55% Semillon, 45% Sauvignon Blanc

"The 2019 vintage of Château d'Yquem has the highest proportion (45%) of Sauvignon Blanc in any modern Yquem. The Sauvignon Blanc adds to the freshness, acting as a great balance to the succulent, sweet and voluptuous palate. Intense peach and apricot, combined with lemon and orange zest, make this highly appealing to drink right away – an ideal vintage with which to start Yquem’s ‘lighthouse’ project. However, it would be a shame not to give this 10+ years maturation to see how it develops. Very well, I suspect. The growing season was both warm and wet, with mildew a big threat. After a mostly dry September, 40mm rain came at the end of the month, leading to a very short harvest window. All of the Yquem grapes were picked in two tries within a one-week period." -Decanter

Chateau d'Yquem

It is not uncommon for the best vintages of Chateau d’Yquem (pictured above) to deliver intense pleasure at 100 years of age if they were well stored. While Chateau d’Yquem is expensive, it delivers a unique tasting experience, coupled with the ability to age for decades, and in the best vintages, there is no other wine that competes at the same level.

When Chateau d’Yquem is first bottled, it shows a dark yellow or gold hue. With aging, the color changes and begins getting darker. 40-year-old d’Yquem could resemble caramel, while bottles twice that age, could have the color of dark coffee.

Something else to consider, when d’Yquem is young, not more than 25 years after the vintage, the flavors will better resemble honey, drenched tropical fruit. As the wine ages further, often those yellow tropical fruit flavors fade and tasters experience flavors of caramel, burnt toast, spice, and creme brulee.