In 1999, the Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy group acquired a majority interest in the estate after members of the Lur-Saluces family disposed of their shares. In 2004, the group made the decision to appoint Pierre Lurton as manager of the estate, replacing Comte Alexandre de Lur Saluces. Lurton was prompt in making Château d’Yquem available en primeur, rapidly increasing the demand for this golden nectar.

Viticulture and Vinification

In terms of purity of style and richness, Château d’Yquem out-classes all other Sauternes. One of the major contributing factors to the wine’s complexity is the unique set of climatic and geological conditions that combine to form a rare microclimate.

The estate’s large size makes it possible to plant 113 hectares of vines (although only 100 hectares are used each vintage) across a variety of the Sauternes region’s soil types. The topsoil is dry and accumulates heat through the smooth flat pebbles and coarse gravel, whereas the clay subsoil has good water reserves, the drainage of which is aided by an extensive network of pipes (over 100km) that have been installed since the 19th century.

Harvested by hand, the grapes are picked not only in successive tries but also individually to ensure that each grape is picked only when fully botrytised. The Château’s selection process is notoriously severe with only one glass of wine produced per vine. On occasion, the wines are not considered worthy of Château d’Yquem and the vintage will be omitted, as was the case in 1972, 1974 and 1992.

The botrytised grapes are fermented in oak but when fermentation stops naturally at 13 to 14°C of alcohol, residual sugar remains, the amount of which determines the sweetness of the vintage. Typically after 3 years in barrel, an average of 110,000 bottles are produced per vintage.

Château d’Yquem’s dry white wine, Ygrec (French for ‘Y’) was introduced in 1959 as a natural reaction to the declining popularity of sweet wines. Increasingly the blend is dominated by Sauvignon Blanc resulting in a distinctive wine that is exceptionally dry but with botrytis on the nose and palate.

Classification

• Château d’Yquem – Premier Cru Superieur Classé in 1855.
• Ygrec – Appellation Bordeaux Contrôlée.

Varieties

In the vineyard, only two grape varieties are cultivated – Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc. Sémillon claims the majority at 80% of the plantings.

Wines Produced

• Château d’Yquem – First Wine: This tends to be 90% Sémillon and 10% Sauvignon Blanc.
• Ygrec – Sauvignon Blanc dominates, usually with 70% of the blend, and Sémillon makes up the remainder.