Supersize me: Chateau d’Yquem goes large
With good vintages of Chateau d’Yquem selling at upwards of 800 dollars a litre, the king of French sweet wines is among the most expensive elixirs on Earth. And now it’s available in a new, giant size.
For the first time in the chateau’s multi-century history, a limited number of 15-litre Nebuchadnezzar bottles of Yquem will be released to commemorate the 2005 vintage of the iconic sweet white wine of Sauternes, southwest France.
“It’s an incredible vintage, and we wanted to do something to celebrate,” says Chateau d’Yquem president Pierre Lurton, an experienced Bordeaux winemaker.
It’s also an incredible price: the 100 “Nebs” will be offered at 8,625 pounds (16,900 dollars, 12,850 euros) apiece.
In spite of the outsized price tag, the fact that it won’t even be bottled until 2009 and that it takes several people to pour a Nebuchadnezzar – the wine is selling like bullion during wartime.
In the best years, the convergence of weather, geography, grapes and winemaking technique result in wine that when stored correctly, can last for centuries, making it particularly covetable – and costly.
Lurton: “I can honestly say that in great years, this wine is orgasmic.“
