Château d'Yquem

Château d'Yquem is a Sauternes made from botrytized, late‑harvest Sémillon (about 80%) and Sauvignon Blanc (about 20%). The local pattern of misty mornings followed by warm afternoons encourages Botrytis cinerea, and pickers make several passes through the vineyard to select affected berries. Yields are extremely low; if quality thresholds are not met, the estate may forgo producing the sweet Sauternes in a given year. The wine ferments and ages in French oak before extended cellaring. Ygrec (Y), the estate's dry white, is typically produced each vintage.

• Style — rich sweetness balanced by acidity, with flavors that can include stone and tropical fruit, honey, and spice.
• Rarity — selective harvesting and occasional skipped Sauternes vintages limit supply.
• Longevity — bottles can age for decades.
• Historical recognition — long history in Sauternes and singular status in the 1855 Classification.

• What makes Château d'Yquem unique? Meticulous selection of botrytized berries and long maturation produce a sweet wine noted for balance and longevity.

• When was Château d'Yquem founded? 1593, by Jacques de Sauvage.

• Where is it located? Sauternes, Bordeaux, France.

• What grapes are used? Primarily Sémillon (about 80%) and Sauvignon Blanc (about 20%).

• How large is the vineyard? About 113 hectares under vine.

• Who owns Château d'Yquem, and how does ownership influence the estate? LVMH Moët Hennessy‑Louis Vuitton has held a majority stake since 1999, maintaining traditional practices while supporting global distribution.

• Why are Château d'Yquem's yields so low? Grapes are hand‑picked in multiple passes, selecting botrytized berries only; this rigorous sorting results in very low yields.

• Does Château d'Yquem ever skip a vintage? Yes. The Sauternes may be skipped when conditions are not suitable; for example, no Sauternes was bottled in 2012. Ygrec (Y), the dry white, is typically produced each year.

• What is noble rot? A beneficial development of Botrytis cinerea that concentrates sugars and flavors in the grapes.

• What is Ygrec? The estate's dry white wine, crafted for earlier drinking than the sweet Sauternes.