At the pinnacle of sweet wine-making, Château d’Yquem 2020 embodies the very definition of harmony. The only Premier Cru Supérieur of Sauternes since 1855, it stands as a benchmark that transcends trends to speak the language of time. The 2020 vintage, marking the estate's official switch to organic farming, reveals a wine of sovereign delicacy where every nuance is expressed with accuracy. Aged 24 months in new barrels, this Yquem gains breadth, definition and aromatic depth while preserving a salivating energy. Scents of candied orange, almond paste, dried apricot and rare spices mingle with floral notes of linden, composing a sensory tableau of great poise. On the palate, the texture is caressing, edged by luminous freshness and a hint of zesty bitterness that signs the house style. Crowned by a score of 100/100 from RVF, it displays exemplary serenity and rare longevity, with a cellaring potential that extends unhurriedly through 2060.

Blend and vinification

Dominated by Sémillon (75%) and supported by Sauvignon (25%), the 2020 captures the essence of botrytis in a finely chiselled style. The aging in new barrels, extended to 24 months, provides a perfectly integrated oak patina without ever overpowering the fruit expression or the underlying tension. This duration, three months longer than previous vintages, reflects a quest for precise ripeness and deeper texture. The year 2020 also accompanies the estate's official conversion to organic farming, evident here in the purity of the aromas and the clarity of the palate. Everything is designed to guarantee Yquem's precision: careful juice selection, patient élevage, bottling at the right moment, so that aromatic nobility meets a structure of rare uprightness.

Tasting notes

• Colour : Bright golden with honeyed highlights, clear and intense, promising perfectly controlled concentration.
• Nose : Delicate and enchanting, on candied orange and marmalade, pastry notes, dried apricot, a hint of prune, linden, cinnamon and a thread of saffron, all carried by great purity.
• Palate : Silky and enveloping entry, airy sweetness balanced by precise freshness and a subtle zesty bitterness. Endless length with remarkable persistence.

Serving temperature and advice

Serve this Sauternes between 11 and 13°C in tulip or large white wine glasses to reveal its aromatic drive and caressing texture. Open the bottle a few minutes before serving to let the bouquet unfurl its layers of candied citrus, spices and flowers. The cellaring potential of the 2020 vintage is exceptional, with a peak extending to 2060 under proper cellar conditions. Store away from light, at stable temperature and humidity, bottle laid down for a calm and steady evolution. Its uprightness and concentration allow it to shine young on freshness, or to evolve slowly towards more complex notes of candied fruit, incense and noble rancio.

Food pairings

• Aperitifs : mi-cuit foie gras, puff pastry bites with warm spices, fatty tuna sashimi finished with a citrus zest.
• Starters : roasted lobster with lemon butter, vanilla scallop tartare, pineapple carpaccio with coriander.
• Main courses : free-range roast poultry with morels, citrus-honey glazed duck, saffron risotto with aged Parmesan.
• Cheeses : Roquefort, Fourme d'Ambert, aged Comté served with an apricot chutney.
• Desserts : thin candied citrus tart, light rum baba, praline-apricot entremet.

Occasions

Château d’Yquem 2020 majestically accompanies moments when you wish to celebrate the art of living à la française. Its natural grace, poetic complexity and long persistence make it an ideal signature for occasions that matter, where the memory of taste lingers long after the last sip.

• An exceptional dinner orchestrated around noble ingredients and carefully paired courses.
• A major celebration with family or colleagues, marked by distinction.
• A connoisseur's gift for an enlightened enthusiast or an ambitious cellar.

Specifications

• Name : Château d’Yquem 2020, 1er Cru Supérieur, Sauternes AOP
• Appellation : Sauternes AOP
• Type : Sweet white wine
• Vintage : 2020
• Grapes : Sémillon (75%), Sauvignon (25%)
• Alcohol : 14 to 14.5%
• Aging : 24 months in new barrels
• Volume : 75 cl
• Cellaring : through 2060
• Serving temperature : 11–13°C