Chateau d'Yquem 1983

Region Description

This famous French appellation produces some of the most outstanding sweet wines in the world. Situated within the Graves district of Bordeaux, the area includes the five communes of Barsac, Bommes, Fargues, Preignac, and Sauternes. The dominant grape in Sauternes is Sémillon, although the final blend generally includes some Sauvignon Blanc and, occasionally, small amounts of Muscadelle. In good vintages, this appellation is the lucky recipient of the right climatic conditions to infect the grapes with botrytis cinerea (noble rot). This beneficial mold causes the grapes to shrivel, leaving sugar-laden fruit full of rich, concentrated flavors. The best Sauternes wines come from low-yielding vines that have been hand-picked to ensure that the grapes are not culled before reaching the perfect degree of required ripeness. The resulting classic Sauternes wine is rich and sweet—the botrytis cinerea contributes a desirable honeyed and complex nature to both the aroma and flavor.