Y d'Yquem 2015

After a mild, very dry winter, the growing season got off to a strong start thanks to abnormally high temperatures in spring. In fact, the months of April and May were the warmest in over a century! As a result, flowering took place 3 weeks ahead of time, in mid-May, auguring well for a very early harvest. Fortunately, summer weather was less exuberant with temperatures just above the seasonal average and without excessive water stress.

These conditions locked in freshness and acidity essential to great white wines despite the fact that the vines had maintained their considerable head start: the grapes were edible as of 7 July! Fine weather returned in August, and a new period of hot weather set in. While there was no heat wave during this time, the weather was nevertheless quite warm, which inevitably led to a very early harvest.

Picking of grapes for 2011 "Y" began on the 17th of August, a record for Yquem. The Sauvignon Blanc harvest continued on the 19th, 22nd, 23rd, and 29th of August and that of Sémillon on the 20th and 30th.

The grapes that produce "Y" are picked exclusively by experienced permanent château employees, who carefully select a maximum of one bunch per vine in the finest plots, and only on days without rain.

Notes and Reviews

Neil Martin (92)

It has an intriguing bouquet of melted wax, white flowers, and hints of sea spray, that marine influence becoming quite strong with aeration.

The palate is fresh on the entry with fresh ginger and lemongrass, lively in the mouth with shades of orange rind and sour lemon towards the persistent finish.

I would afford this several years in bottle and I suspect you will end up with a very distinctive dry Bordeaux from the most famous Sauternes estate. Drink date: 2023 - 2040.

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