Spectaluar tasting of Doisy Daëne, back to 1958, plus more, with Jean Jacques Dubourdieu

Wonderful tasting with Jean Jacques Dubourdieu at Doisy Daëne, a rare treat indeed! Splendid 1958, and 1990, the 1991 is lovely, Sauternes just ages so incredibly well! And triple L’Extravagant? Wow! 

But, lets not forget, the entire range is lovely. Reynon shows a bit more body than before, and it suits it, and the 2022 red is the best I have tasted. Clos Floridene is always a a favourite, Doisy Dubroca is super rare and very different to Doisy Daëne, Cantegril is probably the best value Sauternes there is. And it can age really well. I had a 1959 some 12 years ago, the last dinner I had with Denis Dubourdieu, at Reynon, and that was still alive and a beauty! We had some great discussions that night, and tasted some eye opening wines. Great memories. 

2023 Château Reynon blanc

Pale lemon yellow. Citrus, apples, nuanced nose, leaner. Fresh acidity, fruit forward, juicy, elegant texture, good length. 87

 

2023 Drapeaux de Floridene blanc

Pale lemon yellow. Apples, fruit forward, some pears, elegant nose. Fresh acidity, rounded, fruit driven, juicy, some salinity, elegant texture, good length. Lovely Drapeaux! 89

 

2018 Clos Floridene blanc

Pale lemon yellow. Apples, some citrus, fruit driven, elegant nose. Fresh acidity, apples, rounded, fruit forward, juicy, good length. 90

 

2020 Clos Floridene blanc

Pale lemon yellow. Apples, some citrus, fruit forward nose, detailed. Fresh acidity, apples, juicy, nuanced, creamy, detailed and long. 91

 

2019 Château Doisy Daëne Sec

Pale lemon yellow. Apples, detailed, some citrus, grapefruits and lemons, touch of nuts nose. Fresh acidity, citrus, apples, lemons, detailed, fruit forward, youthful, nuanced, refreshing, saline, long finish. 92

 

2019 Clos Floridene blanc

Pale lemon yellow. Apples, lemons, minerals, nuanced, detailed nose. Fresh acidity, apples, lemons, detailed, saline, nuanced, juicy, refreshing and elegant, long. 92

 

2023 Château Doisy Daëne Semillon sur Calcaire

Pale lemon yellow. First vintage made, 100% Semillon. 2000 bottles made. Floral, apples, white fruits, touch of peach, nuanced nose. Fresh acidity, apples, rounded, elegant and nuanced, juicy, floral high notes, some almonds, saline and layered, long. 94

 

2014 Le Clos de Reynon

Ruby, garnet rim. Dates, blueberries, fruit forward nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red fruits, anise and spices, good length. 86

 

2022 Château Reynon 

Ruby. Dark fruits, blackberries, some spices nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, juicy, red fruits, anise, spices, elegant texture, good length. Wonderful Reynon, best one to date. 89

 

2020 Clos Floridene rouge

Ruby. Blueberries, anise, dark fruits, some vanilla and spices nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blueberries, dark fruits, spices, firmer, long. 90

 

2019 Hommage Denis Dubourdieu Petit Verdot

Ruby. Around 3000 bottles made. Dark fruits, spices, blackberries, rich and fruit forward nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, liquorice, layered, intense, peppery, long finish. 92

 

2016 Château Cantegril

Golden. Apricots, peach, fruit forward, nuanced nose, detailed and bright. Fresh acidity, nuanced, detailed, fruit forward, elegant, somewhat creamy, long finish. 90

 

2020 Château Doisy Dubroca

Golden. 2500 bottles made. Detailed, spices, fruit driven, peach, apricots and some honey nose. Fresh acidity, peach, apricots, detailed, nuanced, juicy, layered, intense and long finish. Gorgeous. 94

 

2015 Château Doisy Daëne

Golden. Apricots, peach, pineapples, detailed, fruit driven nose. Fresh acidity, detailed, juicy, nuanced, elegant and refreshing, fruit driven, lovely balance. 94

 

