Château d’Yquem: A Taste of History + Style

Château d’Yquem has been part of my story long before I stepped onto their estate. It’s not just my favorite wine—it’s the only one I drink. While many see it as a dessert wine, I pair it with every meal.

So when the invitation arrived for a private lunch at Château d’Yquem in Bordeaux, it felt deeply personal. Like an experience I’d already been living, now brought to life.

That morning, I boarded the train from Paris to Bordeaux. Looking out the window as the countryside passed by, I found myself thinking about which d’Yquem vintages I’d be sipping on. Before I knew it, I was pulling up to the estate, where we gathered with the sixty hand-selected guests in their newly built tasting pavilion—contemporary in design yet beautifully aligned with its surroundings.

After a short welcome, we were taken through the Château in small groups, passing rows of aging barrels and learning more about the precision and detail that go into each bottle. It was the perfect transition—setting the our first tasting.

Act I: The First Pour

We were led downstairs into the cellar where rows of barrels rested quietly, each holding liquid gold that wouldn’t be ready to enjoy until the following year. The atmosphere felt calm yet quietly exhilarating—knowing I was standing in a room that held future bottles of d’Yquem, each having already gone through years of meticulous craftsmanship and still needing two more. Very few people ever get to experience this space, which made the moment even more special.

Waiters served our first glass of Château d’Yquem, accompanied by light appetizers. Conversation unfolded naturally, unhurried—we all knew we had the entire afternoon ahead of us to enjoy. And I made sure to capture plenty of photos of this once in a lifetime experience.

It didn’t feel like a tasting.

It felt like an introduction.

Act II: The Art of the Pour

Lunch was served in a separate dining room from Act I, intentionally designed to deepen the experience. Created around the theme “Metamorphosis” by three-Michelin-starred chef Mauro Colagreco, it was described as a sensory meditation on time, an ode to slowness and a tribute to the earth. Each course was paired to a different vintage of Château d’Yquem, ranging from 2022 back to 1985.

The chef didn’t just consider flavor—he designed each dish to reflect the color and character of the vintage it was served with. The plate became an interpretation of the wine, translating the glass into ingredients, texture and tone. Even though I drink d’Yquem with every dish and already know how delicious it tastes, this experience gave me deeper insight into how to pair each vintage more intentionally in the future.

The menu unfolded with purpose:

• Sea urchin with clementine and bottarga

• Golden beet in a botrytis crust with caviar sauce

• Corn textures with white truffle

• Guinea fowl with carrots

With every course, a new vintage was poured. Each sip felt like stepping back into the year it came from—tasting not just the wine, but the conditions that shaped it. You could feel the differences in soil, climate and the decisions of the cellar master. The older the vintage, the more quietly layered it became.

It wasn’t just a pairing.

It was a conversation between flavor and time.

Act III: The Final Pour

For the final part of the experience, we moved into a beautifully styled French salon. The mood shifted—from reflective to indulgent. A chef stood table side preparing fresh crêpes, the scent of warm butter slowly filling the room as dessert was served.

The last glass poured was 1935 Château d’Yquem.

It tasted like history—soft yet defined. Unlike the younger vintages, there was very little sweetness left. I’ve tried older years like 1928 that still held more residual sugar, and both the 1938 and now the 1935 which tasted similar—more structured, less sweet. The flavors were quiet, almost stripped back, but still present. There wasn’t a long or elegant finish, but there was clarity.

It wasn’t the final pour.

It was a lasting impression.

Dressed For The Experience

Buy Dress Here

Since part of the experience would take place in the cellar and involve walking through the vineyards, I dressed with both intention and practicality in mind. I wore my Fendi fur with its brown and cream chevron pattern.

Underneath, I chose a 1920s-style nude dress from my Naughty Girl store, embellished with sparkles and fringe. It felt perfectly suited to the surroundings and the timeless nature of the experience—elegant, lightly dramatic and in tune with the history around us.

I paired it with 1920s-style gold dance shoes, comfortable for walking and standing throughout the afternoon, and a Valentino purse in the same style.

It wasn’t an outfit chosen for attention.

It was chosen to belong—to the setting, the history, and the experience.

Storybook Retreat

For me, where you stay is part of the experience. I chose Château Smith Haut Lafitte, located about 30 minutes from Château d’Yquem, and it proved to be the perfect complement to the day.

Yes, it’s a winery in its own right—but it’s so much more than that.

Set against the backdrop of a classic French château, just off the modern lodge-style lobby, there’s a sexy 70s-inspired lounge bar with deep textures and moody lighting. Step outside and the mood shifts again—more like a Western-style film set, softened with storybook charm and quiet stillness.

After a day exploring the depth of Yquem, staying somewhere with its own sense of story and drama felt fitting.

It didn’t feel like staying at a hotel.

It felt like staying inside a cinematic storybook.

The Final Notes

If you travel for more than scenery — if you seek to experience the craftsmanship of a place, not just observe it — then a visit to Château d’Yquem should be done slowly, with intention, and surrounded by details that quietly elevate the moment.

What you wear, what you taste, where you stay — none of it defines the experience, but it shapes how deeply it’s felt.

Some notes aren’t just curated.

They’re styled.