Château d’Yquem — A Living Legend, the Only Premier Cru Supérieur

An enduring symbol of perfection and rare emotion, this sweet wine embodies the soul of Sauternes and the timeless grandeur of Bordeaux.

The Crown Jewel of Sauternes

Classified as Premier Cru Supérieur in the 1855 Grand Cru Classé ranking, Château d’Yquem remains a legendary name in the world of fine wine. Located on the Yquem hill, it reigns over the Sauternes appellation with both prestige and a unique terroir. Founded in the 16th century, the estate has embodied the highest expression of sweet wine for centuries.

Owned by LVMH since 1999, the château is managed by Pierre Lurton, who also oversees Château Cheval Blanc. The technical team includes Francis Mayeur (cellar master) and Lorenzo Pasquini (winemaker), successor to Sandrine Garbay.

A Singular Terroir

The vineyard covers 105 hectares in production, with a density of 7,000 vines/ha and an average vine age of 30 years. Plantings are composed of 80% Sémillon and 20% Sauvignon Blanc. The soils combine deep clay, gravelly sand and limestone on a gently elevated plateau.

Over 150 parcels bear historic names — La Montagne, Le Sillon, Le Ciron, Les Palombes — and benefit from an extraordinary microclimate created by the confluence of the Garonne and Ciron rivers. Morning mists followed by warm sunshine create ideal conditions for botrytis cinerea (noble rot).

Viticulture and Harvesting Mastery

The vines are cultivated with meticulous manual care: leaf thinning, hand-harvesting and successive selections of only the most perfectly botrytised grapes. The harvest spans six weeks with seven to ten passes through each row. Yields are minute — often under 9 hl/ha — the equivalent of a single glass per vine.

Each pass is vinified separately in new French oak barrels. Fermentations are long and slow, lasting up to a month, followed by 20 to 36 months of aging with delicate bâtonnage and rigorous selection. Only the finest lots are assembled into the grand vin.

The Yquem Style

Notes of roasted apricot, candied mandarin, acacia honey
Saffron, beeswax, spice bread, exotic fruits
Rich yet luminous palate, perfectly balanced between opulence and freshness
Exceptional aging potential: 50 to 100 years depending on the vintage

Signature Wines

Château d’Yquem — Produced only in the greatest vintages. No wine is made in years deemed insufficient (e.g. 2012, 1992).

Y d’Yquem (Ygrec) — The dry white wine of the estate since 1959, mainly Sauvignon Blanc with a touch of Sémillon. A floral, mineral and finely chiseled expression with impressive longevity.

A Philosophy of Craftsmanship

At Yquem, time is the ultimate master. Every harvest is conducted without compromise, each barrel patiently matured, each vintage carefully curated. The unchanging ambition: to craft the greatest sweet wine in the world.

Technical Data

Annual Production	≈ 100,000 bottles
Surface Area	105 ha in production
Average Vine Age	30 years
Planting Density	7,000 vines/ha
Grape Varieties	80% Sémillon, 20% Sauvignon Blanc
Cellaring Potential	15 to 100 years, depending on vintage
Legendary Vintages	2009, 2007, 2001, 1990, 1988, 1986, 1975, 1945, 1847, 1811

Provenance & Legacy

Each bottle of Château d’Yquem is the product of a unique terroir, meticulous viticulture, and uncompromising parcel selection. This legendary sweet wine is a timeless ambassador of Sauternes and one of the crowning achievements of Bordeaux’s Grand Cru Classé 1855.

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