Chateau d'Yquem

Chateau d'Yquem is the only property in Sauternes to hold the Premier Cru Superieur classification, a category created specifically for it in 1855, and it remains the benchmark against which every other sweet wine in the world is measured. The estate sits at the highest point of the appellation, and the combination of morning mists from the Ciron river and warm afternoon sun creates the conditions for botrytis cinerea, the noble rot that concentrates the Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc into something extraordinary.

Yquem produces wines of almost unreasonable complexity and longevity, combining the region's characteristic richness with a tension and freshness that few sweet wines anywhere can match. Half-bottles are well worth seeking out, giving you a proper measure of the wine without the commitment of a full bottle.