Description
Find Château d’Yquem best years at Arden Fine Wines in London.
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A short history of Château d’Yquem
Château d’Yquem in Sauternes stands out as the only wine classified as Premier Cru Supérieur in the 1855 classification.
Château d’Yquem almost had English origins.
During the Middle Ages, the King of England, who was also Duke of Aquitaine at the time, owned the estate.
In 1453, Charles VII regained southwest France under the dominion of the French crown and has kept it French ever since.
A century and a half later, in 1593, Jacques Sauvage, a descendant of a local noble family, received feudal tenure over Yquem.
The Gironde department archives, as well as those of the château, indicate that special winegrowing practices and late harvesting already existed at this time.
Furthermore, the château has hosted a vineyard since at least 1711, when Léon de Sauvage d’Yquem fully owned the estate.
Subsequently, in 1785, Françoise-Joséphine de Sauvage d’Yquem married Count Louis-Amédée de Lur-Saluces, and the estate passed to the Lur-Saluces family.
Notably, their descendants managed the property for over 200 years.
In fact, by the eighteenth century, people already recognized its wine as renowned.
After centuries of family ownership, Louis Vuitton-Moët-Hennessy purchased d’Yquem in 2000.
Then, in 2004, Pierre Lurton, MD at Château Cheval Blanc (another LVMH property), assumed control.
On average, only 65,000 bottles are produced each year at Château d’Yquem Sauternes.
Moreover, the yield never exceeds 900 litres per hectare, compared to the usual 2,000 to 3,000 litres in Sauternes.
Interestingly, the legend states that just one glass of wine comes from each vine.
Château d’Yquem best years – 1990 vintage
The 1990 Château d’Yquem is a legendary vintage of the world’s most famous sweet wine.
It is one of its greatest releases of the 20th century.
Additionally, it completed a historic “trilogy” of exceptional vintages: 1988, 1989, and 1990.
The 1990 vintage is noted for being particularly rich, opulent, and powerful due to a very hot, dry summer that concentrated the sugars to levels rivalling the historic 1929 vintage.
It has aromas of wild honey, apricot compote, pineapple, crème brûlée, toasted almonds, and saffron.
On the palate, it is massive and unctuous yet balanced by vibrant acidity that prevents it from feeling cloying.
This specific vintage was bottled with 126g/ltr of residual sugar and 12.7% alcohol.
Traditional and highly recommended pairings include foie gras – the classic Sauternes match.
Also try it with blue cheeses, like Roquefort or Stilton.
Moreover, pairs well with rich desserts like crème brûlée or fruit-based tarts.
Overall, this is an extraordinary, amazingly successful vintage – an archetypal Yquem with tremendous balance, power, and finesse.
You can buy the Château d’Yquem best years – including this great 1990 vintage – at Arden Fine Wines.
