Chateau D'Yquem 1961 Trophy Sauternes Wine Review

Sorry video audio is still miss matched but I corrected it on the next video.

Chateau D'Yquem (pronounced "D kem") was the only Sauternes ranked as a Premier Cru Superior Sauternes in the 1855 Classification system. The vineyard was purchased by Leon de Sauvage D'Yquem in 1711. In 1785, he sold it to the Lur-Saluces family, who owned it until 1996, when, after years of infighting and lawsuits, they sold 55% interest to LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy). In 2004, LVMH purchased the remaining 45% and gave management of the chateaut to Pierre Lurton (of Cheval Blanc) .

The winery is 126 acres but only 100 acres are used to produce grapes. The remaining acres are being regenerated. Each year, Chateau D'Yquem scrubs 2-3 acres and it takes new vines 5-7 years to mature (sorry, in the video I said 2-3 years). The wine is a blend of 80% Semillon and 20% Sauvignon Blanc.

The winery selects/picks grapes 6 times during harvest and the grapes are pressed 3 times before the wine is transferred to oak barrels to mature for 30-36 months. About 65,000 bottles are produced each year. In poor vintages, the crop is deemed unworthy and bearing the chateau's name and sold anonymously. This has happened 9 times in the 20th century (1910, 1915, 1930, 1951, 1952, 1964, 1972, 1974 and 1992) and once in the 21st century (2012).

The 1961 vintage was a year that got off to a good start with warm and dry conditions throughout the growing season. The harvest began very early (September 9) but botrytis was largely at a standstill due to lack of water. Not even 15 barrels of wine were picked. Picking began again in October, but the rest of the crop was irretrievably ruined by 8 days of rain.

For more information about this winery, please visit their website at https://yquem.fr/int-en/