Château d'Yquem.

The early history of Yquem is quite a mystery. Documents prove that the estate already existed in the twelfth century and at the time it belonged to the English Royal family. The estate was then taken over by the French Royal family during the fifteenth century.

The back ground to the name Yquem is unknown, but it was a common first name during this time.

Léon de Sauvage acquired the estate from the French Royal family in 1711 and became the sole owner.  This fact probably saved Madame de Lur Saluces, who was the owner of Yquem during the French revolution, from the guillotine.

Chateau Yquem was in 1855 classed in Premier Crus Supérieur.

Yquem is therefore the only estate in France who has received a class of its own, one step above Premier Crus.