1991 Château Doisy Daëne

Amber. Dried fruits, apricots, pineapples, fruit forward nose, detailed nose. Fresh acidity, peach, apples, detailed, nuanced, juicy, caramel, detailed, bright, a youthful bottle, long finish. 93

 

1990 Château Doisy Daëne

Amber. Dried, fruits, apricots, detailed, intense, fruit forward, layered nose, lovely depth. Fresh acidity, detailed, juicy, fruit forward, intense, noseapricots, nuanced, intense and long. A beauty! 95

 

1958 Château Doisy Daëne 

Deep amber, golden rim. Caramel, dried fruits, apricots, layered and detailed nose, bright with lovely depth. Fresh acidity, detailed, juicy, dried fruits, raisins, caramel, spicy, smooth, incredible, long. Youthful for its age.95

 

2019 L'Extravagant de Doisy Daëne

Golden. Layered, apricots, detailed, peach and pineapples, intense and lovely depth on the nose. Fresh acidity, pineapples, peach and apricots, detailed, layered, refreshing and bright, gorgeous. Such length. 100

 

2016 L'Extravagant de Doisy Daëne

Golden. Exotic spices, dates, some raisins notes are showing up, silvertip tea, lifted and layered, pineapples.Fresh acidity, detailed, intense, creamy, rounded, spicy, touch of mint, gorgeous fruit and balance, long finish. 98

 

2010 L'Extravagant de Doisy Daëne

Golden. Exotic spices, fruit forward, detailed, raisins, peach, apricots, bright and layered nose. Fresh acidity, detailed, nuanced, layered, fruit driven, gorgeous balance, cloud berries, juicy, long finish. 100

2017 Malescot and 2022 and 2010 Guiraud tasted

2017 Château Malescot St. Exupery

Ruby. Scented, blackberries, anise, spices, nuanced, cassis, fruit forward nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, nuanced, detailed, elegant, fruit forward, long finish. 93

 

2022 Château Guiraud

Golden. Apricots, peach, fruit forward, nuanced and detailed nose, vanilla. Fresh acidity, peach, apricots, some vanilla notes, detailed and elegant, long. 94

 

2010 Château Guiraud

Golden. Apricots, pineapples, fruit forward, some caramel and creme brulée notes. Fresh acidity, detailed, intense, fruit forward, creamy, layered and intense, long finish. 96

Vertical tasting of Château Fontenil

2020 Le Blanc de Fontenil

Pale lemon yellow. Apples, lemons, some citrus, fruit forward nose. Fresh acidity, apples, rounded, fruit forward, elegant texture, good length. 89

 

2023 Le Blanc de Fontenil

Pale lemon yellow. Apples, lemons, citrus, fruit driven nose, nuanced. Fresh acidity, rounded, fruit forward and elegant, refreshing, creamy, long. 90

 

2011 Château Fontenil

 Oxidized.

 

2015 Château Fontenil

Ruby. Dark fruits, blackberries, anise, spices, fruit forward nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blackberries, anise, dark fruits, long finish. 90

 

2016 Château Fontenil

Ruby. Red fruits, anise, dark fruits and spices nose, nuanced. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, blueberries, anise and spices, long finish. 91

 

2018 Château Fontenil

Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, fruit forward, blackberries and cassis. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, blueberries, anise, spices, juicy, long. 90

 

2005 Le Defi de Fontenil

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, spices, fruit forward, liquorice nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blueberries, anise, dark fruits, detailed, long tobacco and dates finish. 94

 

2009 Le Defi de Fontenil

Ruby. Dark fruits, tobacco, dates, figs, some spices, liquorice nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, blackberries, spices, blueberries, more evolved than last bottle a few months back. 93

 

2010 Le Defi de Fontenil

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, blueberries, dark fruits, nuanced, scented nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dates, figs, minty notes, liquorice, detailed, fruit forward and long. 94

My first visit to Château Liot, tasting back to legendary 1967

I have driven past Château Liot in Barsac, for close to two decades. Finally it was time to visit, and the 2023 is probably their best effort since the iconic vintage of 1967, even if 2010 is lovely as well. 

