Among the world’s great sweet wines, the Château d’Yquem 2015 in Magnum stands as an absolute reference, the unique Premier Cru Classé Supérieur de Sauternes. In 2015 nature offered an exemplary balance, combining sun-ripeness with particularly accomplished botrytisation, producing a texture of striking fullness and an almost crystalline freshness. The magnum format preserves the wine’s energy and refines its slow evolution, like an adagio performance that lets each aromatic nuance emerge over the years. At the table, this cuvée evokes the French art of living: prolonged conversation, an animated table and softened light. It is aimed at aesthetes, collectors and epicures seeking a legendary wine that unites intensity, grace and longevity. Yquem 2015 charms with its precision, depth and ability to elevate chosen moments, from foie gras pairings to the nobility of roasted poultry and the most finely detailed fruit desserts.

Blend and vinification

From a historic vineyard of about 113 hectares resting on gravel and sandy soils, this Sauternes is born from an emblematic blend, predominantly Sémillon, complemented by Sauvignon Blanc. The 2015 vintage, marked by favourable weather alternations, allowed exemplary development of botrytis, ensuring legendary aromatic concentration and creaminess. The berries, hand-harvested in successive selective picks, reveal rare fruit purity and intensity. The cuvée undergoes an ageing of about 20 months in oak barrels, accompanied by fifteen rackings intended to preserve the wine’s brightness and clarity without ever weighing it down. This craftsmanlike precision gives Yquem 2015 a caressing mouthfeel, perfectly integrated sweetness and a structuring acid backbone, comparable to the estate’s greatest vintages. The magnum, thanks to its beneficial thermal inertia, ensures steadier cellaring and gradual development, ideal for patient enthusiasts.

Tasting notes

• Appearance: shimmering luminosity and generous body, a sheen that announces the vintage’s generosity while preserving a sense of purity and elegance.
• Nose: a complex, precise bouquet woven with ripe yellow and white fruits, candied citrus zest, light honey, white flowers and a hint of saffron, all lifted by subtle minerality.
• Palate: silky attack, broad and concentrated mid-palate, a masterful balance between sweetness and tension. The finish stretches out gracefully, saline and persistent, promising a captivating evolution.

Serving temperature and tips

Serve this magnum between 8 and 10°C in large white wine glasses to reveal the aromatic richness without losing the thread of freshness. Decanting or opening 20 to 30 minutes before serving is generally enough to unveil its nuanced bouquet. Store in a cellar, away from light, at stable temperature and humidity. The magnum format enhances ageing, offering a slow and steady evolution, with an estimated potential until 2045 depending on storage conditions. At the table, favour gentle service and careful presentation, Yquem is also enjoyed through the ritual, time and attention devoted to its tasting.

Food pairings

• Aperitifs: natural duck foie gras, warm brioche, lightly toasted dried fruits.
• Starters: lobster or langoustines with citrus jelly, poultry pâtés en croûte made with noble birds.
• Main courses: roasted poultry with mild spices, subtly spiced Asian cuisine, seared veal with reduced jus.
• Cheeses: matured blues such as Roquefort or Fourme d’Ambert, a masterful salty-sweet contrast.
• Desserts: thin apricot tart, candied citrus, poached peach, light and fruity pairings.

Occasions

Château d’Yquem 2015 in Magnum is the ideal companion for:

• Celebrating an unforgettable event where elegance is invited to the table.
• During a gourmet dinner where the precision of pairings becomes an art.
• As an exceptional gift for a discerning collector or a fine family cellar.

Product details

• Name: Château d’Yquem 2015, Magnum
• Appellation: Sauternes AOP
• Classification: Premier Cru Classé Supérieur
• Type: sweet white wine
• Vintage: 2015
• Grapes: Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc
• Ageing: about 20 months in oak barrels, 15 rackings
• Volume: 150 cl (Magnum)
• Cellaring potential: up to 2045 depending on storage
• Serving temperature: 8–10°C