At the pinnacle of Bordeaux excellence, the Château d’Yquem 2018, 37,5 cl, Sauternes AOC, Premier Cru Classé Supérieur, stands as an enduring icon. This vintage delivers a composition of great purity, combining a radiant liqueur with exacting freshness. Its stature makes it an obvious choice for demanding enthusiasts seeking an extraordinary sweet wine, as well as for those who wish to turn a dinner into a true moment of art de vivre. The half-bottle format, suited to intimate moments, elevates the present while leaving a memorable impression. In the glass, gold lights up, the substance unfolds with nobility, and the vibrant finish extends the pleasure with rare persistence. The 2018 pulses between intensity and restraint, sensuality and uprightness, offering the assurance of an exemplary aging wine, conceived for great tables and unforgettable gifts.

Blend and winemaking

The 2018 reveals Yquem’s signature with a meticulous blend of Sémillon (85%) and Sauvignon Blanc (15%), complementary varieties that orchestrate an alchemy between aromatic richness and luminous tension. The hand-harvested grapes, picked over 17 days, underwent a rigorous berry selection, preserving aromatic integrity despite a season marked by reduced yields of around 40% following hail episodes. True to a practice of sustainable farming, the estate favoured attention to detail and precision of gesture. The wine shows 13,5% alcohol, supported by a telling analytical framework, with 145 g/L residual sugars and a pH of 3,95, which translate on the palate to a broad, satiny liqueur balanced by perfectly integrated freshness. The ageing, carried out with the patience and care that characterise the château, aims at grain precision and the purity of fruit expression to magnify the nobility of the Sauternes terroir.

Tasting notes

• Appearance : Luminous golden, bright and deep, with sunlit highlights that catch the light and promise a caressing texture.
• Nose : A brilliant bouquet of apricot and white peach, lifted by pineapple and mango, then animated by notes of citrus and lemon zest. The exotic register intertwines with delicate freshness for an overall impression of great clarity.
• Palate : Velvety entry, a generous and graceful mid-palate driven by a finely chiselled liqueur. The richness is balanced by a salivating lift, the framework is precise, the finish of striking length, straight and luminous.

Serving temperature and advice

Serve at 10 à 12°C to reveal both aromatic bloom and palate structure. The half-bottle is perfect for chosen moments, at the start of a meal or as the crowning touch to a delicate dessert. Let the wine breathe for a few minutes in the glass, then observe its transformation, as the liqueur densifies and the freshness sharpens. Store your bottles in a cellar, quietly and away from light, to preserve their calm development. The 2018 has a remarkable cellaring potential, until 2050, promising even more complex nuances over the years as fruit, texture and brightness merge into superior harmony.

Food pairings

• Aperitifs : buttered spice bread, parsley ham shavings, mini mango and lime tartlets.
• Starters : mi-cuit foie gras, lobster with citrus, scallop carpaccio with preserved lemon.
• Main courses : roast free-range poultry with warm spices, asparagus risotto, elegantly spiced Asian cuisine.
• Cheeses : blue‑veined cheeses such as Roquefort, aged Comté, matured Brie.
• Desserts : thin apricot tart, mango pavlova, lemon tart, candied citrus on shortbread.

Tasting occasions

Château d’Yquem 2018 is the ideal companion for:

• Celebrating a unique event where elegance is naturally required.
• At a gastronomic dinner where precise pairings enhance every course.
• As an exceptional gift for a discerning connoisseur or a collector.

Details

• Name : Château d’Yquem 2018, half-bottle
• Appellation : Sauternes AOC
• Classification : 1er Cru classé Supérieur
• Type : Sweet wine
• Vintage : 2018
• Grape varieties : Sémillon 85%, Sauvignon Blanc 15%
• Alcohol : 13,5%
• Residual sugars : 145 g/L
• pH : 3,95
• Volume : 37,5 cl
• Cellaring : until 2050
• Serving temperature : 10 à 12°C
• Harvest : hand-harvested, over 17 days
• Farming : sustainable
• Critic scores : 97 Decanter, 96 Wine Spectator, 95 Parker, 97 James Suckling