Well, no 2012 Yquem...

[Maximilien]

Gutsy move.
No 2012 vintage for the prestigious wine maker.

“We tried everything possible, but nature didn’t give us a choice,”

Interesting view on the situation.

“I can see how it would be, on occasion, unpleasant for the other estates when Yquem doesn’t produce a vintage, but overall, in the long-term, it’s good for the image of the appellation,” said Lurton.

I kind of agree with the point that if you do _high_ quality wines, there might be years when things just do not align.

link : http://www.winespectator.com/webfeatu...

[Eugene Park]

Don't fret. Rudy Kurniawan will be offering cases of 2012 d'Yquem at auction sometime in the next 5-10 years (i.e. whenever he gets out of the federal pokey).....

[wineglas1]

No Eugene he will bottle the juice up and put make a label with the 2001 vintage.

[Eugene Park]

He'd be remiss not to include the '12 in the complete vertical offering of D'Yquem, as well......

[maria lorraine]

Chateau Climens, in a recent email, described a very difficult 2012 growing season, from spring to harvest, but a very good final result, in terms of aromatics, body, elegance, complexity, finish and blend. Lower yields, of course.

[law_doc89]

Does anyone know if they will produce the "Y" label therefore?

[twyst]

The mayans ARE right...

[Bill Hunt]

Well, maybe the archeologists just did not know the Mayan symbol for Ch. d'Yquem... ?

Also, with out Sauternes, I guess that world SHOULD end.

Hunt

[wineglas1]

No worries here. I would not plonk down that kind of money on a good vintage. Very small percent of wine buyers can afford it anyway and if I am spending $250 to $400 I am buying something else anyway.

[zin1953]

And Château Rieussec has also declared no Sauternes will be produced, for the first time since 1993 . . .

[Maximilien]

but they will still make their 2nd wine. Yquem do not have a second wine. ( I don't count the "Y" as a second wine)

[zin1953]

Agreed . . . yes, Château Rieussec is planning on making their second wine, "Carmes de Rieussec." Personally, I have no problem with that -- not that they care what I think in the first place.

And yes, Château Y -- and Château R, for that matter -- are *not* the second wines of their respective châteaux.

[zin1953]

There's more on the story from Decanter -- http://www.decanter.com/news/wine-new... . . . .

[Bill Hunt]

Interesting.

As you are well-aware, there have been years, when winery ___ has not done their ___.

I recall a year, when Cain Five should have been named "Cain Four," as the Merlot harvest did not come through, as per normal in the Mayacamus Mountains, but then, with a proprietary name, who cares, but a few wine geeks?

Hunt

[Bill Hunt]

Last Friday, I attended a party, where two gentlemen from LVMH were in attendance. They indicated that the final choice was very difficult, but that they felt that their standards could not be compromised.

OTOH, there might be some "decent" Sauternes with different labels, hitting the market for the 2012 vintage. Who is to know?

Hunt

[zin1953]

>>> Gutsy move. <<<

Uh . . . not really.

Château Yquem has a very l-o-n-g history of NOT releasing their "première étiquette" 1er Grand Cru classé Sauternes in bad vintages. For example, there was no 1963 or 1965, and -- although the château *did* release a 1968 -- Comte Alexandre Lur-Saluces later issued a public apology for doing so.

[Bill Hunt]

Just like some Port houses, that is not uncommon. Some years, things work, but in others, they do not.

Some producers might not release their regular wine, but might have other properties (I am thinking Latour and Les Forts de Latour here), that might have produced wines, that live up to the producers' goals.

Hunt