# Château d'Yquem (1995)

- **Producer:** Château d'Yquem
- **Colour:** white
- **Type:** dessert
- **Grapes:** Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc
- **Region:** Bordeaux, France
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 13.5%
- **Average price:** €420
- **Vegan:** No
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 10–12 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** apricot, orange, peach, blossom, vanilla, toast, brioche, dried apricot, marmalade, dried fig, honey, almond

## About this wine

Château d'Yquem is the undisputed pinnacle of sweet wine, holding the unique distinction of Premier Cru Supérieur in the 1855 Classification of Bordeaux. Perched at the highest elevation in Sauternes, the vineyard benefits from a singular microclimate produced by the confluence of the Ciron and Garonne rivers. The resulting morning mists encourage the development of Botrytis cinerea (noble rot). Owned by LVMH, the estate maintains uncompromising standards of quality and historical craftsmanship across generations.

## Interesting facts

- Château d'Yquem is the only estate awarded Premier Cru Supérieur in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification.
- Each vine produces only about one single glass of wine due to extremely low yields and rigorous selection.
- Harvesting is done berry-by-berry in multiple passes to pick grapes perfectly infected with noble rot.

## Food pairing

The intense richness and high residual sweetness of Château d'Yquem necessitate either strong savory contrast or complementary fruit intensity. Pungent blue cheeses like Roquefort provide an iconic salty-sweet synergy, while rich fatty textures like foie gras mirror the opulent body of the wine, cut cleanly by its underlying acidity.

## Wine making process

Harvesting at Château d'Yquem is meticulous, carried out over several weeks in multiple passes (tries) to select individual grapes affected by noble rot at peak concentration. The grapes are pressed gently up to four times, extracting pure, highly concentrated sweet juice. Fermentation takes place entirely in 100% new French oak barrels. The wine is subsequently matured in new barriques for 30 to 36 months, developing immense complexity and extraordinary aging potential prior to bottling.