Château d'Yquem 2000

A subtle combination of Yquem know-how and a lot of hard work, with a spot of luck, made the 2000 vintage well-balanced and elegant, as well as unusually approachable and enjoyable to taste now. It also has all the power and length required for tremendous ageing potential. The 2000 vintage is certainly one of the winners from this decade. Temperatures were above average throughout the growing season. This, combined with average rainfall, provided excellent conditions for vine development. The major storms in late July which hit other vineyard areas in Bordeaux, causing premature and very read more...detrimental rot, bypassed Yquem entirely. Superb, brilliant golden color. The bouquet is already intense and very expressive, to an extent rarely seen in a wine this young. Tremendously pure, complex aromas: yellow fruit, dried fruit, spices, aromatic plants, and elegant oak. Starts out beautifully on the palate. The roundness is backed up by great acidity and a vivacious quality. Beautifully smooth and soft aftertaste. This elegant wine has a remarkably long finish.    (hide)

March 2009

This dry white wine is made from estate grapes not affected much by botrytis (if at all). It is not entitled to the appellation of Sauternes because it is dry. The Y label was first introduced with the 1959 vintage and to date has only been released in a total of 21 vintages: 1959, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1994, 1996, and 2000. Ygrec is one of the rarest and priciest dry white Bordeaux wines produced. 2000 Y (pronounced Ygrec) Dry White, Bordeaux Superieur. The color is light yellow with a hint of gold. On the nose the wine is reminiscent read more...of sweet Sauternes with apricots, honey, mint, spices, oak, earthy-minerals, and mild peaches. The taste is dry and richly concentrated with peaches, apricots, pears, oak, bay leaf, spices, earthy-clay, and a solid backbone of acidity.    (hide)

Still an infant this offers up intense notes of ripe orchard fruits. Peach, apricot, and plum are all rimmed with classic smoky notes from barrel ageing and the gentle spice of botrytis. In the mouth this is big yet airy with true mouthfilling weight but is a touch diffuse on the midpalate and finishes a bit short. This needs time to integrate and will remain a truly hedonistic vintage.

Winery notes- Beautiful golden-yellow colour. Concentrated very attractive bouquet of ripe fruit stewed fruit and vanilla biscuits. Round very sweet and well-balanced on the palate. Plenty of volume and a suave quality marvellously underpinned by acidity. The fruity spicy mentholated nuances are accompanied by a really beautiful smooth elegant texture. While this vintage had low yields the quality perfectly reflects the drastic selection made during picking and blending

October 2009

The history of Yquem (like its wine) keeps a mystery even today. If the vineyard has been existing for a long time, the present castle is rather quite recent (the oldest parts date from the 15th century). In 1993, four hundred years old were celebrated at Chateau Yquem. It was on the 8th of December 1593 when Jacques de Sauvage acquired in tenure simple by an agreement of exchange of estates la maison appelee Yquem..., a Crown's property at that time. In the genealogy of Lur Saluces, there are three branches to be considered: the Lur, the Saluces, the Sauvage. The archives of the Domain allow us read more...to get back in the family's history until 990. The Lur originate from Franconie (Fruin de Lur lived in Limousin in 990, while the Saluces branch comes from the Marquisate of Saluzzo in the Piedmont). Under Louis XVI, in 1785 exactly, the domain of Yquem came into the Lur-Saluces family by the marriage of Françoise Josephine de Sauvage, the Lady of Yquem, with Louis Amedee de Lur Saluces, colonel of Penthievre dragons (who was a godson of Louis XV and Lady Victoire de France).    (hide)

A Sauternes Blend wine from Bordeaux in France. 2000 Yquem, Chateau d' 750ml

January 2009