D'Yquem Sauternes 1er Cru 2000

Category:
 
Sweet Wines
Sub-Category:  
 
White Wines
Producer:
 
D'Yquem
Label Name:
 
Sauternes 1er Cru
Vintage:
 
2000
Country:
 
France
Region:
 
Sauternes (Bordeaux)
Volume:
 
750ml
ABV:
 
14%
Grape(s):
 
Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc
Acidity:
 
4
Sweetness:
 
5
Body:
 
5
Length:
 
5
Aroma Intensity:
 
5
Best Temperature:
 
8-10°C

Awards/Ratings
Decanter 96 (Jane Anson, Jul 2020); Wine Spectator 92; James Suckling 91; Wine Advocate (Neal Martin) 90 (2014); Jancis Robinson 17/20. very small 2000 yield (~20% of normal)

Tasting Note
Rich honeyed apricot and marmalade, candied orange peel, saffron, toasted brioche and butterscotch with white-truffle accents. Intense botrytis character, luscious glycerol texture and bright citrus acidity keeping sweetness in balance; very long, honeyed finish.

Food Pairing
Foie gras and terrines, Roquefort/blue cheeses, crème brûlée, tarte Tatin and fruit desserts; Asian: Peking duck with hoisin, Cantonese dim sum, spicy Szechuan prawns or Thai curry — sweet contrast with salty/spicy dishes.

Production Method
Multiple hand-harvest passes selecting botrytised Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc; fermented in oak barrels (historically high new-oak proportion) and aged extended months in barrel before blending and bottling.

Vineyard Info
Château d'Yquem — the only 1er Cru Supérieur of Sauternes. Long Lur‑Saluces legacy; now part of LVMH. Famous for meticulous selection, tiny yields and benchmark botrytised sweet wines.