1982 Chateau d'Yquem Sauternes 750 ml

Château d’Yquem is perhaps the most revered wine on the planet—and its true glory only gets unlocked after decades in the cellar.

Of course, by the time a vintage of Yquem reaches maturity, most of it’s already secure in the cellars of loyal collectors. That means in order to experience a bottle in full bloom, you’ve either got to get in on it early, or find an extraordinary shot at one in its prime. 

The reward: no less than one of the greatest sensory experiences you’ll ever have. 

Robert Parker called the château’s 1982 bottling “a great Yquem” on release, and it has only improved since then. It’s drinking beautifully right now, and it wowed Vinous in a tasting just last year.

The autumn mists at Yquem’s property encourage the grapes to form what the French call pourriture noble—“noble rot”—which aids evaporation and concentrates flavors.  

The vineyard crew passes through and selectively picks each row an average of six times before harvest is complete, and yields are minuscule—just nine hectoliters per hectare. The grapes are gently pressed three times before getting transferred to 100% new oak barrels, where the wine ages for three years before bottling. 

That scrupulous picking and work in the cellar was especially important in 1982, a legendary year for Bordeaux’s red wines but a tough one for most Sauternes estates. Rain affected many other producers, but Yquem’s vigilant and unerring vineyard work allowed the wine team to harvest before the inclement weather arrived—prompting Parker to declare ‘82 “an outstanding vintage” for the estate.

When you cellar or sip a bottle of Yquem, you’re participating in one of the most sacred traditions in wine.