ONCE IN A LIFETIME
Why visiting LVMH’s Château d’Yquem is something you only need to experience once
Located in Sauternes, Gironde in the southern part of Bordeaux, Château d’Yquem spreads over 310 picturesque acres. Although the expansive lands contain many types of soil, levels of elevation, durations of sun exposure, and orientations, sémillon and sauvignon blanc are the only two grape varieties the vineyard grows. This balance of variety and concentration is one of two things, in my opinion, that makes this world-renown wine so singular. The other? Its ‘noble rot,’ which is caused by botrytis cinerea (a fungus that grows on the wine-producing grapes and causes them to become more concentrated in sugar and acid).
I’m not a botanist or a wine expert, so this is where my technical notes end. This also seems like a good place to note that with wine tours, I generally tend to separate the ‘vin’ from the vineyard. Tasting wine is an extremely personal experience, yet can be done anywhere in the world; the vineyard, however, is more objectively observed, and something that obviously is tied to a specific place.
I mention the above because, ultimately, I believe Château d'Yquem is a thirst satisfied after one glass. Before I get into why, I’ll tell you a bit about the history of the château, their tour offerings, and my experience.
HISTORY
Let’s go back in time to the 16th century when Jacques de Sauvage acquired Château d'Yquem in 1593. While it is not known (or at least publicly known) when the first vines were planted on the lands, there is evidence of vinification dating back to the early 1700s, making this vineyard over 300 years old. (I’m so good at math).
Since then, the land was continuously passed down through the Sauvage family until it entered the Lur-Saluces clan by marriage. After Françoise-Joséphine de Lur Saluces was widowed, she dedicated her time to building the notoriety of the vineyard into an international brand. Its reach extended across the Atlantic to one of America’s founding fathers Thomas Jefferson, who ordered hundreds of bottles for himself and George Washington.
Like Château Pichon Baron, Château d’Yquem was in attendance at the 1855 Exposition Universelle de Paris, where it earned the honored title Premier Cru Supérieur - the only vineyard from Sauternes to do so.
After hard financial times and familial feuds, LVMH, French luxury conglomerate, purchased a majority stake (55%) of the vineyard in 1999. Since then, the label has been the subject of numerous eye-catching headlines. In 2006, a vertical collection spanning 135 years was sold for $1.5 million, one of the most expensive collections for a single type of wine. Additionally, in 2011, a private collector purchased an 1811 bottle for $117,000, making it the priciest bottle of white wine ever.
OFFERINGS
If any of this information speaks to you, maybe it’s time to book a visit. Tours are offered in English or French to groups of 6 adults or less. Children are permitted to tag along, but should be accounted for in the comments section of your booking. There are five different ways to experience the château, each differing in the tour duration, tasting volume, and price. You will find the current information for each tier below:
Enjoy a glass of wine at Yquem
Description: An opportunity to discover Château d'Yquem over a glass of wine, either outside on the estate's terrace or in the living room. Guided tour of the estate not included. To ensure a personalised experience, this tasting is proposed directly at the estate reception, subject to availability.
Tasting: 2022 Château d'Yquem
Price: €70 (per person)
Initiation
Description: A discovery tour and tasting that offers an immersion into the world of Château d'Yquem. Private tour.
Tasting: One vintage - 2016 Château d'Yquem
Duration: approx. 1.5 hours
Price: €100 (per person)
Connections
Description: A tour and tasting that delves deep into the heart of this legendary wine, showcasing the links between two different eras at Yquem. Private tour.
Tasting: Two vintages - 2016 and 2010 Château d'Yquem
Duration: approx. 1 hour and 45 minutes
Price: €200 (per person)
Anthology
Description: A rare moment to discover variations of Château d'Yquem and the estate where it is made during a guided tour. Three outstanding vintages reveal their personality and brilliance, enhanced by refined food pairings. Private tour.
