Château d'Yquem 2013: 5 good reasons to have some in your cellar
THE Château dYquem is one of the best liqueurs of the world and undoubtedly the leader in the appellation Sauternes has BordeauxThis golden-hued wine has a rich 150-year history and enthusiasts all over the world. How did this Premier Cru Superior Has he reached the top of the hierarchy and what is his potential for evolution over time?
A legendary wine
THE Château d'Yquem has a rich history. Besides the building constructed in the 16th century, this liqueur was the favorite of the tsars of Russia or even of Thomas Jefferson Another anecdote: One Château Yquem 1982 accompanied the dessert for the dinner celebrating the 80th birthday of Queen Elizabeth II of England.
Since 1999, it has been owned by the LVMH group and managed by Pierre Lurton. We find this same winning duo at Château Cheval Blanc, First Grand Cru Classé A of Saint-Emilion.
During the 1855 classification of Sauternes and Barsac, the Château d'Yquem is alone in becoming Premier Cru SuperiorThe castles surrounding it are mostly located First Growths Classified such as Rieussec, Guiraud or Seconds Crus Classés.
An ideal terroir for noble rot
THE Château d'Yquem is located on the heights of Sauternes and benefits from the best conditions of the appellation. The soils maintain a relatively high temperature and have a large water reserve.
For its 100 hectares of vineyards, THE domaine It requires approximately 200 grape harvesters over a month-long period. Several passes (sometimes more than 10, compared to an average of 3 to 4 times in Sauternes) are necessary to harvest only the grapes completely affected by botrytis. This is the price to pay for achieving excellence!
Château d'Yquem 2013: a limited production
Besides the low yields due to a drastic sorting in the vineyard (approximately 80,000 bottles produced), the Château d'Yquem reserves the right not to produce a great wine if the vintage is not of high quality. This was the case for the 2012 vintage. This puts additional pressure on the quantities available on the market and therefore has a direct impact on the rarity !
Furthermore, the Sauternes not requiring the same weather conditions as the dry wines of Bordeaux, Pierre Lurton chose for the 2011 and 2013 vintages not to bring out his wine during the campaign Fresh produce but rather when it is bottled. Connoisseurs of this Grand Cru Classé They must be patient!
An unforgettable tasting experience, according to the critics.
" There tasting château d'Yquem is always a unique moment capable of provoking genuine emotionsThe wine impresses with its wealth and its power aromatic which leaves an indelible mark. Our sommelier.
During the 2013 En Primeur campaign, Pierre Lurton stated, "This is the great wine of the vintage, the great success in Sauternes." He compared it to the 2001 (which obtained a Parker 100) for its freshness and its power but lacking its "athletic side", but also in 2007 (Parker 98) on its dried fruit aromas.
A wine for very long-term investment
THE Château d'Yquem This is a wine that ages beautifully. It can be enjoyed for decades, but its price will also increase over the years. This wine is particularly hard to find, so don't hesitate to add it to your online cellar.
Yquem "It's unique, exceptional, a magical wine that inspires dreams more than any other, and dreams are priceless," he believes. Sylvie Cazes, president of theUnion of Grands Crus of Bordeaux.
The table above shows the price changes between the release prices of recent vintages and the current average price (source: WineDecider)
Based on past performance, it seems clear that exit prices must be relevant for theevolution of the average price be positive. Indeed, the vintage 2007Released at over €400 a bottle, the price did not increase despite the quality of this vintage. However, if we look at release prices below €300 excluding VAT (which is the case for the 2013 vintage) then we can see that prices rise. Moreover, if the vintage is truly exceptional and rarity begins to take hold, as shown by the vintage 2001The changes can be spectacular.
A tasting of Château d'Yquem will always be an exceptional moment. Preserved in ideal conditions, the The wine will improve with age. Choose the format that suits you best.