Handford Wines

Chateau d'Yquem has enjoyed four glorious centuries of wine making history, two of them in the very capable hands of the Lur Saluces family. The outstanding property of the village of Sauternes boasts one of the world's greatest sites for making sweet wines from very old Semillon and Sauvignon vines. But the big secret of Yquem's success is the development and management of 'noble rot'. This celebrated fungus serves to concentrate the sugar in the vines, but not without great risk. As the rot develops, following ripening, pickers may pass through the vines on more than ten occasions to select the most perfectly rotten fruit. Needless to say, the quantities produced are reduced to less than one fifth of what they might have been. Such high sugar levels result in very slow fermentations, often continuing throughout the winter and into the spring. The liquid gold is allowed to settle and fined prior to bottling. Distribution of this rarety has always been erratic, but an opportunity to try Chateau d'Yquem is a chance of a life time. As with all great wines, it is best appreciated on its own. Traditionally it is drunk with rich, but not necessarily sweet foods. Indeed vintages of Chateau d'Yquem have accompanied great feasts including dishes such as Turbot in Sauternes sauce, Veal with truffles, Foie Gras and blue cheeses.

Single Bottle: £150.00

In a case of 12: £142.50