Well, I am no professor of vinetology..but, I was offered a strange bottle at my Holiday party....
It's 1995 Chateau Yquem Sauternes.
Well. Dear Professor,
My first question to you is... Are you sure is 1995 ?
The reason I say that is because the vintage of 1985, was kept in barrels until the spring of 1989, (i.e.that's when it was bottled.)
Assuming all other things equal, I would expect a similar fate to the 1995. But that is not an absolute, as there were specific conditions that affected the 1985 vintage that could have caused this additional time...
But if we are sure, (which I am sure it is a definite possibility), then....
Either someone loves you dearly, or they had no idea what was that they were giving you.
Because if they knew that you did not know what kind of wine Chateau d'Yquem is.... How could you appreciate it? Therefore, they could have given you a bottle of Thunderbird, and you would not know the difference.
But that is irrelevant now.
So if you are interested in learning about the jewel that you just received, a little research is in order.
First, the wine comes from Bordeaux, (in France). The specific region (or "appellation" to be more accurate) is Sauternes. This is where the BEST dessert wines (i.e. sweet wines) come from. There is a second "appellation" in the general area by the name of Barsac.
Then you have a classification that was created in 1855, whereby the authorities ranked the vineyards, based on quality. This is prevalent in Bordeaux as the properties seemed to be more organized. A situation that it is not as simple in Burgundy, as the properties are smaller (on average), and have been split over the years creating a big nightmare in recognizing the quality of a specific vineyard.
But Burgundy is a different story.
So in 1855 the classification declared that in Sauternes, there were to be 11 "first growths", and ONE First Great Growth. In French you can see the imprint on the labels, "Grand Cru" and "Premier Grand Cru"
So to see how outstanding this wine is, there are 11 Grand Cru (First Growth) vineyards.
The only Premier Grand Cru is d'Yquem. Literary, in a class of its own.
There are five "communes" in the Sauterne Appellation:
Sauterne, Barsac, (its own appellation), Bommes Fargues, and Preignac.
The estimated production for the 11 vineyards is about 83,000 cases of their wines; all of them justified in their quality.
d'Yquem estimated production is 11,000 cases.
_________
Now the wine is very unique in its making, it is made by blending two grapes, Semillon Blanc, and Sauvignon Blanc, two white grapes.
What makes it unique (and this was found by accident), is that it is harvested only after and while the grapes are actually "rotting".
So by the time the grape goes to be pressed, the juice left over in the grape is almost pure concentrated grape sugar.
This gives the most magnificent, luscious, and VOLOUPTUOUS wine this planet is capable of producing. It is liquid gold, (not the devalued kind).
The next consideration is to find about the vintage. I have tried 1955, 1975, (I should have kept it, as it was considered to be capable of 21st. century consumption), 1977, and waiting... I have a few bottles of 1983.... which I am not about to open, in probably another 10 or 15 years.... or more if it proves to be as good as it promises.
Now, I do not know anything about the 1995 vintage, but before I would even consider looking at it, let alone opening it, I would research the vintage, this wine must be the latest bottled. But there should be information about it already from preliminary testings.
Plan on keeping it for a long, long time... I am saying 15 to 20 years from its origin. (1995). And keep it in a cool place, dark, and hidden from disturbance.
Whenever the time comes, do not serve it cold, mere room temperature, or slightly ... (I mean very slightly chilled), and then let it warm up in your hands (that is in the glass, held by your hands).
From there.... smell it, touch it with your lips, your tongue, let it swirl around your mouth, allow the explosion of flavors to take you to real heaven..... anyway, you get the picture.
This is wine I am taking about, so relax now.
Anyway.... I believe you can take it from there.
Lucky dog! |
