Château d'Yquem

In 1855, Château d’Yquem became the classification’s sole Premier Cru Supérieur, a rank created for no other Sauternes estate. Much of its history was shaped by Françoise Joséphine de Sauvage d’Yquem, who took charge as a young widow, kept the property through the Revolution and built a new cellar in 1826. She also helped develop the practice of returning to the vineyard in successive passes to select the grapes.

The vineyard occupies roughly one hundred hectares on the Sauternes hills, planted principally to Sémillon with Sauvignon Blanc in support. Morning mist and drying afternoons favour noble rot, but selection remains exacting: pickers return repeatedly and take only berries that have reached the desired concentration. When the harvest falls short of its standards, the estate can choose not to release its principal wine for that vintage.