I missed the introduction to Lorenzo Pasquini before he began guiding the Château d’Yquem staff tasting last week at K&L Wine Merchant's San Francisco store. When I nosed the first pour, I didn’t know what he did for the winery. All I knew was that the wines and his passion and charisma shone brilliantly, which inspired me to ask if he would sit down for an impromptu video tasting.
Despite having just gotten off a transatlantic flight and with a packed schedule, he was kind enough to oblige. I hope you enjoy the resulting video as much as I enjoyed making it.
When I asked him what he did for d’Yquem, he casually told me he was the director of winemaking for Château d’Yquem. I wish the camera was running when I said, “Wow, you’re a big deal.” He humbly replied, “The botrytis is a big deal. I just get to work with it.”
Perhaps this is due to my lack of exposure to the makers of some of the greatest wines on the planet, but Pasquini’s warmth, enthusiasm, and generosity came as a surprise to me. It was as bright and refreshing as the world-renown Sauternes he presented.
Welcome to the 2020 Château d’Yquem, lemon in color and exquisitely composed of 75% Sémillon, 25% Sauvignon Blanc. The nose is bright and delicate with suggestions of apricot, zesty orange, grapefruit, white blossoms, golden treacle, and crushed rock. The palate is fresh and complex—juicy apricot, crisp white peach, pear, orange, jasmine, golden treacle, stones, a wisp of petrol, and citrus zest with a stimulatingly pithy finish. Its refreshing acidity is in perfect balance with a residual sugar of 135 g/L, which made me crave another sip.
For those who adore the plush and decadently sweet side of Château d’Yquem, 2020 might not be your most favorite vintage. I, however, am absolutely smitten with its delicacy, freshness, and vivacity—making it incredibly versatile for pairing with food. Though it has great aging potential, it's also an eager candidate for early enjoyment. All of these elements make it a natural choice for gourmands and impatient wine enthusiasts who live in the moment, moments made extraordinary by wines such as this.
- Kerry Kirkham, Writer/Editor
