21722 customer reviews

Château d'Yquem 1996 - 1er Cru Classé Supérieur

Name: Château d'Yquem 1996 - First Growth (Superior)
Brand: Château d'Yquem
Rating: 4.7 (38 reviews)

Sauternes|White wine

4.7/5 (38 customers)

3*Coup de Coeur

Hachette

95/100

Robert Parker

"Compared to the flamboyant aromatic profile of the 1997, the 1996 Yquem is more reserved, though it is very well-structured. With a luminous golden color and a tight but promising nose featuring notes of toasted hazelnuts blended with crème brûlée, vanilla bean, honey, orange marmalade, and hints of peach, this medium-bodied wine reveals a restrained yet powerful personality. The acidity, balance, texture, and purity are admirable in this impeccably crafted Yquem. However, patience will be a virtue.” (Wine Advocate 2003 – Robert Parker) - Shipped in a wooden case for orders of 6 bottles of this wine

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Estate

Château d'Yquem

Vintage

1er Cru Classé Supérieur

Vintage

1996

Designation

Sauternes

Region

Bordeaux

Grape Varieties

80% Sémillon, 20% Sauvignon

Regions

grounds covered with pebbles and coarse gravel

Viticulture

traditional and meticulous

Grape Harvest

manual

Wine Production

fermentation in new oak barrels

Livestock Farming

3 years in barrels

Alcohol content

13,5%

Eye

a beautiful, slightly golden yellow

Nose

with notes of citrus and raisins, as well as more floral aromas such as linden

Palate

Round on the palate, full-bodied, very smooth, with notes of mandarin, apricot, and fruit paste, followed by vanilla and toasty flavors resulting from aging

Serve

at 8-10°C

Open

2 hours before

Drink starting at

2016

Drink before

2030 and beyond

Food and Wine Pairings

Enjoy it with foie gras, delicate fish dishes in sauce...

More information at Château d'Yquem

More information at Sauternes

Bettane & Desseauve

Rated estate (2022 guide): 5*Stars (Exceptional producers who represent the absolute pinnacle of quality in France and around the world)

About the estate:

Yquem enjoys a unique status in Bordeaux winemaking, which places it virtually beyond any critical judgment. The approximately 100 hectares under cultivation are divided between Sémillon and Sauvignon, on gravelly hilltops with a more 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 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 “First among the First” wines of Sauternes more than ever. The inclusion of Sauvignon Blanc in the blends, the flexibility in adapting the aging process to the nature of each vintage, and, of course, a unique agronomic expertise make each vintage an even more refined and balanced celebration than in previous decades, satisfying both our senses and our intellect.

Guide Hachette des vins

Wine rated (2002 guide) 3* "Coup de Coeur " (Exceptional Wine)

Rated Estate (2022 Guide) Award-Winning Wines (This producer's wines regularly receive awards from the guide)

About the wine:

A genuine fortified manor, this château is home to many treasures, including a chapel adorned with Italian frescoes. But its greatest treasure remains its wine, as exemplified by this 1996 vintage. While its brilliant color reveals its richness, the bouquet seems a bit reserved at first sniff; but very quickly, its spring-like character and youthfulness emerge, marked by aromas reminiscent of freshly picked grapes as well as spicy notes from the barrel. Full-bodied, rich, and perfectly balanced, the palate is just as harmonious. Candied fruit, citrus zest, quince paste, and restrained power—everything is in perfect balance. With an impressively long finish, this wine promises remarkable aging potential. A true classic.

About the estate:

A magnificent 17th-century fortified manor surrounded by vineyards, perched atop the hillsides overlooking the Garonne Valley, Château d’Yquem is—uniquely among grand cru estates—has remained in the same family, first the Sauvages and then the Lur-Saluces, for nearly four hundred years. The estate became the jewel of the Sauternes region as early as the 18th century. In addition to its stability, it benefits from a highly varied and nuanced terroir, composed of a multitude of small hills, with vineyards at the top of the plateau and others midway down and at the bottom of the slopes. This diversity allows the estate to adapt to the vagaries 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

Wine rated (2003 guide) 95/100 (Extraordinary wine)

Rated estate (2022 guide) Recommended (Wine producer recommended by Robert Parker—The Wine Advocate)

About the wine:

Compared to the flamboyant aromatic profile of the 1997, the 1996 Yquem is more reserved, though it is very well-structured. With a luminous golden color and a tight but promising nose featuring notes of toasted hazelnuts blended with crème brûlée, vanilla bean, honey, orange marmalade, and hints of peach, this medium-bodied wine reveals a restrained yet powerful personality. The acidity, balance, texture, and purity are admirable in this impeccably crafted Yquem. However, patience will be a virtue.

About the estate:

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide to the Best Wines of France

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

Rated estate (2022 guide): 3*Stars (These represent the pinnacle of French winemaking. The finest terroirs cultivated by the greatest winemakers. Tasting their wine is always a magical experience.)

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 wine classified as “Premier Cru Classé Supérieur” in 1855, following in the footsteps of his ancestors. For this wine is perhaps the most consistent in the Bordeaux region over the past hundred years. Even in modest vintages and difficult periods, Yquem has maintained its standing, particularly through its incomparable aging potential. It owes this to a unique terroir, which responds to the development of botrytis like no other, and to the people who have understood and brought out its qualities. While Yquem may not necessarily impress in its youth, it irrevocably 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.

Customer Rating

4.7/5

based on 38 reviews

Review and comment by Mr. ERIC M. Posted on March 8, 2020

Let’s be honest: anyone who doesn’t give a Yquem 5 stars is a snob! Everything has already been said about this wine, so I’ll keep it brief: mind-blowing length (across all the vintages I’ve tasted, including this one—even though ’96 is considered a “small” year), extreme complexity, and perfect roundness. New aromas emerge with every sip and every breath. In short: grumblers don’t have to drink it ;o)