Bordeaux’s greatest sweet wine is even more rarefied than usual in 2020. Following a warm, dry growing season, Pierre Lurton and his team achieved yields of just 5 hl/ha, close to half that of a normal crop. As with the mighty 2021s, this is again proof that diminutive vintages can produce exquisite Sauternes.
After a wet spring, a long, hot summer followed. Rains at the end of September were the catalyst for an even spread of Botrytis cinerea, though patience was required. It wasn’t until the 18th of October that the grapes reached a “spectacular concentration” and were “fully botrytised”. The heart of Yquem comes from two passes at the end of October.
Read MoreThe result is a supremely elegant Yquem: airy, graceful, effortless, beautifully poised and long. Packed with pure, exotic fruit, mandarin, touches of white peach and flowers, there is a sense of sunshine in the glass, yet the overarching sensation is that of freshness and energy. The finish is laced with pure notes of botrytis intermingled with flecks of spice and lemon zest. Pierre Lurton describes the Château d’Yquem 2020 as “a vintage of great finesse, endowed with a crystalline and luminous character.”
Alas, as we have already disclosed, this is a diminutive crop and we expect our allocations to be decreased. To secure an allocation, please contact your account manager or follow the links below.