Château D'Yquem 2018 - 1st Great Cru Class Sauternes
The Yquem vineyard (113 hectares) is planted with two grape varieties: Semillon (75% of the vineyard), rich and sappy, which provides structure and volume, and Sauvignon (25% of the vineyard), early but less regular, which completes the wine with its aromas and finesse. This vineyard is the object of attentive care.
Faithful to the know-how of their elders, the teams working on the estate continue to cultivate the soil and to manage the vines in the traditional way under the direction of the vineyard manager.A great success in spite of a still stressful weather.
The hand of man was decisive in 2018, in the ways and care of the vineyard as well as in the harvest, before the magic stroke of the noble rot at the end of October rewarded all these efforts.
Source: Château Yquem. Yquem.fr
Yquem 2018 is all lime cordial, grapefruit oil and tangerine peel to start. With a little coaxing, the fireworks really begin, letting loose a range of honeysuckle, candied ginger, dried pineapple, lemon pastille, chalk dust and sea spray scents, followed by a savory undercurrent of shredded almonds, allspice and baking bread.
The palate is an exercise in polish and balance, exhibiting the most wonderfully creamy texture and bright, bubbly freshness, framing all the layers of densely packed citrus and tropical fruit, and finishing with a powerful BANG of floral perfume and spice. It's wonderfully sweet, to be sure, but that - paradoxically for a "sweet wine" - is almost beside the point.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate, October 2020
Data sheet
- Designation
- Sauternes
- Year
- 2018
- Color
- White
- Delivery period
- Deliverable first trimester 2021
- Acceptance
- 85% sauvignon, 15% sémillon
- Alcohol level
- 13°5
- Apogee
- 2021 - 2070
Jean-Marc Quarin - Noté 97/100
James Suckling - Noté 97/100
Vinous / Neal Martin - Noté 93/100
Jancis Robinson - 17,5/20 (february 2022)
Lisa Perrotti-Brown - Noté 98/100
Decanter / Jane Anson - Noté 97/100
