2017 Château Doisy Daëne, Grand Cru Classé, Barsac

This lovely property was managed for many years by the much-regretted Prof. Denis Dubourdieu, who sadly died, in the prime of life, in 2016. His family has maintained traditions, and the highest standards, with this beautiful wine. Thanks to their special vineyard management skills, learned at their sister property Clos Floridène (where the vines often come within a hair’s breadth of frost damage) a small harvest of golden, profoundly-concentrated, nobly-rotten bunches was picked here. The resulting wine, 100% from Semillon grapes, is green-lemon in colour, abundantly aromatic, including lime-flower and peachiness. Palate has marked intensity – not too sweet – with superb aftertaste. Less opulent than 2016 or 2015, it nevertheless has perfect balance, with even greater finesse, complexity and length (for drinking 2020-2040+). Denis Dubourdieu would have been very proud of this exceptional wine.