Château Doisy Daene

Château Doisy Daëne - Barsac, 2ème Cru Classé

Introduction: The pearl of the Dubourdieu dynasty

Château Doisy Daëne is considered one of the great wine estates of the Barsacappellation , whose noble sweet wines can also be marketed under the more prestigious name of Sauternes. In the historic classification of 1855, the estate was categorised as Deuxième Cru Classé and shares this rank with vineyards such as Château Doisy-Védrines and Château Doisy-Dubroca. Under the aegis of the Dubourdieu family , Doisy Daëne has developed into one of the most modern and at the same time most tradition-conscious addresses in the region. Today, the estate is not only known for its opulent sweet wines, but also for dry white wines of top international calibre.

Location and terroir: a limestone plateau of rare purity

The winery is located on the heights of Barsac, on a contiguous vineyard of around 15.9 to 18 hectares . The centrepiece of the terroir is a unique clay-limestone plateau, which gives the wines a characteristic minerality, freshness and an unmistakable, almost salty elegance . The unusually high planting density for Bordeaux of 7,000 vines per hectare forces the vines to root deeply and concentrates the flavours . The average vine age is remarkably high at around 40 to 50 years, which leads to a natural reduction in yield and an extraordinary complexity of the grapes .

Grape varieties & classification: Purist parcels

The estate's planting is characterised by a high proportion of Sémillon, which is the dominant grape variety here at around 87 percent. It is flanked by 12 per cent Sauvignon Blanc; the remaining area is planted with the aromatic Muscadelle. These grape varieties are perfectly adapted to the microclimate of Barsac, which receives the moisture necessary for noble rot from the morning mists of the Garonne and Ciron rivers.

History: from division to reunification

The roots of the vineyard date back to 1677. The current name was created in the 19th century when the wine merchant Jean-Jacques-Emmanuel Daëne acquired a parcel of the historic Doisy estate . in 1924, Georges Dubourdieu bought the estate, which had shrunk to just four hectares at the time, marking the beginning of a new era . Subsequently, his son Pierre (from 1949) and his grandson Denis Dubourdieu (from 2000) led the estate to international renown . A milestone was the repurchase of the neighbouring Château Doisy-Dubroca by Denis Dubourdieu in 2014, which partially reunited the historic estates .

Vinification: the mastery of noble rot

The production of Grand Vin is a meticulous process: during the harvest, the noble rot berries are selectedin three to six elaborate hand-picking passes. After gentle pressing and fermentation, the wine matures for ten to twelve months in new barriques, after which it rests for a further month in stainless steel tanks . The result is a cuvée made from 80 per cent Sémillon and 20 per cent Sauvignon Blanc .

The portfolio & conclusion: The three dimensions of Doisy Daëne

Grand Vin de Sauternes: Flagship wine with a perfect balance of concentrated sweetness and mineral freshness. Annual production: approx. 36,000 bottles.
Bordeaux Blanc Sec:One of the first dry white wines in the appellation, made from pure Sauvignon Blanc grapes since 1949 and matured in barriques for 15 months. A fresh, aromatic white wine with great class .
L'Extravagant de Doisy-Daëne: A top cuvée made only in exceptional years in minimal quantities from overripe, noble rotten berries, which is even more concentrated and long-lasting than the Grand Vin .

Today, Château Doisy Daëne stands for the perfect symbiosis of scientific precision, traditional craftsmanship and a unique terroir. Under the Dubourdieu family, the estate has secured its position as one of the great houses of Barsac, whose multi-layered wines easily pass international comparative tests with the big names of the top classification.