Y 2023

Characteristics and Tasting Tips for Y d’Yquem 2023

Tasting

Nose
Subtle and complex characterize this bouquet, whose fruity fragrances (yellow fruits, pear, white peach), vegetal aromas (lemon tree leaves, sage, and verbena) ideally blend with subtle floral notes, a delicate composition of wild rose blossoms and peony.

Palate
A silky attack with vibrant notes of citron and yellow kiwi gives way to an elegant palate, whose bitter yellow grapefruit notes stretch into a chalky, savory finish.

The Liveliness and Richness of a Great Dry Bordeaux White Wine by Yquem

The Estate

Located south of Bordeaux, the Château d'Yquem is one of the most prestigious benchmarks among the great wines of Sauternes. This legendary Premier Cru Classé Supérieur benefits from an exceptional terroir and produces wines sought after worldwide.

The Vineyard

Château d’Yquem is a remarkable estate, covering around one hundred hectares of vineyards spread across a mosaic of gravelly-sandy terroirs.

The Wine

Produced under the appellation Bordeaux Blancs Secs, Y is an exceptional wine, with a production limited to only 10,000 bottles per vintage. Made from the same prestigious vineyards as Château d'Yquem, it is distinguished by a specific harvest and winemaking process.

The Vintage

The low rainfall recorded in January and February caused a water deficit at the start of the vegetative cycle. This was offset by regular rainfall from March until the end of June, under high temperatures which, while favorable to vine growth, also resulted in heavy pressure from downy mildew. The expertise and dedication of the teams made it possible to control this pressure and reduce its impact on the vineyard. In response to the summer heat, the vines were protected with talc powder on the leaves. The rapid ripening of the berries led to swift harvesting and, for only the second time in the estate's history, particularly early harvest dates (August 12 compared with August 9 in 2022). The heavy rains were punctuated by rainfall episodes on August 15, helping to preserve the freshness of the berries.

Winemaking and Aging

The wine is aged for 12 months in barrels, one third in new oak and two thirds in barrels previously used for Yquem.

Blend

Sauvignon blanc (50%)
Sémillon (50%)