Chateau Doisy Daene Blanc Sec 2019

Denis Dubourdieu was Bordeaux. Born in Barsac into a winemaking family, the late enologist put his stamp on the region as a professor at the University of Bordeaux, a consultant to the First Growths, a mentor to myriad winemakers, and a château owner and nowhere does his legacy live on like it does at Château Doisy-Daëne. Crafted by Dubourdieu’s sons, the 2019 Château Doisy-Daëne is a picture of Bordeaux Blanc purity that should be on the radar of all white-wine lovers. Grown on 50-year-old vines planted on a dedicated parcel, this singular wine shows exactly why Decanter said: “This is a family that knows exactly how to handle this grape.” 

Although now a common practice among Sauternes and Barsac producers, Doisy-Daëne was among the first to produce a dry white from the commune. Dubourdieu had been perfecting its formula with every vintage, no surprise, considering that Decanter once wrote that “Dubourdieu is to Bordeaux’s white wines what Michel Rolland is to its reds.” 

Pale gold in colour, reflecting a youthful green hue. Bold aromas of lemon, lemon curd, green apple, lemon zest, and honeysuckle stride confidently from the glass when swirling, joined by notions of toasted oak, yellow flowers, and allspice. The mouthwatering sharpness of citrus and green apple flavor on entry is tamed by a counterbalancing roundness of baking spice and vanilla notes, creating intricate, electrifying layers of texture. Hints of wild herbs, toast, and a crunchy minerality add to the complexity, and the wine finishes long and with power. Beautiful now for its youthful zeal, it will develop a weightier, richer, rounder mouthfeel and marzipan nuttiness after a few years in the cellar. Drink now–2029.