Château d'Yquem Sauternes 2022 - 1er Cru Classé Supérieur

Bettane & Desseauve

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:

Blended from 80% Sémillon and 20% Sauvignon Blanc, the 2022 Château d'Yquem is a strong contender for the title of wine of the vintage. It reveals a remarkably delicate, complex, and vibrant bouquet of roses, candied citrus, exotic fruits, and orange marmalade. It is full-bodied, dense, and deep, with perfect balance, enhanced by a heart of fleshy fruit, lively acidity, and a beautiful gastronomic bitterness, as well as dry extracts that lead to a long, airy, delicately fragrant, and refined finish. Lorenzo Pasquini and his team perfectly understood the vintage by prioritizing the third-harvest grapes—fully exposed to Botrytis cinerea—in the blend, bringing density and precision as well as an energetic and magnificently balanced interplay between bitterness and sweetness. The residual sugar content reaches 160 grams per liter, making it the second highest since the iconic 1945 vintage. 2034–2074

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.

James Suckling

About the wine:

A perfect Yquem, once again, following the 2021 vintage, which is fresher and more refined than the 2022. The sensation of sweetness is very pronounced. Plenty of botrytis, with notes of turmeric, saffron, cream, toasted meringue, pine nuts, spices, and dried mangoes. It is a powerful, seductive, and opulent wine. Richer and more ornate this year than 2021, but with plenty of charm and harmony. Long and spicy, with a hint of petrol on the finish. Wow. The second most concentrated Yquem after 1945, according to the winemaker. About 160 grams of residual sugar. It’s already very approachable, but will be even better in 5 or 6 years. It will age forever.

Le Figaro vins

About the wine:

The bouquet is powerful and heady, dominated by notes of dried apricots from the Hunza Valley, mirabelle plum clafoutis, lemon tart, and exuberant flowers. On the palate, the wine is luscious and sensual, with a thrilling hint of salinity that contrasts with the sweetness. While salt and sugar are often classified as highly addictive foods, they pale in comparison to this wine, which feels almost like a drug that you become immediately addicted to.

Yves Beck

About the wine:

An elegant, deep bouquet with a subtle complexity, where each element plays a fundamental role. The woody notes are also expressed with finesse, even with 100% new oak—as is customary—and 22 months of aging, taking into account that fermentation also takes place in barrels. Hints of nougat, gentian, white-fleshed fruits, bitter oranges, and a touch of grapefruit highlight the wine’s complexity and freshness. With aeration, Yquem 2022 continues to gain in complexity. It reveals root-like notes (celery), aromas of roasted pineapple and mirabelle plums, followed by a hint of saffron. Highly concentrated, the wine is creamy, deep, and fresh. It owes this freshness to a salinity that is both invigorating and mouth-watering, as well as to subtle bitter notes that reinforce its persistence and aging potential. The result is a Yquem of extraordinary balance that perfectly manages the second-highest sugar content (160 g/L) in the estate’s history, after the 1945 vintage. 2027–2092

The Wine Cellar Insider - Jeff Leve

About the wine:

Combining incredible power, smoothness, and opulence with a racy acidity and a hint of bitterness on the finish, which counterbalance the richness of the honeyed fruit. A single whiff and a single sip are enough to recognize this as one of Château d'Yquem's great vintages. That says a lot, given all the fabulous vintages the estate has produced. The palate reveals a wealth of honeyed fruit, Indian spices, and a liveliness found in no other sweet wine. The wine envelops the palate, teeth, and gums, leaving a tangy finish that lingers for 60 seconds or more! It is a legend in the making! Like all the great vintages of Château d'Yquem, you can enjoy it in its youth, with its ripe, sweet fruit revealing a unique honeyed purity, or save it for your grandchildren. Drink between 2027 and 2100.