New release - 2016 Ch. D'Yquem
Yquem is located on the highest hill in Sauternes and enjoys the best growing conditions in the appellation. The 110-hectare vineyard is planted with 80% Sémillon and 20% Sauvignon Blanc.
Fermented in oak barrels and left in barriques to mature for up to 36 months. Intensely opulent when young, Yquem develops an extraordinary complexity and exotic richness when fully mature, with the best vintages lasting well over 50 years and some a century!
2016 was a tricky vintage in Sauternes with the largely wet start to the growing season followed by almost drought like conditions, not ideal for the development of botrytis. With the late on-set of the noble rot, the Sauternes harvest was shorter than usual - lasting from mid-October to mid-November. The wines made may lack the longevity of previous years, but they make up for it in spades with gorgeous fresh fruit at this young age, it will be an Yquem to enjoy as the bigger more concentrated vintages age in the cellar.
As we have seen in the last couple of years, Ch. d’Yquem did not release the wine during the En Primeur campaign. Preferring rather to wait until the wine is in bottle and we are now delighted to be able to offer to customers.
We are, as usual also pleased to offer the latest release of Y d’Yquem, hailing from the 2017 vintage. From the same terroir as Ch. D’Yquem this brilliant dry white Bordeaux is always a firm customer favourite, only 10,000 bottles has been produced and it’s a blend of 75% Sauvignon Blanc and 25% Semillon.
2016 Ch. D’Yquem, Sauternes
£1584 per six bottles OWC
£1584 per 12 half bottles OWC
£528 per single magnum OWC
£1056 per single double magnum OWC
£2112 per single imperial OWC
95-97 Points (Wine Advocate)
The 2016 Château d'Yquem was picked over four tries through the vineyard, commencing on 27 September and finishing on 4 November. The crucial pass through the vines took place between 18-22 October when over half the crop was picked. In fact, 75% of the crop was picked during the final two weeks of the harvest. It has 14.2% alcohol and a residual sugar level of 135 grams per liter, a pH of 3.80. A classic blend of 75% Sémillon and 25% Sauvignon Blanc, it has a comparatively nuanced bouquet compared to Yquems that I have encountered at this stage. It opens gradually with light honeyed aromas, white flowers, apple blossom and just a touch of honeysuckle, although it does not possess the bravura personality of the astounding 2015. The palate is medium-bodied with a viscous opening, a subtle spice note leaving the mouth tingling. This is a fresh Yquem, tensile with moderate weight and delivering, perhaps belatedly, fine attack on the finish lined with subtle lemongrass notes. It will be interesting to plot the progress of this Yquem throughout its barrel maturation. This is an excellent Yquem no doubt, though I was missing that nerve, the labyrinthine complexity that can mark a top-tier Yquem even at this premature stage. I suspect that this will drink earlier than others, but age in a style only it knows.
2017 Y d’Yquem, Sauternes - £618 per six bottles OWC
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