As the absolute emblem of France’s great sweet wines, the Château d’Yquem 2013 sits at the heart of Sauternes legend with the unique aura of the sole Premier Cru Supérieur from the 1855 classification. This vintage offers a luminous, precise expression of noble rot, capturing the sensuality of the liqueur while never sacrificing the tension that defines the greatest wines. Its sun-drenched fruit is wrapped in a veil of elegance, while the long, controlled ageing refines every aromatic detail. For the enthusiast seeking more than a wine, a true emotion, and for the host who wants to offer a suspended moment, Yquem 2013 resolves the delicate equation between generosity, purity and balance. At the table, it creates a dialogue between French gastronomic tradition and the distant flavours of gentle spices, revealing a rare sense of harmony. A genuine collector’s piece, it promises serene cellaring and a fascinating evolution.

Blend and winemaking

Yquem 2013 comes from a blend dominated by Sémillon with Sauvignon Blanc, hand-picked in successive passes to select only the berries concentrated by botrytis cinerea. This slow-paced harvest, managed parcel by parcel, preserves the purity of the juices and the definition of the fruit. Fermentation and the 20-month ageing in new oak barrels sculpt the texture, deepen the aromatic palette and bring an immediately perceptible silkiness. The commitment to precision, the care given to each lot and the final, patient and meticulous blend produce a wine that is both generous and finely cut, where the liqueur unites with a vertical freshness, the estate’s signature.

Tasting notes

• Colour : Bright pale gold, crossed with luminous highlights, the promise of a refined, pure core whose radiance will intensify with years in the cellar.
• Nose : A nuanced bouquet of mango, pineapple and papaya, caressed by hints of white peach, lime blossom and ginger. The botrytis contributes touches of honey, white flowers and frangipane, lifted by a chalky note that underlines the wine’s uprightness.
• Palate : Soft, refined attack, fleshy yet lifted, unfolding notes of marmalade, fresh pineapple, hazelnut and white pepper. The mid-palate plays a theme of gentle spices, coconut, nutmeg and cinnamon, with a subtle toasted thread, toasted bread, vanilla and caramel. Long, mouthwatering finish, superbly sustained by acidity, extending the memory on an airy elegance.

Serving temperature and advice

Serve Yquem 2013 between 8 and 12°C in generously shaped white wine glasses to enhance the aromatic complexity and the delicacy of the texture. A few minutes of airing are enough to reveal the layers of the bouquet; lengthy decanting is unnecessary. Store bottles in a cool cellar, protected from light and vibrations. This vintage has an exceptional cellaring potential, already delightful today and set for a serene evolution until 2034 and beyond, gaining depth, honeyed notes and a spicy patina over time.

Food pairings

• Aperitifs : brioche toasts, roasted almonds, caramelised onion tartlets—served in small portions to awaken the palate.
• Starters : seared or lightly cooked foie gras, scallop carpaccio, citrus lobster, where the wine’s delicate sweetness dialogues with freshness.
• Mains : lamb tagine with apricots, roast poultry with mild spices, moderately spiced Asian cuisine, where the liqueur supports melting textures.
• Cheeses : mature blues, Roquefort, other characterful blue-veined cheeses, for an intense salt-sugar-umami contrast.
• Desserts : thin apricot tart, roasted pineapple, vanilla entremets, modestly sweet pastries that respect the wine’s balance.

Occasions

Château d’Yquem 2013 is the ideal companion for:

• Celebrating a unique event with grace and panache.
• At a gastronomic dinner where haute cuisine meets a legendary great wine.
• As an exceptional gift for a collector or a connoisseur of taste.

Product details

• Name : Château d’Yquem 2013, 1er Cru Supérieur
• Appellation : Sauternes AOP
• Classification : Premier Cru Supérieur, 1855 classification
• Type : Sweet white wine
• Vintage : 2013
• Grapes : majority Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc
• Harvest : successive passes of botrytised grapes
• Ageing : 20 months in new oak barrels
• Cellaring : 2017 to 2034 and beyond
• Serving temperature : 8 to 12°C