CHÂTEAU d'YQUEM, Y d'YQUEM
BORDEAUX, FRANCE 2022
Why Buy: This exceptionally rare dry white wine from Château d'Yquem was released just this morning — and it’s a beauty made from the same outstanding terroir and the same vines as Superior First Growth Sauternes, lavished with the same fastidious attention to detail at every step of the process. In the words of Yquem’s estate manager, “it’s a dry white Bordeaux, but with a strong Sauternes accent” — and this makes Y d’Yquem one of the most unique and collectable wines in the world. And we’re offering you first access on the day of its release.
What They're Saying: In her 94+ point paean, Lisa Perrotti-Brown declared it “skips out of the glass with cheery notions of fresh, crunchy pears, allspice, fennel seed, and lime leaves,” while James Suckling added that it is “full-bodied and dense with lots of fruit and phenolics on the mid-palate”.
The Story: Y (pronounced E-greck) was first made in 1959, albeit in miniscule quantities and on an irregular basis. "A Sauternes with less sugar," is how the estate's CEO Pierre Lurton described it to The Wine Independent. That changed in 1996, when it evolved into its current, off-dry style, with greater freshness and crispness. In 2004, buoyed by its success, Lurton decided to make Y annually, and now Yquem harvests certain plots of Sauvignon Blanc at the beginning of the vintage, making sure to pick perfectly ripe bunches. These are complemented by Sémillon grapes that are picked at that fleeting stage when the grapes have reached maximum ripeness and botrytis has just appeared, and the skins have turned a delicate pink.
Specs: Though harvested and produced in an altogether different manner from the estate's Sauternes, the wine receives close attention during every stage: light, precise pressing, as well as temperature-controlled must racking and fermentation in a new, state-of-the-art vat room dedicated expressly to this extraordinary expression. The final blend is made up predominantly of Sauvignon Blanc, with Semillon making up the rest, and spent 12 months in barrels (two-thirds of which were previously used for the Sauternes).
Our Tasting Notes: A wine to be sipped slowly, in full contemplation of its many nuances and details, and, above all, of the rarefied journey it takes you on. The palate is lush but defined, and the vein of acidity that runs through it gives it an almost nervy energy. The finish is long and flavorful, and, remarkably, the quality of the fruit just as strong at the close as it is at your first nosing of the glass.
Our Guarantee: We always buy and source direct, so you can be confident that your wine will arrive in your hands with pristine provenance. Don't hesitate to secure yours today!
*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Spring 2025. With the supply chain issues that we are seeing globally, there may be some unforeseen delays which could affect the ETA. All sale prices are the lowest available at Total Wine & More and ONLY valid through Concierge Sales. No further discounts or coupons may be applied. Offer not valid in KS, MI, NY, or TN. This offer is for ONE WEEK, or until sold out, and will expire on Wednesday, September 11th, 2024.
