optimistic and refined on the finish. Because this wine has so much energy and verve, it will pair easily 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 to appreciate its secondary characteristics and nuances. A blend of 55% Sémillon and 45% Sauvignon Blanc, the 2019 features the highest percentage of Sauvignon Blanc ever used in a d’Yquem. There is more Sauvignon Blanc this year due to the shorter harvest window. But as you’ll see from my notes or when tasting the wine, it works really well here! Drink between 2025 and 2075.