Château Doisy-Daëne 2019

This has weight, focus and freshness, with a mix of well-defined orange, lemon, peach and nectarine notes. The bright finish is laced with heather and honeysuckle, featuring nice underlying acidity that helps set it apart from the pack. Drink now through 2035. 1,960 cases made, 100 cases imported.

Bright candied lemon on the nose, elderflower and true florality on the nose, with a strong perfumed element on the palate too, which I adore, alongside a bright lemon zestiness from start to finish. Nice overall impression with clarity and a real punch of lime zest and juice on the long finish. Well made.

White pears, peaches, lemon meringue and acacia honey on the nose. Medium-bodied with succulent lemon-pie character. Sweet, yet fresh and tangy. Excellent balance. Drink now or hold.

Tasted blind. Nervy, botrytised nose. Very sweet – my teeth demurred – yet with good acidity. Strong apricot notes. Fresh as well as sweet. Exciting, intense wine. (JR)

Everything is subtle and balanced here. The wine is spicy, fresh, vivacious, and packed with white peach, spicy roasted pineapples, vanilla, honey, mango, and a touch of mint on the nose and palate. Fresh, sweet, and racy on the palate with a complex note of caramelized orange and pineapple that lingers thanks to the jolt of freshness that kicks in when you need it most. Drink from 2023-2047.

Light yellow gold, silver reflections. Smoky herbal spice, cloves and honey, white fruit. Medium complexity, yellow peach, subtle wood spice, salty minerality, sweet finish, somewhat rustic, orange on the finish, will benefit from bottle ageing.

Kunz barrel sample 2020: (100% Sémillon, 13% alc. vol., production 30,000 bottles) Dense, velvety, finely opulent, fresh, complex bouquet with citrus, subtle lime, linden blossom, chalk, cooked pears, mint, honey. Creamy, generously textured, dense palate with pronounced sweetness, well-integrated acidity, a gently plush texture, varied and powerful aromatics, dense fruit, and a very long, full, powerful finish with plenty of lingering aromas.

(100% Sémillon, 13% alc./vol., production of 30,000 bottles) Dense, velvety, finely opulent, fresh, complex bouquet: citrus, delicate lime, linden blossom, chalk, cooked pears, mint, honey. Creamy, generously rich, dense palate with pronounced sweetness, well-integrated acidity, finely plush structure, powerful, multi-layered aromatics, dense fruit, very long, full, powerful finish with plenty of lingering flavors. 19/20 2026 - 2060

Grilled gunsmoke, chargrilled peaches, with nectarine, apricot, apple tarte tatin, brioche and croissant flavours. This bursts from the glass with fruit flavour, gourmet and high quality, with a lime and orange zest finish.

A great success in preserving purity, precision, and the brilliance of the fruit. An ultra-typical Barsac character, long and complex. It is masterfully vinified.

An opulent nose of yellow fruits, beeswax, acacia, and mimosa. On the palate, a sultan’s opulence, yet with an elegant structure, notes of dandelion and iced lemon, leading into a tingling finish.

If you want to understand the notion of terroir and identity that can distinguish Sauternes from Barsac, then you must in any case look to Doisy Daëne as a benchmark! The bouquet is impressive in how it sets the markers, positions itself, and proclaims what it is! The complexity dazzles with both mineral and fruity notes. Such grandeur! This wine is indeed sweet, but that’s not really what is striking; it’s far more this brilliant ability to create a breathtaking harmony between generosity, salinity, vibrancy and sweetness, culminating in a persistent finish. What an exceptional, authentic and moving wine!

The nose is racy, mineral and elegant, offering controlled / measured power. It reveals notes of quince and lemon, and more lightly of juicy / tangy vineyard peach, combined with small touches of pineapple and fresh mango, as well as hints of beeswax and saffron and a discreet touch of ginger. The palate is fruity and balanced, with smoothness, juiciness, a lovely tangy backbone, indulgence, freshness, a fine racy minerality, tension and a certain purity in the aromatics. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of juicy / tangy apple and nectarine, and more lightly fresh mango, combined with touches of dried / tangy apricot and quince, hints of white flowers, an almost saline minerality, fine pastry nuances, and a subtle hint of saffron and almond. Sapid finish. Score: 17.5/20

Yellow color. Superb nose, intense and very fruity. Graceful on entry, broad and flavorful, with a noble touch and plenty of taste. Hints of mirabelle plum and spices. Melt-in-the-mouth, deep finish. Very good!

The 2019 Doisy Daene, 100% Semillon, is pale lemon-straw in color. It opens with cedar and straw notes leading to a core of grapefruit oil, peach preserves, and honeycomb with a waft of jasmine tea. The palate is densely packed, the decadent fruit nicely offset by a racy backbone, finishing savory.