L'Extravagant de Doisy-Daëne 2023

With the potential for an even higher score given how good it is, this 100% Sauvignon Barsac shows vivid pink grapefruit, orchard peach and tangerine, with focused botrytis-derived spices of nutmeg, saffron and green peppercorn, and remarkable energy (5.4 grams of acidity per litre) leading to a long, echoing finish with gorgeous lift. Crafted from grapes picked with the most highly developed noble rot, yet reflecting the cooler side of the 2023 vintage, the result is excellent balance, expressing the exceptional finesse of Barsac’s porous limestone subsoils. Fermentation in 100% new oak barrels. 195 g of residual sugar per litre.

The 2023 L'Extravagant de Doisy-Daëne is airy, gracious and wonderfully refined. L'Extravagant is often more exotic than the straight Doisy-Daëne. In 2023, the wines seem to have reversed roles. Orchard fruit, white flowers, pear and passion fruit are some of the many notes that build with a bit of time in the glass. There's gorgeous freshness and nuance.

What concentration, density and depth in the bouquet of Extravagant 2023! Spicy in character, it reveals notes of white-fleshed fruit, mirabelle plums, quinces and flowers, along with hints of mandarin, followed by tobacco leaves and hazelnuts. There’s no shortage of complexity! Rich and lively on the attack, the wine then unfolds slowly, yet with plenty of character. It has energy to spare, vigor, concentration and, above all, exceptional balance! Its saline edge invigorates both the palate on entry and the finish, while its breadth highlights the concentration within. A vigorous, charming, mouthwatering and persistent wine.

Bright and fresh, with teeming honeysuckle, jasmine and pineapple notes grabbing your attention, while macadamia nut, white peach and meringue slowly fill in through the lovely, lengthy finish. Drink now through 2055. 35 cases made, 5 cases imported.

Pale colour. A nose that is discreet at first, then develops towards lemon, Barsac’s signature aroma. Precise on the attack, very aromatic through the mid-palate, with a particular grace and a candied lemon note, the wine melts across the palate—at once caressing, vibrant, long and noble.