Château Doisy Daëne, 2ème Cru Classé, Barsac,

Pale gold in colour, with dried apricot, frangipane, honeysuckle and baked mirabelle plum, offset by a welcome bitter edge of rosemary that gives contrast. Rich in texture, this is luscious and intense. Dubourdieu family are the owners at this legendary Barsac estate, and the fact that even here the balance is challenging is a clear sign to me that there is an issue with freshness in the sweet wines this year. Ageing starts with 10 months in oak barrels, this is followed by 9 months in stainless steel tank before bottling. Tasted twice at different temperatures, and the key takeaway is that they need to be served cold to maximise the perception of acidity. I was a huge fan of this wine last year, and I would urge you to look out for the 2021 vintage to really capture the spirit of this excellent property.

Made from 100% Semillon and with 150 g/L residual sugar, the 2022 Doisy Daene is pale to medium straw in color. The nose is quite closed to start, offering glimpses at notes of baked peaches, lemon meringue pie, and cedar chest, followed by wafts of sea spray, chamomile tea, and powdered ginger. The palate is full-on decadent, featuring rich, sweet layers of flavor and plenty of savory accents, finishing long with just enough freshness.

The 2022 Doisy-Daëne has an intense bouquet that blossoms in the glass: dried honey, quince and honeysuckle, with light saffron scents emerging with time. The palate is brimming with tension, razor-sharp acidity, quince and tangerine, leading to a slightly peachy, vivacious finish. What a wonderful "DD" from Jean-Jacques Dubourdieu.