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The Most Prestigious Wine in the World, Château d’Yquem Since 1593
Writer: TJ Editorial Team
Château d’Yquem, often considered the pinnacle of Sauternes wines (a French sweet wine made in Bordeaux), has a steep history dating back over four centuries. In 1593, Jacques Sauvage acquired the land and began establishing the estate, which his family would later turn into one of the finest wineries in the world.
The Lur-Saluces family became integral to Yquem’s legacy in 1785 when Françoise-Joséphine de Sauvage d’Yquem married Louis-Amédée de Lur Saluces. This union brought the estate under their stewardship, and the Lur-Saluces family would hold it for more than two centuries, making significant contributions to Yquem’s fame.
Thomas Jefferson, an avid wine connoisseur and U.S. ambassador to France, was among the first to recognise Yquem’s exceptional quality. In 1787, he ordered 250 bottles of the 1784 vintage, famously calling it “the best wine in the world.” His admiration for Yquem helped solidify its reputation abroad.
In 1855, the Bordeaux Wine Official Classification elevated Yquem to a unique status. It was the only estate classified as Premier Cru Supérieur, a distinction that still holds to this day. This recognition was not just a reflection of its quality at the time, but also an acknowledgment of Yquem’s potential to age for generations. As wine expert Robert M. Parker Jr. notes, “Château d’Yquem is the greatest white wine in the world.”
The 19th and early 20th centuries saw the estate continue to refine its winemaking process, with attention to detail in both the vineyard and cellar. Each grape, affected by noble rot, is picked by hand, with multiple passes through the vineyard to ensure only the ripest are selected. This careful selection process remains unchanged, despite the modern technologies now available.
In 1999, luxury conglomerate LVMH took control of a majority stake in Château d’Yquem, ushering in a new era for the estate. However, the focus on quality and craftsmanship remained intact. The team at Yquem still practices the same rigorous techniques passed down through generations, while using state-of-the-art equipment for fermentation and aging.
A notable characteristic of Yquem’s wine is its balance of sweetness and acidity. It’s known for its exceptional longevity, often aging for over a century, which evolves the flavours within it. As winemaker Pierre Lurton puts it, “We are not only making a wine, we are crafting a memory.”
Today, Yquem remains one of the most sought-after wines in the world, with bottles from exceptional vintages regularly fetching high prices at auctions. The 1811 vintage, for example, is often credited as one of the finest wines ever produced, with a bottle recently selling for over $100,000 USD.