3 December 2017
Intense golden color. Rich nose, with a predominance of mango and apricot aromas, complemented by some pineapple and crème brûlée.
Unctuous, oily and weightless texture, with apricot flavours showing up again. Lovely and very clean finish, with an aftertaste that last forever.
At ARVI this bottle currently sells for 375 CHF and can be cellared for decades.
Château d’Yquem is by far the world’s most prestigious sweet wine. It is produced with mouldy grapes of Semillon, which gives structure, mouthfeel and stone fruits’ aromas, and Sauvignon Blanc, which brings vibrant acidity and grassy aromas to the blend.
The reason the grapes develop mould is the morning mist that covers the Sauternes Region, due to the impact of the cooler Cérons river water conveying into the warmer Garonne. The warm, dry afternoons assure that the result is a “noble rot” and not rottenness.
Yquem is a wine that I had the pleasure of tasting a few times and never disappointed.
Country: France
Region: Sautern
Grapes: Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc
Type: Sweet wine
Vintage: 2005
Producer: Chateau d’Yquem, LVMH
Price Range: Luxury (>100 US$)
Pascal’s Enjoyment Index: 5/5