Château d'Yquem Sauternes 2016 - 1er Cru Classé Supérieur (37,5cl)

Bettane & Desseauve

About the wine:

The estate crafted this blend primarily from mid-harvest selections—remarkable for their airy character—and has once again succeeded in combining power, purity, and drinkability at a level unmatched in the Sauternes region. The 2015 vintage will be slightly more powerful. The 25% Sauvignon Blanc contributes to the freshness of the aromas.

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 estate:

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the wine:

It has moved away from the pastry notes of its youth to focus on hints of citron and mandarin. Its power unfolds with confidence, revealing pure fruit enriched by a rich, full-bodied liqueur. This lends it a masterful balance.

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 very classic Yquem. A breathtaking array of floral aromas of honey, exotic fruits (passion fruit, mango, and pineapple), caramel, and marzipan. Yet none of it feels excessive. In fact, the wine is extremely precise and subtly nuanced. It offers wonderful freshness and textural complexity, despite its significant concentration and opulence. A very smooth and sensual finish that lingers on and on. Drink now or cellars.

Jeb Dunnuck

About the wine:

Château d'Yquem 2016 is pure enchantment, an exceptional dessert wine. With a pale gold color, it offers an exuberant bouquet of honeyed mandarins, tangy apricots, mineral notes, white flowers, and honeysuckle. On the palate, it reveals ample, generous richness, an opulent texture, lively acidity, and remarkable minerality, without lacking in sweetness or richness. This 2016 vintage is a classic blend of 75% Sémillon and 25% Sauvignon, with an alcohol content of 14.2% and 135 grams of residual sugar. Already complex and approachable, it will age for 3 to 4 decades. 2019–2054

Yves Beck

About the wine:

Aged for two years, 100% in new oak barrels. Bottling took place in early September 2018. Golden yellow. The Yquem’s bouquet is very fresh, with notes of white pepper and chalk. It unfolds slowly, revealing hints of cocoa beans, lemongrass, and mirabelle plums. Upon aeration, I also detect hints of dried apricots, toasted almonds, crème brûlée, and a delicate floral note with a touch of lily of the valley. The palate is full-bodied, creamy, and marked by beautiful aromatic intensity. On the palate, the wine reveals itself through numerous facets, whether in terms of sweetness, elegance, or liveliness. The aromatic expression is intense, from the first sip through to the finish. I find the minerality and the olfactory characteristics in the finish. The finish is lively, rich, balanced, and persistent. I haven’t mentioned the concept of balance on the palate, and that is indeed the defining characteristic of this Yquem. It lacks a certain depth, a hint of acidity in the finish to further highlight the freshness and fruit, but this in no way detracts from Yquem’s greatness. 2026–2066

Vert de Vin

About the wine:

The nose is fruity and fresh, with a lovely elegance. It reveals notes of candied lemon, kumquat, and candied pear, combined with subtle hints of peach in syrup, hints of white flowers, as well as subtle notes of sweet spices, fresh almond, and a very subtle hint of honeysuckle. The palate is fruity, beautifully balanced, elegant, and precise, offering lovely smoothness, a nice roundness, good definition, tension, pleasant freshness, delicacy, and a fine texture. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of candied vine peach, candied pear, and, more subtly, lychee, combined with delicate hints of exotic fruits and pineapple in syrup, as well as subtle hints of almond, dried fruit, and very subtle floral notes. Good length. A very lovely, rich finish. Hints of pink lychee, exotic fruits, and a subtle hint of nuts linger on the finish. A hint of almond on the aftertaste. (2024+)