Chateau d’Yquem holds just under 300 acres of vineyard land on gravelly, well-drained soil, but only uses about 250 to make wine in any given year. The remainder is due to a program of continual replanting which ensures that producing vines are always in their prime. And the vineyard is planted only to Semillion (75%) and Sauvignon Blanc (25%), eschewing Muscadelle which is commonly used in the area but makes less distinguished wine.

Within an hour of harvest, the grapes of Chateau d’Yquem are in the winery and being pressed. Unlike most white wines, quality actually improves with multiple pressings as that extracts more sugar and flavor intensity. Chateau d’Yquem three or four times, with the initial effort yielding about 75% of the total volume.

Chateau d’Yquem does all its fermentation in new French oak barrels. This is unsual for Sauternes, but results in the most flavorful and pristine wine. Although there is variation from one vintage to the next, the typical Chateau d’Yquem wine finishes fermentation at 13.5% alcohol with 150 grams/liter of sugar.

All the barrels age for six to eight months after fermentation. At that point, under-performing barrels are set aside. The remaining barrels go to the aging cellar for 20 months, where they are topped up twice weekly to maintain freshness. For pure flavors and clarity, the wines are also racked 15 times and then fined before the final, blind tasting which determines the blend that will go into bottle.

Although not always very outgoing when young, Chateau d’Yquem is marked by fruit (apricot, mandarin, and occasionally tropical fruit) and oak (vanilla and toasty aromas). Older vintages, on the other hand, have an extraordinarily complex fragrance as soon as the bottle is opened, with hints of dried fruit (dried apricot, prune, stewed fruit, and marmalade), spice (cinnamon, saffron, and liquorice), and even flowers (lime blossom, etc.). The first impression of Chateau d'Yquem on the palate is always very silky, and often sumptuous. It then fills out, "coating the palate". This fine wine has a strong, but never overbearing character, with great elegance and poise. It always maintains a balance between sugar and acidity (sweetness and freshness). A touch of bitterness can also contribute to the overall harmony.


The 2021 Chateau d'Yquem is a Sauternes blend from the renowned Bordeaux region of France, produced by Chateau d'Yquem. The wine is composed of 65% Sémillon and 35% Sauvignon Blanc, with an alcohol content of 13.9% and a pH of 3.79. It has a residual sugar content of 148 grams per liter, making it the sweetest Yquem since 2017. This vintage yielded approximately 54,000 bottles.

The wine exhibits a pale lemon-gold color. According to Neal Martin from Vinous, the 2021 Yquem has "a very attractive bouquet with scents of dried quince, clementine, linseed, and subtle candle wax," and is "fresh and vibrant." Martin describes it as medium-bodied and viscous on the entry, with a lighter chassis than recent vintages, prioritizing "poise and purity over horsepower."

The Wine Independent rated the 2021 d'Yquem with a score of 97, praising its "perfumed notes of orange peel, juicy peaches, grapefruit, and honeycomb" and a palate that is "fantastically satiny, with great tension and loads of spicy sparks complementing the citrusy flavors." The publication also highlights its "epic length and a zesty lift."

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate awarded it a score of 95, noting a complex bouquet of "rose, exotic fruits, and mandarin orange mingled with spring flowers, rose, and crème brûlée." The review mentions a "medium to full-bodied, ample and seamless palate" with a long finish defined by delicate bitterness.

Wine Spectator gave the wine a 94, describing it as "unctuous and flattering, with a mix of toasted coconut and macadamia nut notes infusing the mango, peach, and papaya flavors at the core." The review also notes a "broad, soft, honeyed finish."

Jeff Leve of TheWineCellarInsider.com rated the wine at 98, highlighting its "complex aromatic profile" with "pineapple, papaya, apricot, Meyer lemon, tangerine peels, caramel, honey, vanilla, saffron, cashews, and candied grapefruit." Leve describes the palate as perfectly balanced between hedonism and vibrancy, with ample sweetness and racy acidity providing incredible lift, energy, and length.

James Suckling awarded the wine a perfect score of 100, calling it "dreamy" with "subtle aromas of dried fruit such as apricots and mangoes, but also fresh lemons and pears." Suckling praises its "full-bodied" yet "vivid and compact" nature, with a finish that is "lightly chewy and intellectual."

In summary, the 2021 Chateau d'Yquem is a highly acclaimed Sauternes blend, noted for its complex and vibrant aromatic profile, balanced palate, and impressive length. The vintage has received excellent reviews across the board, with particular praise for its poise, purity, and dynamic finish.