Skip to content

Cart

Your cart is empty

JS
97
DN
97
WS
96
Critic reviews

2018 Château d'Yquem

Sale price$450.00 | In Stock Ships from our French cellar (Delivery in 4-10 days) | Drink or Cellar

The warm 2018 vintage created a ripe and approachable expression of Château d’Yquem. Aromas of baked apples, candied citrus, and honey are layered with floral and spice notes. On the palate, it is rich and seamless, with vibrant acidity and a finish that highlights its youthful vibrancy and balance.


Size
6 Bottles
12 Bottles
Quantity:

Provenance Guaranteed

Cellared at 55°F & 70% Humidity

Critic Reviews
97

An extremely polished and refined d’Yquem with lightly cooked peaches and mangos and an overlay of vanilla and cream with some lemon meringue. Orange peel, too. What is striking is the texture, which is creamy and so fine. The tannins give the wine energy and beauty. The finish is extremely long and impressive. So clean and refined. Not heavy at all, but vivid and clean as crystal. Goes on for minutes. Elegance with stature is a good description. Drinkable now, but better in 2023 and onwards.

James Suckling
97

An extremely impressive Yquem here. Deeply concentrated and silky in texture, with crème caramel and saffron, followed by bitter orange on the finish. Gourmet, powerful and concentrated, revealing as it opens in the glass the lime blossom and zest that pick things up, keeping things light and sculpted through the finish. There were five weeks without rain between the picking of the dry white Y and the main estate wine Yquem - so a full two months of harvest time. It meant a lot of patience and a small final yield, but one that was high in quality. Around 50% of the production goes into Yquem. 145g/l residual sugar and a pH of 3.95. Also tasted August 2020; same score.

Decanter
96

A beauty from start to finish, with fresh, racy notes of honeysuckle, quinine and mirabelle plum leading off, followed by richer quince, creamed pear and white nectarine flavors. Everything melds through the finish, picking up macadamia nut and brioche accents to complete the seduction. Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc. Best from 2025 through 2045. 4,166 cases made.

Wine Spectator
2018 Château d'Yquem
2018 Château d'Yquem Sale price$450.00 | In Stock Ships from our French cellar (Delivery in 4-10 days) | Drink or Cellar

Size

The Estate

Château d'Yquem is the most renowned estate in Sauternes, holding the prestigious Premier Cru Supérieur classification. This iconic château, with its rich history dating back to the Middle Ages, is celebrated for producing what many consider the world's finest sweet wines. The estate covers 113 hectares, with about 100 hectares under vine, primarily planted with Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc.

2003 Château d'Yquem 2003
2003
2003

Decadent Opulence & Honeyed Depth

The heat of 2003 concentrated sugars, producing intense, opulent wines. Yquem’s terroir preserved freshness and complexity, creating a luxurious dessert wine with remarkable richness.

2004 Château d'Yquem 2004
2004
2004

Citrus Elegance & Silky Harmony

A cooler and balanced 2004 vintage resulted in fresh, aromatic wines with vibrant acidity. Yquem’s terroir enhanced elegance and lifted complexity in this beautifully refined dessert wine.

2005 Château d'Yquem 2005
2005
2005

Iconic Power & Honeyed Depth

The warm and dry 2005 vintage produced rich, concentrated wines with excellent natural acidity. Yquem’s terroir preserved freshness and complexity, creating a luxurious and iconic dessert wine.

2008 Château d'Yquem 2008
2008
2008

Yquem's Patience Rewarded

The 2008 growing season at Château d'Yquem saw a cool, damp summer followed by a favorable Indian summer. These conditions allowed for a late harvest and gradual development of noble rot. The estate's patience and meticulous selection process were crucial, resulting in a wine that combines richness with exceptional freshness and purity.

2010 Château d'Yquem 2010
2010
2010

Dry Summer Shapes Fruit

Summer drought in Sauternes concentrated fruit before perfect autumn fog brought waves of noble rot to Yquem's plateau. The estate's limestone-rich soils maintained crucial acidity through the dry growing season. The wine captures both power and precision, showing concentrated citrus notes and the refined honey character that defines this noble terroir.

2013 Château d'Yquem 2013
2013
2013

Late Season Brings Gold

Cool summer conditions in Sauternes yielded to perfect October weather, allowing noble rot to develop slowly across Yquem's slopes. The château's elevated position and multiple picking passes captured the late season's pure botrytis development. The wine shows both delicacy and depth, displaying white peach notes and the crystalline minerality distinctive to this historic plateau.

2016 Château d'Yquem 2016
2016
2016

Dry Summer Shapes Fruit

Summer drought in Sauternes concentrated berries before autumn rains triggered perfect noble rot development across Yquem's plateau. The estate's limestone-clay soils maintained crucial acidity through the dry growing season. The wine shows both power and precision, displaying intense citrus notes and the crystalline minerality distinctive to this noble terroir.

2018 Château d'Yquem 2018
2018
2018

Heat Tests Early Season

Early summer warmth in Sauternes gave way to ideal September conditions, bringing waves of noble rot across Yquem's slopes. The château's clay-limestone soils provided essential balance through intense summer heat. The wine captures both richness and lift, showing concentrated tropical notes and the saline tension that defines this historic site.

2019 Château d'Yquem 2019
2019
2019

Perfect Botrytis Meets Brilliant Freshness

At Château d'Yquem, the 2019 growing season began with a warm spring leading to early flowering, followed by ideal summer conditions that laid the groundwork for noble rot development. The estate's rigorous picking system, with up to 8 passes through the vineyard, capitalized on perfect botrytis conditions in autumn, with each berry selected at the precise moment of optimal noble rot concentration. The result was fruit with exceptional concentration balanced by brilliant acidity.

2020 Château d'Yquem 2020
2020
2020

Yquem's Resilient Brilliance

The 2020 growing season at Château d'Yquem presented unique challenges, with a warm, dry summer followed by a September that required careful management of botrytis development. The estate's experienced team navigated these conditions expertly, employing strict selection and multiple passes through the vineyards. The result is a wine that combines intensity with exceptional freshness and purity, reflecting both the vintage conditions and Yquem's unwavering commitment to quality.

Book a consultation

Expertly curated wine selections for your personal collection, gifting needs, or corporate occasions—tailored to your taste, style, and preferences.

Book a Consultation

Need help?

Frequently Asked Questions

{"statementLink":"","footerHtml":"","hideMobile":false,"hideTrigger":true,"disableBgProcess":false,"language":"en","position":"left","leadColor":"#995143","triggerColor":"#015181","triggerRadius":"50%","triggerPositionX":"right","triggerPositionY":"bottom","triggerIcon":"people","triggerSize":"medium","triggerOffsetX":20,"triggerOffsetY":20,"mobile":{"triggerSize":"small","triggerPositionX":"right","triggerPositionY":"bottom","triggerOffsetX":10,"triggerOffsetY":10,"triggerRadius":"50%"}}
true