Rare collections of the World's leading wines to be sold as single bottles
Timed Online Auction, 15 - 28 August 2023
Chateau d’Yquem
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About this Item
Château d`Yquem, often described as the greatest sweet wine in the world and the only Sauternes First Growth of Bordeaux. Few wines in the world have produced consistently noble quality for more than 4 centuries.
Established in 1593, the property consists of a 110-hectare vineyard planted with 80% Semillon and 20% Sauvignon Blanc. The wines are created from botrytized fruit that is picked by hand in several passes ‘tiers’ by up to 150 harvesters. Château d'Yquem is the product of meticulous work in the vineyard, along with the estate’s exceptional terroir, and centuries of inherited knowledge since 1593, it has gained the reputation of the world’s finest sweet wine.
In the Bordeaux Classification of 1855, Château d'Yquem was given the unique and unsurpassable rank of Premier Cru Supérieur, ahead of all other Sauternes, indicating its perceived superiority and ability to command by far the highest prices. The wines of Château d'Yquem are characterised by their complexity, concentration and longevity. In a good year, a bottle will only begin to show its qualities after a decade or two of cellaring and with proper care, will keep for a century or more, gradually adding layers of complexity.
Michael Egan Authentication code - 411
This bottle has been recorked by Château d'Yquem - 2005.
Provenance
The Coats Family Cellar is arguably the most prestigious fine wine collection ever offered in South Africa. It contains an expansive collection of the worlds finest, most sought-after wines, spanning over 150 years. Collected over many decades, the cellar was imported from Ireland to South Africa via refrigerated container. Each bottle within the Coats Family Cellar was authenticated by Michael Egan in August 2022 and given an ID number for tracking.
Michael Egan is a world-expert in fine and rare wines with more than thirty five years of experience. He was the principal expert for the plaintiff in the two major wine counterfeiting trials in Koch v. Eric Greenberg and United States v. Rudy Kurniawan, both of which occurred in 2013.
Along with Michael Egan, the Strauss & Co Fine Wine team have tasted extensively through the cellar and are confident of the wine storage and hence quality. The entire collection is currently stored at Wine Cellar.
Critics Ratings
‘The 1929 Yquem ranks as one of the greatest Sauternes that I have ever tasted. Limpid golden in colour, it has an intense bouquet with blood orange, Japanese yuzu, elderflower and golden raisins that are all delivered with the most breath-taking definition. The palate is perfectly balanced, symmetrical even, its acidity effortlessly slicing through the concentrated, rich botrytised fruit. This ranks as one of the most penetrating bottles of Yquem that I have tasted, perhaps only equaled by the 1945. Monumental.’ Neal Martin, Vinous, 100/100 (Feb 2022)
‘Shaded dark reddish brown. According to Richard Olney, who wrote the famous monograph on Yquem, this wine was always mahogany coloured. So dense! Hambleton Hall's sommelier Dominique Baduel suggests it’s like liquorice. Sweet, almost coconut nose. Very big, sweet but with lots of acidity. Macerated plums and extraordinarily fresh. No sign of any oxidation. Very slightly chewy on the end.’ – Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, 19/20 (Nov 2021)
‘From a grand vintage, this is very supple, the creaminess complemented by lemon-spiked acidity. Offers amazing purity of fruit, and a long, pineapple-flavored finish. Great from start to finish.--Yquem vertical. Drink now through 2020.’ – Wine Spectator, 97/100 (May 1999)
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