Chateau Doisy-Vedrines

Just 40% of production was included in the first wine in 2013. There is an effective concentration of fruit, and a honeyed sweetness, with rapier-like acidity and a wonderful lightness of touch.

One of the stars of the sweet wines this year and seemingly indicative of a strong showing for the commune of Barsac. The bouquet is truly a thing of beauty, with pure, vivid aromas of citrus peel, apricot and honey. The palate is again wonderfully pure and clean, and the length, albeit with lowish acidity, impressive. The sweetness is very clean and not at all cloying.

Ripe, sweet and very well-balanced, the 2009 Doisy-Védrines has wonderfully intense orange marmalade and honeysuckle notes, partly as a result of the high concentration of botrytis that develops on the very old vines of this estate. The fruit was picked over five separate days in the vineyard, resulting in a clean, pure wine of great poise with a long, honeyed finish.

Bottled for us by one of our favourite Sauternes estates, Ch. Doisy-Védrines, this is a sumptuous example of this ageless style of wine. Blessed with ancient vines, the fruit here is often subject to high levels of Botrytis (or noble rot), which shrinks the grapes and concentrates sugar levels in the remaining juice. The result is a wine of honeyed sweetness, with rapier-like acidity and a wonderful lightness of touch. Serve chilled, with a salty Roquefort and carefully chosen friends. With a focus on provenance, these superlative bottles are classified by commune and highlight the fruitful collaborations between the producers and buyers, creating wines with superb finesse.. Whether from Pomerol or Meusault, Barolo or Gevrey-Chambertin, the design of each label references its region of origin, prominently displaying both the name of the estate and the signature of the buyer.

Owner and winemaker Olivier Castéja says that the direction the wind is blowing at harvest is a good indication of the quality of the vintage; if you can hear the train it signifies that the wind is blowing from the west and conditions are likely to be dry, if you can hear the motorway to the east, then bad weather could be on its way. Fortunately in 2008, the only sound to be heard during the harvest was the train clattering along the railway track to the west, and the weather was warm, fine and dry throughout.

Exceptionally low yields (just 15 hl/ha) have resulted in ripe apricot and honeysuckle flavours with juicy, dried apricot fruit and a glorious, glycerol texture. This is elegant and fine with lovely crisp acidity in perfect balance with the sugar. Just a smidgen off the incredible 2007 perhaps, but a thoroughly fine addition to your cellar all the same.
Exceptionally low yields (just 15 hl/ha) have resulted in ripe apricot and honeysuckle flavours with juicy, dried apricot fruit and a glorious, glycerol texture. This is elegant and fine with lovely crisp acidity in perfect balance with the sugar. Just a smidgen off the incredible 2007 perhaps, but a thoroughly fine addition to your cellar all the same.

Anybody who has tasted the sensational 1989 Doisy-Védrines will want to snap up the equally good 2007 in an instant. As well as being one of the sweetest wines of the vintage it is exceptionally elegant and well-balanced. The nose is marked by intense, icy-cool tropical citrus while the rich yet fresh palate has wonderfully pure, sweet creamy pineapple fruit, plenty of botrytis and fine balancing acidity. The finish is incredibly long and precise. Made from 95% Sémillon and 5% Sauvignon Blanc, this is a magically sensual Sauternes at an outstanding price.

This delightful golden sweetie will provide the perfect pairing to sweet puddings such as Tarte Tatin and blue cheeses like Roquefort. The Chevaliers de Védrines who owned this property for centuries (until 1840) would be proud of the job that the Castéja family have done here. Doisy-Védrines is one of the stars of the 2005 vintage for its sublime elegance, richness and finesse. A terrific, fine, perfumed nose with a lifting touch of botrytis acts as the impressive entrée for a wonderfully pure Sauternes of extraordinary length. The wine is like an immaculately tailored suit on a perfectly formed body. This is highly reminiscent of their truly exceptional 1989.

The largest of the Doisy estates, this 2me Cru Barsac property has been owned by the Castja family (who also own Ch. Batailley and Ch. Trotte Vieille) since 1946. Situated on the highest plateau in Barsac the yields are painfully low, even by Sauternes standards. With a distinctive fresh citrus and botrytis nose, this has a great texture with rich, opulent fruit, fine purity and definition, ample acidity and hints of thin-cut marmalade on the finish. Excellent. Drink 2006-2012. Limted to one case per customer.

Ch. Doisy-Védrines sits on 27 hectares on the highest plateau of Barsac and is owned by the Castéja family who also own Ch. Batailley. It has very attractive fruit with delicate citrus notes, white flowers and a great marmalade sweetness. The overall impression is of delicacy and finesse.

Blend: Sémillon 80%, Sauvignon Blanc 15%, Muscadelle 5%

Ch. Doisy-Védrines is one on the most consistent wine properties in Sauternes, delivering near-perfect liquid gold year-in, year-out. What I love about this property is the freshness they give to the wines, which makes them approachable very early on, but also builds the backbone for very long-term ageing. 2010 is no exception to this; it is very fresh on the approach with lovely tropical fruits, apricots, and gorgeous long and precise sweet finish. It is in my top three Sauternes this year.
Max Lalondrelle, Bordeaux Wine Buyer

Once again Doisy-Védrines has fully justified its position as a go-to for lovers of sweet wine. Beautiful lifted white blossom notes give way to white peach and pineapple. It has a lovely glossy texture on the palate with floral notes, crystalline honey, pineapple and the merest hint of straw on the finish.