In the heart of the lush vineyards of the Bordeaux region, a centuries-old legend emerges from the mists of time to captivate curious souls and wine lovers the world over. At the heart of this legend stands the majestic Château d’Yquem, an ancestral residence surrounded by golden vines that has shaped the history of wine in a unique and spellbinding way.
The story of a legend
Château d’Yquem, located in the Sauternes region near Bordeaux, has roots dating back to the 12th century, when Benedictine monks began cultivating vines on these lands. The name “Yquem” comes from the Gascon word for “sunny hinterland”. In the 17th century, the Sauvage d’Yquem family introduced innovative late harvesting and over-ripening techniques, laying the foundations for the creation of the château’s emblematic sweet wine.
Despite the phylloxera crisis and the impact of world wars and economic fluctuations, the château continued to produce wines of excellence, reinforcing its reputation.
Today, Château d’Yquem remains the property of the Lur-Saluces family. Its sweet wine continues to be synonymous with excellence and prestige in the wine world, with a century-old tradition blending harmoniously with technological advances.
Special features of these world-renowned wines
Château d’Yquem wines are among the most prestigious and refined sweet wines in the world. They are qualified according to their vintage and intrinsic quality, while being subject to strict criteria that reflect the winemaking tradition and expertise that define the estate.
The secrets of manufacturing :
- Vintage : Yquem wines are only produced in years when weather conditions allow the formation of noble rot, also known as botrytis cinerea. This noble rot is essential for the development of the concentrated, complex aromas characteristic of Yquem sweet wines.
- Meticulous winemaking : After harvest, the grapes are vinified with great attention to detail. The fermentation process is often slow, followed by aging in oak barrels, where the wines develop their complex aromas and silky texture.
- Botrytis cinerea : The most distinctive feature of Yquem wines is the presence of noble rot. This special mold acts on grapes by dehydrating the berries while concentrating sugars, acids and aromas. This gives the wine a natural sweetness and unique nuances of aroma, from candied fruit to honey, spices and floral notes.
The secrets of wine :
- Sweet-acid balance Despite their perceptible sweetness on the palate, Yquem wines are renowned for their exceptional balance between residual sugar and acidity. This balance lends an elegant, refreshing structure to the wine, avoiding any sensation of excessive heaviness.
- Longevity and complexity: Yquem wines have an extraordinary ageing capacity. They continue to evolve in bottle, developing layers of aromatic complexity and gaining nuance with the decades.
- Rare and precious: Because of their demanding production methods, their rarity (due to the selected vintages) and their exceptional reputation, Yquem wines are among the most expensive and sought-after wines in the world.
Through the ages, Château d’Yquem has elevated viticulture and the art of winemaking to a new level, creating an enduring legacy that continues to captivate wine lovers the world over.
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