Château d'Yquem 1995 - 1er Cru Classé Supérieur

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

Yquem enjoys a unique status within Bordeaux wine production, placing it virtually beyond the reach of any critical judgment. The hundred or so hectares under vine are planted with Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc on gravelly slopes with a more clay-rich subsoil. The estate does not experience poor or even average vintages, as it tolerates no compromises. In fact, it decided against producing the 2012 vintage, as its quality was deemed insufficient for the appellation. The LVMH group (which acquired it 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 taking the easy way out! Yquem deserves its status as the premier wine of Sauternes more than ever. The arrival of Sauvignon Blanc in the blends, the flexibility of adapting the aging process to the nature of the vintage, and obviously a unique agronomic expertise make each vintage an even more precise and balanced celebration than in previous decades, satisfying both our senses and our intelligence.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the wine:

It is in the bluish dawn of Sauternes, when the battlements of the manor house seem to extend the hillside, that Yquem should be seen. Then the full force of this exceptional terroir, which produces wines like this 1995 with its sumptuous, deep gold color, becomes apparent. Moving from candied notes to those of ripe grapes and citrus, not forgetting hints of honey, beeswax, and currants, the bouquet possesses the complexity befitting a great sweet wine. The aromatic expression on the palate is just as rich, as is the impressively full-bodied structure. Long, ample, and rich, yet remarkably elegant, it promises a cycle of evolution spanning several decades: a truly great bottle to be aged for ten or fifteen years, or even much longer.

About the estate:

A magnificent 17th-century fortified manor house surrounded by vineyards, perched atop the hills overlooking the Garonne Valley, Château d'Yquem, uniquely for a Grand Cru, has remained in the same family—first the Sauvage family, then the Lur-Saluces—for nearly four hundred years. The estate became the jewel of Sauternes as early as the 18th century. Beyond its stability, it benefits from a remarkably diverse and nuanced terroir, composed of numerous small hills, with vines planted on the upper plateaus and others in the middle and lower slopes. This diversity allows the vineyards 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 of its kind—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 the wine:

The 1995 Château d'Yquem is in its secondary aroma phase. Deep golden in color, it possesses a dense bouquet, almost like a Barsac, with scents of mandarin, apricot, acacia, and melted candle wax. It displays good intensity that unfolds beautifully in the glass. The palate opens with a slight bitterness that lends it great tension. One can discern hints of honey-infused marmalade, and a powerful, spicy finish that lingers long on the palate. It can be enjoyed now, but will surely age gracefully for many years to come.

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 by the LVMH group, headed by businessman Bernard Arnault, since 1999. The château is currently managed by Pierre Lurton, who also manages 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 this unique First Growth classified in 1855, following in the footsteps of his ancestors. For this wine is perhaps the most consistent in Bordeaux over the last century. Even in lesser vintages and difficult periods, Yquem has maintained its status, even in its incomparable aging. This is due to its unique terroir, which reacts to the development of botrytis like no other, and to the people who understood and showcased its qualities. While Yquem may not be particularly impressive in its youth, it undeniably distinguishes itself from its neighbors after a few years of aging. Tasting an older vintage from the château remains an experience that every lover of sweet wines should have at least once in their life.

Jancis Robinson