Château d’Yquem 2006
Blanc liquoreux, Sauternes, 2006
Commenté par Sylvie Cazes, Présidente de la Fondation pour la Culture et les Civilisations du Vin
Les millésimes en 6 : 2006, 1996, 1986, 1976, 1966, 1916
Madame le Maire de Bordeaux
Monsieur le Grand Chancelier,
Dear friends,
It is a great honour for me to comment on this illustrious property.
400 years of history overlook this unique property in the heart of Sauternes. Jacques Sauvage started building the actual chateau in 1593, and discovered its fabulous terroir. In 1785, Françoise-Joséphine de Sauvage d’yquem married Louis-Amédée Comte de Lur-saluces and gave all the greatest care to the beauties and treasures of this beautiful estate. After her husband’s death, she developed the fame of Yquem across the continents.
Thomas Jefferson, ambassador to France, developed a passion for Bordeaux wines and among them the mythical Yquem. When he came back to his home country, he shared with his friend Georges Washington, the beauties of this wine of which he ordered 30 cases in 1788. He will be honoured in our Cité du Vin.
Romain Bertrand de Lur-Saluces, Françoise-Joséphine’s grand son, perpetuated Yquem reputation and saw the property classified as « premier cru classé supérieur » (only one to get this title) in the famous 1855 classification, as well as the order of a barrel of Yquem 1847 by Constantin, the Tsar’s brother for 20 000 gold francs.
The descendants of the Comte de Lur-Saluces all remained faithful to the values and to the noble land of Yquem throughout the last centuries. Alexandre de Lur-Saluces is among us tonight. Following his ancestors, he dedicated his whole life to Yquem and to all the wines of Bordeaux. He was our Chancellor for 13 years! I would like all of us to honour him tonight for his devotion to Bordeaux and our Académie.
It is now in turn our friend Pierre Lurton who was given the priviledge to honour this magnificent terroir by Bernard Arnault.
The 2006 vintage was incredibly promising in the first part of the summer, but it required all the care and precision of his technical team to value the greatness of the different soils and cepages of the property under a changing weather throughout the picking weeks. 5 tries were necessary to optimize the beautiful noble rot present on the grapes. And 3 years of aging were needed to refine its elegance.
The wine shows a deep golden colour and a wonderful shine. The nose starts opening and we can feel apricot, peach and coco nut. A round and persistant volume with a great purity in the mouth. A fresh evolution immediately followed by a rich harmony. A great density in the finish ending on more spicy notes of vanilla and white pepper.
Merci pierre pour nous avoir donné ce grand moment de Bonheur! Yquem restera à travers les siècles et enchantera nos palais. Le plus beau des cadeaux que tu pouvais nous donner est d’avoir depuis quelques jours ouvert la propriété aux amateurs passionnés venus du monde entier et en cela, nous te remercions de perpétuer la grande tradition de générosité des Lur-saluces et de ce noble terroir. Merci à vous tous de partager avec moi ce précieux nectar !
