Ch. D'Yquem
1st Growth Premier Cru Superieur Classe
Sauternes
2009

The producer

Often described as the king of all sweet wines. d’Yquem was owned by the Lur Saluces family from 1795 until 2009 when it acquired fully into by the LVMH group. Alexandre de Lur-Saluces is still in charge of the daily running of the estate.

Yquem lords it over the entire appellation – not just in reputation and price, but also from its position at the geographical peak of the commune, somehow appropriately overlooking the chateaux below.

The 110 hectares of vineyards rolling down from the chateau buildings have a mystical power that somehow seems to invite the noble rot to weave its magic on the grapes - 80% Semillon and 20% Sauvignon Blanc – turning them into a golden liquor which the gods would have traded their own nectar for. Grape yields are so low that each vine is said to only produce one glass of wine.

D’Yquem – the only estate to be classified as ‘1er Cru Classe Superieur’ – is fermented in oak barrels and matured for up to 30 months in 100% new barriques. Intensely concentrated and unbelievably luscious, d’Yquem achieves a balance with its fine acidity and structure that lasts for decades, indeed a century or more in great vintages. Simply a necessary vinous experience.

The wine

D’Yquem – only estate to be classified as ‘1er Cru Classe Superieur’ – is made from only the ripest – and perfectly affected by noble rot – fruit, which is growing on the hilly vineyards surrounding the chateau. The blend varies with vintage conditions but most often comprises up to 75% Semillon with the remainder Sauvignon Blanc. Fermentation takes place in 100% new French oak barrels and is followed by maturation for up to 30 months, also in 100% new barriques.

Intensely concentrated and unbelievably luscious and aromatically complex, d’Yquem achieves a compelling balance with its fine acidity and structure that lasts for decades, indeed a century or more in great vintages. Often referred to as a nectar and drink of the gods, d’Yquem is simply an exquisitely necessary vinous experience!

A vintage with picture perfect weather up until the last day of picking on the 19th of October. The grapes were bursting with absolutely ripe, tremendously sweet fruit and blessed with providential botrytisation thanks to warm, rainy weather… The vintage had a rhythm reminiscent of 1989, the opulence of 1990, the intensity of 2003, and the concentration of 2001 and 1893 put together – which makes it a true masterpiece.

We choose our wines based on a range of criteria (see how we choose our wines) of which critic scores is just one. Rather than simply highlight the best score to promote a wine, our average critic score is calculated from the scores provided by several respected wine critics, who we follow for specific regions. They do not represent all critic scores and, wherever possible, we try and give more weight to more recent reviews. Where appropriate we consider market-based scores like Global Wine Score or Wine Searcher Average scores.

As a rule, we look to offer wines that achieve a 92/100 average critic score or better and frankly a lot of very good wines simply don’t make the cut. As a high-end provider we want to reflect that positioning in the quality of wines we offer. Such wines are only a tiny fraction of those generally on offer in the market. We believe that an average score is a more conservative and representative approach, but it is still subjective and only offered as a guide to our customers, who will (and should) do their own research. We will add individual critic scores to our website in the future.