1998 Chateau d'Yquem 375ml Half Bottle

375ml Half Bottle

Overview

The 1998 Chateau d'Yquem is a rare half-bottle release from Sauternes, Bordeaux, produced by one of the most celebrated sweet wine estates in the world. Classified as Premier Cru Superieur in 1855, Yquem is renowned for its meticulous vineyard selection, noble rot concentration and extraordinary ageing potential.

This vintage is described by the estate as seductive and generous, shaped by early warmth, September rain that encouraged botrytis, and drying easterly winds that concentrated the fruit. The result is a layered Sauternes with sweetness, acidity and oak ageing held in long-lived balance.

Vintage & Winemaking

The 1998 vintage was marked by warm, dry conditions and early budburst, followed by September rainfall that triggered botrytis development. Picking was interrupted by showers over an extended period, with multiple passes through the vineyard required to select the best noble-rot affected berries.

The wine was barrel fermented and aged for 36 months in new French oak, giving structure, richness and longevity to its Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc base.

Product Highlights

• Premier Cru Superieur Sauternes from Chateau d'Yquem.
• Rare 375ml half bottle format.
• Sweet Bordeaux made from Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon.
• Aged 36 months in new French oak.
• Grand Gold at Berlin Wine Trophy 2015.
• Drinking window: 2003-2053.

Critic Scores & Reviews

• 95 points - The Wine Independent, tasted June 2024.
• 95 points - Robert Parker The Wine Advocate, tasted June 2018.
• 93 points - Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider: "Medium bodied, lighter style of d'Yquem, with a lean to the orange, apricot, tangerine side..."

Tasting Notes

Expect the classic richness of mature Sauternes: marmalade, apricot, honey, dried citrus peel, saffron and roasted nuts, balanced by fine acidity and the layered sweetness that makes Yquem so distinctive. The half-bottle format offers a beautiful way to enjoy a mature, collectible sweet Bordeaux without opening a full bottle.

Food Pairing

Pair with blue cheese, duck liver crème brulée, Bakewell tart with clotted cream, pancakes or Dolcelatte. It can also be enjoyed as a contemplative dessert wine on its own.

Cellaring Potential

Drinking window: 2003-2053. This bottle is mature now, with further life ahead for well-stored examples.

About Chateau d'Yquem

Chateau d'Yquem is the benchmark estate of Sauternes and the only property classified as Premier Cru Superieur in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification. Its wines are made through highly selective harvesting of botrytised grapes, often requiring multiple passes through the vineyard to capture fruit at the ideal point of concentration.

Specifications

• Producer: Chateau d'Yquem
• Vintage: 1998
• Region: Sauternes, Bordeaux
• Country: France
• Grape Variety: Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon
• Wine Style: Dessert Wine - Lush and Balanced
• Classification: Premier Cru Superieur
• Alcohol: 13.5%
• Residual Sugar: 130 g/L
• Oak: New French oak
• Ageing: 36 months
• Bottle Size: 375ml Half Bottle