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Chateau d'Yquem, Sauternes, 1986

Dessert Wine from Bordeaux, France
by Chateau d'Yquem
$599.00
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There are sweet wines, and then there is Yquem, and 1986 is the year the château itself holds up as proof of what a long Indian summer can do in Sauternes. The season was chaotic from flowering onward before turning hot and very dry through the summer. Then mild temperatures and showers set off a strong attack of botrytis, and 40 mm of rain in late October spread noble rot far and wide. When the sun came back in November, the harvest took 30 days of intense work in the mist, and the first pass through the vineyard was picked under heavy fog. That is Yquem at full stretch: botrytised fruit picked across repeated passes. Noble rot is what Sauternes is all about, and 1986 gave the pickers plenty of it (along with a lot of fog). Save it for a milestone, or open it and turn an ordinary evening into one. Serve it cold, pour small, and give it time in the glass.

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More about Chateau d'Yquem

The world's greatest sweet wine. Only château to hold Premier Cru Supérieur status, d'Yquem averages six passes through the vineyard each vintage for botrytized grapes. Yields near 2.5 acres, infinitesimal production. Thomas Jefferson knew. You should too.

Wine Details

  • Grape Variety

    Semillon

  • Vintage

    1986

  • Size

    750ml

  • Farming Practice

    Traditional

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Tasting Notes & Food Pairings

Perfect Pairings

Roquefort and other blue cheeses, seared foie gras or foie gras torchon, almond or apricot tart, crème brûlée, or simply on its own as dessert in a glass.

Tasting Profile

Expect the classic Yquem profile: honey, apricot, candied orange peel and saffron, with the spicy, marmalade edge that noble rot brings. Typically rich and luscious but held up by lively acidity, so the sweetness never cloys. With age these wines tend to deepen toward crème brûlée, caramel and dried fruit, finishing very long.

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