Château d'Yquem 2011 - 1er Cru Classé Supérieur

Bettane & Desseauve

About wine:

Formidable aromatic purity, supreme balance between alcohol and liqueur, a marvel to cellar for several generations...

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 wine:

A superb 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.
In 2011, more than ever, the influence of the climate was decisive in the production of sweet wines, as the year was particularly capricious: a dry winter and spring—the latter being the warmest in a long time, which led to early vegetation growth—with a few storms in April that caused severe damage in the Sauternes region. The end of June was marked by scorching heat, but the summer was cooler and saw typical rainy spells in Bordeaux. The harvest was therefore early (August 7) for Y d'Yquem (the earliest since 1893), but above all, it was necessary to anticipate rainy days. The harvest began on September 5 and 6 for the grand vin, with four selections and the harvest ending on October 5. In the glass, a deep yellow color gives the wine a silky and luminous appearance. Very generous, the nose evokes roasted hazelnuts, then candied citrus fruits (bitter orange, citron), underscored by notes of fresh grapes. On the palate, full-bodied and dense from the outset. An opulent, sunny wine, the 2011 Yquem develops a superb roasted character, supported by a very fresh fruitiness that brings balance and animates a finish of exceptional elegance and length. Great aromatic purity, richness, power, lots of freshness, an airy quality and that inimitable silky texture: once again, a (very) great Yquem.

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.

Guide des Vins Gault & Millau

About wine:

A magnificent wine, full of subtlety and perfectly mastered. Both the nose and palate are rich and already very pleasant, despite a certain youthfulness. This is a truly great wine with a very long life ahead of it, offering beautiful freshness and purity. One of its finest expressions.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About wine:

Château d'Yquem 2011 offers magnificent aromas of fresh white peach, nectarine, and fresh apricot that are very well defined. The palate is well balanced with a beautiful structure. It is slightly spicy with great consistency and a convincing finish.

About the estate:

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

About wine:

A magnificent Yquem, starting with aromas of orange marmalade and generous notes of fresh pineapple. The palate develops gradually. Beautifully balanced, with a pronounced but never overpowering sweetness. Superb.

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.

Wine Spectator