Château d'Yquem 1988

Château d'Yquem 1988 is one of Bordeaux’s most iconic dessert wines, crafted from painstakingly selected botrytised Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon grapes grown on the highest hill in Sauternes. Long revered for its rarity, precision and extraordinary longevity, it remains the only wine in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification to hold the title of Premier Cru Supérieur.

Tasting Notes
Expect a luminous golden colour that reflects both age and concentration. The bouquet is layered and seductive, typically showing candied citrus, apricot, honey, saffron, dried pineapple, almond and a distinct noble-botrytis complexity that brings depth and finesse. On the palate, Château d’Yquem balances immense sweetness with vivid acidity, giving the wine its famous freshness and poise. The texture is rich and silky, with evolving notes of stone fruit, marmalade, caramelised fruit and spice; even after decades, the wine can continue to develop beautifully and may age for many more years under ideal conditions.

Production
The wine comes from the limestone and gravelly soils of Sauternes, where morning mists and afternoon sun create ideal conditions for noble rot (Botrytis cinerea). The grapes are harvested by hand in several selective passes, with only perfectly botrytised berries picked for the final blend. Vinification is carried out with meticulous care to preserve concentration, purity and balance, with the classic blend dominated by Sémillon and supported by Sauvignon Blanc.

Food & Serving
Serve slightly chilled, ideally around 10–12°C, to best highlight its freshness and aromatic complexity. It pairs beautifully with foie gras, blue cheese, fruit-based desserts, almond tart, crème brûlée, or simply as a luxurious wine on its own. Decanting is usually not necessary, though an older bottle may benefit from a careful opening shortly before serving.

Producer
Château d’Yquem is one of the most legendary estates in Bordeaux and a benchmark for sweet wine worldwide. Its reputation was firmly established through centuries of careful viticulture and was crowned in 1855 with the exceptional Premier Cru Supérieur classification, unique in Sauternes. Despite setbacks such as phylloxera, the estate’s pursuit of excellence has made it a global reference point for fine dessert wine.

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