As the absolute emblem of French sweet wines, the Château d’Yquem 2022, 1er Cru Supérieur, Sauternes AOP celebrates the meeting of a legendary terroir and a sun-filled vintage. Marked by heat and drought, 2022 produced a nectar of remarkable intensity, reaching a concentration of 160 g/L—the highest since 1945—while preserving the sovereign balance that defines Yquem. On Sauternes' highest hill, a 113-hectare vineyard, certified organic since 2022, delivers here a sculptural expression of noble rot. The draconian selection through successive passes, the patience of the harvest and the art of meticulous ageing produce a craftsmanlike wine, both sumptuous and airy. Discerning collectors will find a cellar-worthy cuvée of exemplary longevity, capable of enhancing a gastronomic table as much as enriching a great cellar.

Assemblage et vinification

Composed of a majority of Sémillon (80%) and Sauvignon Blanc (20%), the 2022 results from a painstaking harvest carried out in successive selections, retaining only ideally botrytised berries. This rigour in selection gives a rare purity of expression, where each grape, concentrated by Botrytis cinerea, contributes density, precision and energy. The ageing of 24 mois en barriques de chêne neuf gently polishes the richness of the material without ever overpowering it, revealing a satiny texture, an elegant patina and an aromatic complexity of striking depth. The vineyard’s organic certification since 2022 reflects increased respect for the ecosystem, fostering harmony between vine, soil and climate. The result is a finely chiselled, vibrant wine whose solar power is balanced by a saline thread and a finish with noble bitters.

Notes de dégustation

• Robe : Bright gold with amber highlights, crystalline brilliance, evoking the vintage’s richness and the cuvée’s exceptional concentration.
• Nez : Complex and evolving, it opens on peach and pineapple, mingled with white flowers, linden honey and candied bitter orange. Roasted nuances and fine spices—nutmeg, cinnamon—meld with notes of blond caramel and vanilla, promising a bouquet in perpetual expansion.
• Bouche : Generous, enveloping attack, dense material with a powdered grain. The richness is tightened by a savoury salinity and delicate bitters, carried by a framework of exemplary straightness. Endless, precise finish on candied citrus and a fine zesty bitterness.

Température de service et conseils

Serve between 10 and 12°C in tulip-shaped glasses to showcase the aromatic range and texture. Opening the bottle a few minutes before serving allows the spicy complexity and overall freshness to unfold. In the cellar, store it lying down, away from light, at a stable temperature. Thanks to its concentration and balance, the 2022 has a cellaring potential of more than 30 years, evolving towards notes of dried fruit, incense and saffron without losing its vitality. It can be enjoyed today for its sunny brilliance or left to mature to reach an added dimension of depth and refinement.

Accords mets et vin

• Apéritifs : foie gras terrine on toasted brioche, fine Comté gougères, crab and citrus bites.
• Entrées : scallop carpaccio, roasted langoustines, lobster with notes of vanilla and citrus.
• Plats : free-range poultry in a creamy preserved lemon sauce, tender veal with morels, mildly spiced Asian-inspired dishes.
• Fromages : a classic match with Roquefort and other blue-veined cheeses, as well as aged pressed cheeses.
• Desserts : thin tart with roasted pineapple, citrus baba, candied apricots, vanilla-and-honey entremets.

Moments de dégustation

Château d’Yquem 2022 is the perfect companion:

• To celebrate a landmark occasion—birth, wedding, an exceptional anniversary.
• At the heart of a gourmet dinner where textures, spices and contrasts converse with its depth.
• As a connoisseur’s gift for a collector or a lover of great sweet wines.

Caractéristiques

• Nom : Château d’Yquem 2022, 1er Cru Supérieur, Sauternes AOP
• Appellation : Sauternes AOP
• Type : Vin blanc liquoreux
• Millésime : 2022
• Cépages : Sémillon 80%, Sauvignon Blanc 20%
• Degré d’alcool : 13.5%
• Élevage : 24 mois en barriques de chêne neuf
• Contenance : 75 cl
• Garde : plus de 30 ans
• Température de service : 10 à 12°C