image credit: Kristoffer Paulsen
The Royal Mail Hotel, Dunkeld, has been selected by prestigious wine label Château d’Yquem as its first and only Australian Lighthouse, sitting proudly among a tightly curated list of just 44 venues internationally that represent the pinnacle of fine wine experiences.
“This wonderful wine has formed part of the basis of our collection since the Royal Mail Hotel’s earliest days, and we’re thrilled to have been selected as part of the few prestigious Lighthouses family all over the world. To share these wines with likeminded wine lovers is a great pleasure,” says Royal Mail Hotel Director John Myers.
Château d’Yquem’s Lighthouses give guests the opportunity to discover the highly coveted Sauternes in the best possible conditions, paired with a selected course specifically dedicated to Yquem, providing the Lighthouse venues with double magnum and imperial formats of the Château’s new-release 2020 vintage to support by-the-glass service.
“A breath-taking view over the majestic Mount Sturgeon, a distinguished chef dedicated to sublimate our wine with bespoke pairings, and Australia’s largest kitchen garden… The Royal Mail Hotel is a special place, where savouring a glass of Château d’Yquem becomes a once-in-a-lifetime experience ” says Château d’Yquem Estate Manager Lorenzo Pasquini.
In addition, Lighthouses each offer a dish designed to complement the ethereal and delicate character of the new-release 2020 Château d’Yquem vintage and its subtle balance between freshness, subtleness, and power.
At Wickens at the Royal Mail Hotel, guests will have the opportunity to supplement Executive Chef Robin Wickens’ critically-acclaimed degustation with a bespoke course of barbecued crayfish, crayfish butter, Tokyo turnip, rose geranium.
image credit: Kristoffer Paulsen
The brightness and acidity of the 2020 Château d’Yquem highlight the sweet, delicate qualities of the crayfish, while the presence of the rose geranium ties the flavours together, smoothing the earthiness of the Tokyo turnip and adding freshness to the dish.
In line with Wickens’ micro-seasonal approach, the dish will change regularly to reflect the harvest of the Royal Mail Hotel’s pastures and 1.2-hectare organic kitchen garden — the largest in Australia — which supplies up to 80% of the produce at Wickens at the Royal Mail Hotel.
An exclusive preview of Château d’Yquem 2020 will take place at the Royal Mail Hotel, Dunkeld, in late February, with the vintage to be released to market in late March 2023.
image credit: Kristoffer Paulsen
