Château d'Yquem

Château d'Yquem (French: [ʃɑto dikɛm]) is a Premier Cru Supérieur (Fr: "Superior First Growth") wine from the Sauternes, Gironde region in the southern part of the Bordeaux vineyards known as Graves.

Yquem's success stems largely from the site's susceptibility to attack by "noble rot" (a particular kind of infestation by Botrytis cinerea).

With proper care, a bottle will keep for a century or more,[1] and the fruity overtones will gradually fade and integrate with more complex secondary and tertiary flavours.

[2] Since 1959, Château d'Yquem has also produced a dry white wine called Ygrec (the name of the letter "Y" in French), made predominantly from Sauvignon blanc and a few lots of Sémillon.

[6] Under the Comte's leadership, "tractors replaced horses, collapsing cellars were renovated, and unused acreage was planted", with production in good years reaching 100,000 bottles and sales about $10 million.

[6] Following a bitter family feud and the decision of Eugene de Lur-Saluces (Alexandre's other brother) to sell part of his 47% share of the business, on 28 November 1996, to the French luxury goods giant LVMH Moët Hennessy – Louis Vuitton bought 55% of Château d'Yquem from the family of the Comte Alexandre de Lur-Saluces for about $100 million.

[7] Also that year, Dior and Château d'Yquem together created a skin care product made from the sap of the Yquem vines.

A bottle of Yquem of 1973
A half bottle of Yquem, 1999.
Vineyards of Château d’Yquem in Sauternes.
A bottle of 1945 d'Yquem showing the color change that this white wine goes through as it ages