Château d'Yquem 2003

Characteristics and tasting advice for Château d’Yquem 2003

Tasting

Color
Bright and intense color.

Nose
The nose is seduced by its elegant floral nuances of rose.

Palate
The palate reveals itself irresistibly greedy, with a roundness and sweetness perfectly balanced by a just acidity, which supports a remarkable richness in sugars. The aromas of fresh apricot and flowers mingle with a creamy texture with vanilla accents, inviting a deeper sensory exploration.

A great Sauternes wine imbued with elegance and complexity

The property
South of Bordeaux, the Château d'Yquem is one of the most beautiful references of the Sauternes appellation. This legendary Premier Cru Classé Supérieur enjoys an exceptional terroir and gives birth to sweet wines sought after worldwide.

The vineyard
The Château d’Yquem is an extraordinary place, nestled in the heart of the hills of the Sauternes appellation, rich in a hundred hectares of vineyards planted on a mosaic of gravelly-sandy terroirs. If the estate extends over 113 hectares of vines, the vineyard in production spreads over about 100 hectares, benefiting from warm and dry soils on the surface with large gravels. The clayey soils, on the other hand, allow for good water reserves.

The vintage
June 2003 set a heat record at Yquem, with an average temperature of 23.3 °C, far exceeding the normal 18.3 °C. This vegetative advance of 2 to 3 weeks, observed from mid-May flowering, already announced early harvests. However, these conditions seemed almost moderate compared to the exceptional temperatures of August, where the maximums averaged 32.5 °C, well beyond the previous records of 1933 and 1947. Despite this extreme heat, rainfall remained in line with seasonal norms, avoiding any water stress to the vine. These climatic excesses accelerated the maturity of the grape: as early as August 8, the sauvignons displayed a potential degree of more than 13.5°, with a well-preserved acidity, an advance of 3 to 4 weeks on a classic cycle. A vintage marked by the power of the climate and the exceptional precocity of the harvest.

Blend
Sémillon and sauvignon blanc.