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

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

Yquem enjoys a unique status among Bordeaux producers, placing it virtually beyond critical judgment. The hundred or so hectares under cultivation are divided between Sémillon and Sauvignon, on gravelly hilltops with a more clayey subsoil. The estate does not produce any small or even average vintages, as it does not tolerate any compromise. In fact, it decided not to produce a 2012 vintage, as the quality was not considered high enough for the estate. The LVMH group (which took it over 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 the possibility of taking the easy option! Yquem deserves more than ever its rank as the Premier among the Premier wines of Sauternes. The arrival of Sauvignon in the blends, the flexibility of adapting the aging process to the nature of the vintage, and of course a unique agronomic know-how make each vintage even more precise and balanced than in previous decades, satisfying both our senses and our intellect.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the estate:

A magnificent 17th-century fortified manor house surrounded by vineyards, perched atop the hills overlooking the Garonne Valley, Château d'Yquem is unique among grands crus in that it has remained in the same family, first the Sauvages and then the Lur-Saluces, for nearly four hundred years. Since the 18th century, the estate has been the jewel in the crown of the Sauternes region. In addition to its stability, it benefits from a highly varied and nuanced terroir, composed of a multitude of small hills, with vines at the top of the plateau and others in the middle and lower slopes. This diversity allows the estate 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 in its category—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 wine:

Blended from 80% Sémillon and 20% Sauvignon Blanc, Château d'Yquem 2022 is a serious contender for the title of wine of the vintage. It reveals a remarkably delicate, complex, and energetic bouquet of rose, 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 favoring third-growth grapes, fully exposed to Botrytis cinerea, in the blend, bringing density and precision as well as an energetic and beautifully balanced interplay between bitterness and sweetness. The residual sugar level 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, headed by businessman Bernard Arnault. The château is now represented by Pierre Lurton, who also heads Château Cheval Blanc in Saint-Émilion. Before him, Alexandre de Lur Saluces wrote some of the finest pages in the history of the unique premier cru classé supérieur in 1855, following in the footsteps of his ancestors. This wine is perhaps the most consistent in Bordeaux over the last hundred years. Even in poor vintages and difficult periods, Yquem has maintained its status thanks to its incomparable aging potential. It owes this to a unique terroir, which reacts to the development of botrytis like no other, and to people who have understood and enhanced 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 sweet wine lover should have in their lifetime.

James Suckling

About wine:

Another perfect Yquem, following on from the 2021, which is fresher and more refined than the 2022. The sensation of sweetness is very pronounced. Lots of botrytis, with 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 lots 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. Approximately 160 grams of residual sugar. It is already very accessible, but will be even better in 5 or 6 years. It will live forever.

Le Figaro vins

About wine:

The bouquet is powerful and heady, dominated by notes of dried apricot from the Hunza Valley, mirabelle plum clafoutis, lemon tart, and exuberant flowers. On the palate, the wine is pulpy 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 are nothing compared to this wine, which is almost like a drug that you immediately become addicted to.

Yves Beck

About wine:

An elegant, deep bouquet with a subtle complexity, where each element plays a fundamental role. The woodiness also manifests itself with finesse, even with 100% new wood, as usual, and 22 months of aging, taking into account the fact that fermentation also takes place in barrels. Hints of nougat, gentian, white-fleshed fruits, bitter oranges and a touch of grapefruit underscore the complexity and freshness present. With aeration, Yquem 2022 continues to gain in complexity. It displays root notes (celery), aromas of roasted pineapple and mirabelle plums, followed by a touch of saffron. Highly concentrated, the wine is creamy, deep and fresh. It owes this last point to a salinity that is as invigorating as it is mouth-watering, as well as to subtle bitter notes that reinforce its persistence and aging potential. The result is an Yquem of extraordinary balance, perfectly managing the second highest sugar content (160 g/l) in the estate's history, after 1945. 2027-2092

The Wine Cellar Insider - Jeff Leve

About 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. Just one whiff and one sip are enough to discern that this is one of Château d'Yquem's great vintages. That says a lot, considering all the fabulous vintages the estate has produced. The palate reveals a richness 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 keep it for your grandchildren. Drink between 2027 and 2100.