Château d'Yquem Sauternes 2021 - 1er Cru Classé Supérieur

Bettane & Desseauve

About the domain :

Yquem enjoys a unique status in Bordeaux production, virtually beyond critical judgment. The hundred or so hectares farmed are divided between Semillon and Sauvignon, on gravelly hilltops with a more clayey subsoil. There are no small or even average vintages for this cru, which is uncompromising. In fact, the 2012 vintage was not produced, as the quality was not deemed high enough for the cru. The LVMH group (which took it over in 1999 with Pierre Lurton at the helm, having arrived in 2004), like the Lur-Saluces family (now at Château de Fargues), can't even imagine the possibility of taking the easy way out! Now more than ever, Yquem has earned its place as the Premier des Premiers vins du Sauternais. The arrival of Sauvignon in the blends, the flexible adaptation of ageing to the nature of the vintage, and of course a unique agronomic know-how make each vintage an even more precise and balanced feast than in previous decades, satisfying both our senses and our intelligence.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the wine:

Two beneficial rains in mid-September and early October, followed by three weeks of dry, cool, sunny weather, provided a window of opportunity for botrytis. The nose is immediately bright, with candied lemon, mango and bitter orange on a background of cedar and sweet spices. Full-bodied and energetic from the outset, the fruit takes its place in a voluptuous, unctuous and caressing palate, more floral in its expression, sustained by a filigree of freshness that stretches and illuminates the fruit in a saline, bittersweet finish. An emotional jury described it as a monument of elegance and purity. Great art. 2030-2050

About the domain :

A superb 17th-century fortified manor house surrounded by vines, set at the top of hills overlooking the Garonne valley, Château d'Yquem has - uniquely for a grand cru - remained in the same family, the Sauvages and then the Lur-Saluces, for almost four hundred years. By the 18th century, the estate had become the jewel in the crown of the Sauternes region. In addition to its stability, the estate benefits from an extremely varied and nuanced terroir, made up of a multitude of small hills, with vines at the top of the plateau and others in the middle and at the bottom of the slope. This diversity makes it possible to adapt to the vagaries of the climate, and is the source of the great complexity of Yquem wines. 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. Conversion to organic farming is scheduled for 2019.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the domain :

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

About the domain :

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 run by Pierre Lurton, also head of Château Cheval Blanc in Saint-Émilion. Before him, from 1967 to 2004, Alexandre de Lur Saluces wrote some of the finest pages in the history of the only premier cru classé supérieur in 1855, following in the footsteps of his forebears. For this wine has been perhaps the most consistent in Bordeaux for a hundred years. Even in small vintages and difficult periods, Yquem has held its ground through to its incomparable ageing. It owes this to its unique terroir, which reacts to botrytis development like no other, and to the men who have understood and exploited its qualities. If Yquem doesn't necessarily impress when young, it irreparably widens the gap with its neighbors after a few years of ageing. Tasting an old vintage of the château is an experience every sweet wine lover should have.

James Suckling

About the wine:

Subtle, dreamy aromas of dried fruits such as apricot and mango, as well as fresh lemon and pear. Notes of caramel and tarte Tatin follow, with hints of banana, pineapple, mandarin and other tropical fruits. Full-bodied, yet lively and compact, this wine is surprisingly light despite its imposing structure. The tannins, present on the palate, meld perfectly, giving it a solid, diamond-like presence. The finish is taut, but promises remarkable persistence, with a slightly fleshy texture and lovely complexity. Touches of sweetness, clove and bitterness give it great complexity. A dynamic wine. Approximately 54,000 bottles produced. Relatively modest harvest. 148 g/L residual sugar.

Yves Beck

About the wine:

Taking advantage of the local windy climate, Yquem's vines were largely spared frost. In addition to the frost episode, the season was complicated, as Lorenzo Pasquini, Yquem's director, explains: "All the problems that can be encountered in viticulture occurred... but in the end, the viticultural year ended with 17 days of fine weather, with no excess temperatures. Aged in 100% new oak. From the outset, the bouquet displays Yquem's distinctive character, with intensity and, above all, detail. Fine nuances of coconut, nougat, crème brûlée, orange peel, verbena and finally a touch of root. On aeration, the olfactory character keeps adding new elements (mangoes, apricot and peppermint). The dense, creamy attack announces a powerful, fresh and harmonious wine, ideally supported by its structure. The symbiosis of sweet and savory is perfect. The olfactory nuances reveal themselves in the middle and end of the palate. Aromatic character is enhanced by freshness and acidity, while sweetness is just one element among many. The wine's progress along the palate is indicative of complexity; Yquem reveals itself step by step, while communicating its grandeur and depth. The wine is rich, ample, suave and persistent. It has beautiful bitters on the finish that support not only intensity but persistence. The finish is interminable. Inviting, compelling, Yquem 2021 offers the prospect of pleasure in youth, now, but also in 100 years (probably), but in the latter case, it's the generations to come who'll enjoy it! Now - 2121

Vert de Vin

About the wine:

The nose is airy, elegant, fresh and ample, with a broad palette and good definition. It offers a hint of spice, a crystalline character and notes of quince, cardamom and, more lightly, small ripe citrus fruits, associated...

The Wine Cellar Insider - Jeff Leve

About the wine:

The complex aromatic profile explodes in the glass with notes of pineapple, papaya, apricot, Meyer lemon, mandarin peel, caramel, honey, vanilla, saffron, cashew nuts and candied grapefruit. On the palate, it's perfectly poised between hedonism and dynamism. It's clearly very sweet, but its racy acidity gives it incredible vivacity, energy and length on the palate. The fruit expresses all its purity through notes of tangerine, orange, mango, papaya, banana and pineapple, all coated in honey. This is one of those Yquem wines that can be enjoyed either as a sweet wine or, thanks to its dynamism, with a wide variety of savory and spicy dishes. Produced from a blend of 65% Semillon and 35% Sauvignon Blanc, 148 grams per liter, 14% alcohol, pH 3.79. Yields were only 8 hectoliters per hectare. Harvesting took place over a long period, from September 12 to October 27, with 4 passes in all. As you can see, the harvest was fairly long, but the heart of the vintage was picked between mid- and late-October. Drink between 2027 and 2075.