Château d’Yquem Lur-Saluces 1995 is a French wine produced by Château d’Yquem, in all likelihood the most renowned producer of sweet wines in the world. It was the only château in Sauternes to be classified as Premier Cru Supérieur in the official classification of 1855.
The 113-hectare vineyard is located on the highest hill in Sauternes and is planted with 75% Sémillon and 25% Sauvignon Blanc. The Lur-Saluces family owned the château from 1785 until 1999, when it was sold to the LVMH group.
In the winery, the botrytis-selected grapes are pressed three or four times, with increasing pressure that yields smaller volumes but higher sugar levels. The wine is fermented in new oak barrels and contains between 120 and 150 g/L of residual sugar.
Production is extremely scarce: from a normal vineyard, around 10,000 litres of good white wine per hectare can be obtained, while at Château d’Yquem only 800 litres per hectare are produced.
The 1995 vintage: “The harvest of the century”
This vintage is remembered as the one of the storm of the century, as on 11th August rainfall of 115 litres per square metre was recorded in just 2 hours. Fortunately, this deluge did not ruin the harvest but, on the contrary, helped the homogeneous spread of the developing botrytis fungus across the bunches. The favourable weather conditions in the following days meant that harvesting began on 26th September, finishing on 12th October with spectacular concentration levels. The Count of Lur Saluces himself described this harvest as triumphant and, following the wine’s evolution in ageing, as one of the finest vintages of Yquem, capable of lasting a century.
When poured into the glass, this wine displays a deep golden colour, with a fine intensity that unfolds magnificently in the glass.
On the nose it is enormously intense and complex, with a dense bouquet almost in the Barsac style, featuring notes of mandarin, apricot, acacia and melted candle wax. In its secondary aromatic phase, the nose evolves with great complexity.
On the palate the entry is vibrant, with a slight touch of bitterness that lends it great tension. Layers of marmalade and honeyed notes are perceived, with a powerful and spiced finish that lingers long on the palate.
Food pairing
Due to its richness, sweetness and well-balanced acidity, it pairs perfectly with:
- Foie gras
- Blue cheeses (Roquefort, Gorgonzola)
- Desserts with nuts or cream
- Apple tarts or caramelised fruit desserts
An absolutely unique wine, considered by many to be the finest dessert wine in the world. The 1995 is a legendary vintage that continues to evolve with the passage of time.
Sobrelías Redacción
Sobrelías Redacción