L'Extravagant de Doisy-Daëne 2012

Features a piercing edge, with fresh pineapple, verbena, candied citrus peel and mirabelle plum notes that race along, backed by a vibrant, mineral-edged finish. Shows a delicious combination of sweetness and purity. This is built on length and cut, rather than power. Best from 2016 through 2030. 53 cases made.

The 2012 L’Extravagant de Doisy-Daëne is missing some presence on the nose, straightforward for this cuvée, with honey and orange blossom, and a touch of petrol. The palate is well balanced with fine definition, very pure, showing orange rind, mandarin and peach, with hints of crème caramel toward the finish. Drinking now.

A total of three barriques, i.e., 1,800 small bottles. 70% Sauvignon Blanc, 30% Sémillon. Rather deep yellow with an initial golden sheen, brilliant. Very sweet bouquet, notes of mustard, white truffle, cooked mirabelles and greengages, along with clear traces of wood from the first barrique contact; quite open, showing an almost dry-tinged botrytis, with fine straw notes on the second nose. On the palate, enormously concentrated, with an oily outline, focused within its long body. An exceptionally great special Barsac is finding its way – and will indeed find it!

MORE SUGAR = HEAVIER BOTTLE Denis Dubourdieu himself was surprised when he put his two best Barsac wines on the table. They may be exactly the same bottles, but L’Extravagant is always slightly heavier due to its higher sugar content. I felt it too, but then I wanted to be sure. So his wife Florence fetched a postal scale from the office to prove the sugar-weight thesis: Doisy-Daene: 130 grams of residual sugar. Bottle weight: 1299 grams L’Extravagant: 215 grams of residual sugar. Bottle weight: 1320 grams A total of 3 barriques, that is 1800 half bottles. 70% Sauvignon Blanc, 30% Semillon. Rather dark yellow with the first golden shimmer, brilliant. Very sweet bouquet, mustard notes, white truffle, cooked mirabelles and greengages, also clear wood traces from the first contact with the barrique; it shows quite open and reveals an almost dry-seeming botrytis, with fine straw notes on the second nose. On the palate, enormously concentrated, oily contour, feels focused within its long body. An extraordinarily great special Barsac seeks its path – and we find it too!

Dense, mineral and spicy bouquet, Williams pear, nougat, slate, pebbles. Velvety, concentrated, opulent, powerful palate with opulent sweetness, very well-integrated acidity, creamy structure, very long, dense, lavish finish with pronounced afterflavours. 18/20 2022 - 2050

The 2012 has great concentration, lovely length, and a hint of freshness.

Golden yellow. What energy and expression in this complex bouquet! It brings back unchanging memories of my mother baking a rhubarb cake. I also pick up aromas of mandarin. On the palate, the wine is already very approachable, not only thanks to its sweetness but also its balance. The structure holds everything together perfectly and ensures this wine will travel through time. It reminds us that a vintage is defined not by what went wrong, but by what shone. That’s the case with Extravagant, for example!