Tasting: Three vintages - 2016, 2010 and 2006 Château d'Yquem
Duration: approx. 2 hours
Price: €350 (per person)
Timeless moments
Description: An exclusive interlude, a moment out of time. Château d'Yquem opens its doors to offer truly unique experiences: a private tour tailored to your desires, privileged access to the most secret parts of the estate and a customised tasting where each vintage is a journey through time.
For additional details, contact visites@yquem.fr
OUR EXPERIENCE
I added this vineyard to our itinerary because of its rank as 9th best vineyard in the world according to World’s 50 Best.
While I’m unsure how the above ranks the wine producers, I can tell you that this property was, indeed, quite exceptional. Their state-of-the-art facilities, gardens, and presentation technology are, in short, a luxury experience evident of their LVMH affiliation.
In terms of the hospitality, we had an incredible, passionate tour guide. While I’m so embarrassed that I don’t remember her name, I can tell you she had the disposition and energy of a primary school teacher in a bubbly (and decidedly not condescending) way. Similar to the guide at Château Pichon Baron, our guide at d’Yquem was proudly from the Bordeaux area. Wine, in lieu of blood, clearly ran through her veins.
She started the tour by walking us through the courtyard of the château to a shady spot that overlooked the valley below. There she introduced us to the Yquemian vines and surrounding properties, detailing how the plot’s unique positioning has contributed to its success. As we say in the States, ‘location, location, location.’ We then wrapped around the large building through the gardens to the wine cellar.
I want to give a shoutout to the landscaping. Their expertly crafted formal garden, complete with French lavender, manicured hedges, and a wisteria-wrapped gazebo, and English cottage-inspired overgrown hydrangeas along the house were something straight out of ‘The Secret Garden.’
Back into the cellar… We were led to an unpainted, topographical 3-D rendering of the property where overhead projectors displayed various graphics depicting everything from the land acquisition over time to the numerous soil compositions running under the vineyard. The presentation was historical and scientific, and an excellent way to contextualize the wine before tasting.
After a brief saunter through the cellars, we were finally offered a couple of honey-colored glasses. The tasting room was located in the château in a comfortable, intimate living room. The details of the space would have an interior designer salivating: hand-painted tiles, terracotta floors, a striking vintage mirror hung above the fireplace. Between the gardens and the whimsical manor, Château d’Yquem is a place where the imagination runs wild with inspiration.
In terms of the tasting, I would have to say that this is not my favorite wine. Its amber color is pleasing, yet its viscous consistency and saccharine flavor feel more medicinal than recreational. Although Château d’Yquem is largely talked about as a dessert wine, the workers insist that it can be consumed throughout the day with meals. Personally, I can only imagine consuming this wine with salty or spicy food - something that balances the extreme sweetness of the wine.
All that being said, I won’t spend too much time discussing my opinion of the actual tasteas wine preferences are highly personal. If you want to test out the wine before adding Château d’Yquem to your next Bordeaux visit, then pick up a bottle at your local wine shop.
As I mentioned at the start of the article, I generally evaluate the wine separately from the vineyard. One is a product, the other is an experience. For me, disliking the product does not invalidate or diminish the overall experience I had. For that reason, I’d still recommend making the trek to d’Yquem. It was a delightful way to spend an afternoon and sample a type of wine that I wouldn’t normally order. The design, preservation, landscaping, and historical presentation are very evidentially crafted by a team of luxury-minded creatives. They have made agriculture chic, so go frolic and daydream and bask in the beauty of the French countryside at least once in your life!
Château d’Yquem is located at the following address:
Château d’Yquem, 33210 Sauternes, France
According to the website, the visiting and boutique schedule is as follows:
From December to mid-February: Monday to Friday
From mid-February to late March: Monday to Saturday
From April to November: Monday to Sunday
The historic property is open to visitors with a prearranged appointment. To schedule a tour, reach out to the visitation team at:
+33 (5) 57 98 07 07
For general inquires, email: