Chateau d’Yquem, 1er Grand Cru Classé Supérieur, Sauternes, Bordeaux, 2016 Tasting notes

Pierre Lurton, General manager at Yquem, explained to me that heavy rains in winter and spring were stored in the Yquem clay subsoil helping the vines struggle trough one of the driest summers from Yquem’s long history. It was actually the driest summer since 1898. The famous rains of September 13 that saved the red wines helped Yquem in a different way. Thanks to this more-than-welcome humidity the botrytis could develop. Lurton was happy to see the rains return around September 29, creating the second attack of botrytis in the vineyards. The yield was extremely high to Yquem standards with 20hl/ha (normally around 9hl/ha). The plots were very homogenous which makes it harder to select different batches to create more complexity. Not all of this wine will make in to the final blend. Lurton expects to downgrade another 60%.

Chateau Yquem (19+ points)
[75% Sémillon and 25% Sauvignon Blanc]

A deep golden yellow color, deeper that I have seen in earlier years. Beautiful rich nose that takes a while to open up. But when it does, it’s beautiful with citrus fruit, honey, caramel and acacia. Lovely botrytis notes blended with elegant tropical fruit like mango and papaya. Sample a bit dominated by the oak in my opinion. Very long indeed. A rich well-balanced Yquem without any excess of sweetness.