Yquem - Sauternes 2023
Yquem, apotheosis.
Great wines are not born just anywhere. A unique set of climatic and geological conditions combine to form a rare equilibrium. This is undoubtedly the case at Yquem, which epitomises all that is best about the singular winegrowing environment in Sauternes. The one and only to be ranked 1er Cru Supérieur in 1855. The magical and fragile microclimate gives birth to this exceptional wine which reveals its elegance and complexity during the tasting.
The 2023 vintage
"2023 is a dream vintage, a magnificent, perfectly-balanced reward for all the hard work of the teams at Yquem. Because blessings only happen when the conditions are just right.".
This vintage’s exceptional quality was recognised by the press, earning three perfect 100-point scores from James Suckling, Wine Advocate and Jane Anson.
Climatic conditions:
The 2023 growing season witnessed weather conditions so propitious for Château d’Yquem that everybody knew, as soon as the grapes were harvested, that we were in the presence of a truly great vintage. But without the experience of the two previous years, and the intelligence and adaptability of our teams, things might have turned out differently. The 2023 vintage is a valuable lesson: we humans are not the focal point around which everything spins; it is our duty to walk hand-in-hand with nature. Coping with a tropical spring, an extremely hot summer and the highpressure systems of late September, our teams produced a masterclass in planning and agile decision-making. The result is a wine as crisp as it is concentrated, as powerful as it is delicate. 2023 delivered everything a winemaker could hope for, crafting a vintage with all the attributes that Yquem lovers dream of.
Tasting notes
It seems to combine the crystalline freshness of the 2021 with the sun-powered dynamism of the 2022. The bouquet is at once pure and concentrated, bursting with notes of roasted rhubarb, lilac blossom and citrus fruit, peppered with a dash of cedar and beeswax. The 2023 vintage is velvety smooth and expansive on the palate, with an almond-laced texture which further elevates its sense of liveliness and power. The full-bodied structure is woven through with notes of apricot, dark plum and mandarin orange marmalade, building up to a long, indulgent finish. 2023 Château d’Yquem epitomises the miraculous power of noble rot, producing a wine of rare intensity which will gradually reveal its full grandeur over the coming years and decades..