LVMH Fundraising Mixed Case 2020

• Domaine: Château d'Yquem, Château Cheval Blanc, Clos des Lambrays
• Appellation: Sauternes, Saint-Emilion, Morey-Saint-Denis
• Classification: First Growth (Bordeaux), Grand Cru (Bourgogne)

One of the hardest-hit sectors in the ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic is the hospitality industry. To prevent the spread of the virus, governments around the world implemented lockdown and confinement measures that led to the close of business and unemployment of many hotel and restaurant workers. Many chefs, sommeliers and waiters have lost their income without an end in sight of the fight against the pandemic.

As a member of the family-run LVMH luxury goods company, LVMH Vins d’Exception is launching a fundraising initiative to support hospitality workers. Three of their flagship properties based in France, Domaines des Lambrays, Château d’Yquem and Château Cheval Blanc, are donating wine to create a special mixed case of 6 bottles containing 1 bottle each of:

• Y d’Yquem 2017
• Château d’Yquem 2009
• Château d’Yquem 2015
• Château Cheval Blanc 2009
• Château Cheval Blanc 2015
• Clos des Lambrays 2016

A total of 300 cases are created from the donation, each individually numbered. This donation is offered for sale, by invitation only, via a select group of fine wine merchants around the world.  All proceeds will go to 3 identified charities located in France, the UK and the US, where restaurants are closed.  These charities are:

Laguna Cellar is proud to be a member of the select group of fine wine merchants chosen to present this special offer. We count among many of our customers long-term collectors of prominent wines such as Cheval Blanc, d’Yquem, and Clos des Lambrays. These top-rated 2009, 2015, and 2016 vintages will not only add to our customers’ collection, but also provide relief fund to the restaurant workers. We hope you will join us in this effort to show solidarity with the hospitality workers in our communities.

Tasting Notes

Y d’Yquem 2017 - "This has a fresh, floral aroma, with honeysuckle and elderflower notes leading the way, followed by a rather creamy, refined palate of kiwifruit, makrut lime and verbena flavors. As the finish glides through, this offers hints of quinine, acacia and white peach. Shows beautiful range and definition, with serious length. Sauvignon Blanc and SEmillon. Drink now through 2026. 833 cases made. " - James Molesworth, Wine Spectator (3/31/2020), Ratings: 95

Château d’Yquem 2009 - "Pale to medium gold colored, the 2009 d'Yquem bursts from the glass with gregarious crème caramel, allspice, dried apricots, mandarin peel and pineapple upside down cake scents plus a fragrant undercurrent of fungi, acacia honey, candied ginger, musk perfume and frangipani. Full-bodied and full-on hedonic in the mouth, the rich, tightly wound layers are still amazingly youthful with bags of citrus sparks and an incredibly long, perfumed finish. Possessing a residual sugar of 157 grams per liter and 13.6% alcohol as well as a laser-focused line of freshness, the rock-solid structure and through-the-roof opulence here is simply mind blowing. Pure perfection." - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (3/14/2019, Interim Issue), Ratings: 100, Drink: 2022-2069

Château d’Yquem 2015 - "Following a very long harvest stretching nearly two months, the 2015 Château d'Yquem came in at 13.9% alcohol and 144 grams per liter of residual sugar, sporting a pH of 3.65 and six grams per liter of tartaric acid. None of these numbers, however, even remotely begin to tell you how profound this wine is. The nose opens with electric notes of ripe pineapples, green mango, orange blossoms and lemon tart with hints of fungi, lime zest, crushed rocks and jasmine. The freshness on the palate is just astonishing, permeating and lifting layer upon layer of tropical fruits and earthy notions, all encased in a sumptuous texture and culminating in a very, very long, mineral-tinged finish. Truly, this is a legendary vintage for d'Yquem. I've been conservative with my drinking window here, and I would not be at all surprised if our descendants are drinking this vintage well into the next century." - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (4/27/2018, Issue 236), Ratings: 100, Drink: 2025-2065

Château Cheval Blanc 2009 - "Deep garnet colored, the 2009 Cheval Blanc offers up profound notions of baked blueberries, blackberry compote and crème de cassis with suggestions of chocolate mint, new leather and cloves plus a waft of candied violets. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is an exercise in elegance with very classy, super fine-grained tannins, beautiful freshness and layer upon layer of mineral-laced blue and black fruits, finishing long and perfumed." - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (3/14/2019, Interim Issue), Ratings: 100, Drink: 2020-2057

Château Cheval Blanc 2015 - "Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2015 Cheval Blanc is still incredibly primary at this very youthful stage. With coaxing, it unfurls to reveal beguiling notions of ripe black cherries, mulberries, licorice, baking spices and smoked meats with touches of incense and potpourri plus wafts of cast iron pan and crushed rocks. Full-bodied, very rich, very firm/taut and with very ripe, fine-grained tannins, it allows a glimpse at its incredible depth of flavors with a very long multi-layered finish. Wow." - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (8/31/2018, Issue 238), Ratings: 100, Drink: 2027-2067

Clos des Lambrays 2016 - "The 2016 Clos des Lambrays Grand Cru includes 85% whole-bunch fruit and is matured in 50% new oak. It was picked around 24 to 29 September. It has a fresh and discrete bouquet at first, the whole bunch influencing the red fruit, infusing scents of autumn leaves and Earl Grey into the mix. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, good grip in the mouth, building with time to a very composed, classically styled, quite persistent and lightly spiced finish whereby the whole bunch is completely subsumed by the fruit. Wonderful." - Neal Martin, Robert Parker'S Wine Advocate (12/28/2018, Issue 240), Ratings: 93-95, Drink: 2021-2045