2005 CHÂTEAU DOISY-DAËNE - HOW SWEET IT IS!

Barsac’s Château Doisy-Daëne is one of a number of Bordeaux properties that falls under the control of Bordeaux University professor and wine consultant Denis Dubourdieu. For those that mightn’t be aware, Dubourdieu is a leading authority on white wine vinification. He widely consults to leading estates in the Bordeaux region. It is fair to say that his white wines, particularly from Château Doisy-Daëne (especially l’Extravagent) and Clos Floridene in Graves, are excellent representations of their type.

There are up to three wines produced at Château Doisy-Daëne in any given vintage; the standard cuvee, generally regarded as a lighter styled Barsac, Doisy-Daëne Sec, a barrel-fermented dry Sauvignon Blanc and, in exceptional years, Doisy-Daëne l’Extravagent, a lusciously sweet wine that receives Rolls Royce treatment from the vine to the bottle.

2005 is universally considered to be a great red wine vintage in Bordeaux, and with good reason. It was a pretty hand vintage (albeit not quite up with 2001 and 2007) for the region’s sweet wines. 2005 Château Doisy-Daëne is very much true to type, quite light on its feet, yet full of flavour, especially sweet tropical and stonefruit. At this stage in its evolution, it drinks very well as a dessert in its own right. It would also be well suited to fruit-based desserts and pastries.

2005 CHÂTEAU DOISY-DAËNE
Producer: Château Doisy-Daëne
Variety: Sweet Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc
Vintage: 2005
Region: Bordeaux, France
ABV: 14.0%
Closure: Natural cork
Retail Price: N/a
Date tasted: 7 November 2010

Tasting Note:
Golden yellow. Open and inviting nose of guava, baked apple, pineapple and lemon zest, white peach. Sweet, full bodied, glides over the palate, white peach, baked apple, quince, touch of background oak. Although full bodied and sweet, the wine is quite light on its feet. Not particularly complex at this stage of its evolution, but finishes long.
Score: 16.5+/20