2024 Château Saint-Jean des Graves blanc

Pale lemon yellow. Apples, some herbs, light grapefruits notes nose. Fresh acidity, apples, grapefruits, fruit forward, leaner finish, good length. 85

 

2022 Château Saint-Jean des Graves

Ruby. Blueberries, anise, dark fruits, leaner nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, herbs, blueberries, leaner. 85

 

2023 Château Liot

Golden. Apricots, fruit driven, nuanced, peach notes nose. Fresh acidity, peach, apricots, juicy, elegant, refreshing, candied lemons, good length. Best Liot I have tasted. 90

 

2022 Château Liot

Golden. Floral, apples, peach and pineapples nose, lighter. Fresh acidity, apples, peach, leaner, refreshing, good length. 87

 

2015 Château Liot

Golden. Leaner nose, apricots, peach, fruit driven, nuanced nose. fresh acidity, peach, apricots, pineapples, leaner, refreshing, good length. 88

 

2010 Château Liot

Golden. Apricots, some caramel notes, fruit forward nose, pineapples. Fresh acidity, peach, pineapples, juicy, elegant texture, nuanced and refreshing, lovely Liot. 90

 

1967 Château Liot

Amber with golden rim. Dried fruits, pineapples, some raisins, sultanas, layered nose, wonderful nose. Fresh acidity, peach, apples, detailed, nuanced, juicy, bright, very elegant, wonderful, very graceful. Long finish. 91

Visiting Château Les Clauzots in Graves, excellent value

One of the great pleassures of being a wine writer is to find excellent value wines. I have tasted Les Clauzots for years during primeur, but in bottle is always different, and also tends to be better. And, wines are still very good when I score above 85 points. I think there is a massive inflation in scores. 

2020 Château Les Clauzots 

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, blueberries, fruit forward nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, blackberries, anise, spices, good length. 88

 

2022 Château Les Clauzots 

Ruby. Dark fruits, spices, blackberries nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, blackberries, alcohol warmth, good length. 87

 

2023 Château Les Clauzots 

Ruby. Red and dark fruits, blueberries, some spices nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, blueberries, anise, spices, juicy, good length. Structured. 88

 

2022 Château Les Clauzots blanc

Pale lemon yellow. Apples, some citrus and white fruits nose. Fresh acidity, rounded, apples, some citrus, elegant texture, good length. 86

 

2023 Château Les Clauzots blanc

Pale lemon yellow. Apples, some citrus, fruit forward nose. Fresh acidity, apples, rounded, fruit forward, citrus, refreshing, good length. 87

 

2024 Château Les Clauzots blanc

Pale lemon yellow. Apples, some white fruits, gentle nose. Fresh acidity, rounded, fruit forward, nuanced, elegant, lovely texture, good length. 87

2015 and 1995 Ausone enjoyed at Ausone

2015 Château Ausone

Ruby. Scented, floral, detailed, blackberries, layered, nuanced, fruit forward and bright nose, truly seductive nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, detailed, nuanced, juicy, fruit driven, elegant, refreshing, superb, long Highly seductive. 98

 

1995 Château Ausone

Ruby, thin brick rim. Dates, tobacco, figs, scented, nuanced, layered nose, elegant, refined, seductive, maturing beautifully. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dates, figs, blueberries, juicy, refreshing, bright, layered, intense, fruit forward, long finish. 96

Château Simard vertical tasting

Château Simard is one of the best selling Bordeaux in the Norwegian market, and the best selling Saint-Emilion. Some 25-30.000 bottles in annual sales have been the norm for several years. 

2019 Château Simard

Ruby. Dark fruits, blueberries, nuanced, scented nose, fruit forward nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red and dark fruits, blackberries, juicy, good length. 90

 

2018 Château Simard

Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, fruit forward nose, nuanced. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, spices, juicy, elegant, refreshing 2018. 89

 

2016 Château Simard

Ruby. Scented, red berries, nuanced, fruit forward, , blueberries nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blackberries, anise, dark fruits, juicy, elegant and detailed, long. 90

 

2015 Château Simard

Ruby. Blueberries, anise, dark fruits, some spices nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, anise, leaner, somewhat drying finish. 88

 

2014 Château Simard

Ruby, garnet rim. Dates, figs, fruit driven, nuanced, lovely development now. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, detailed, red and dark fruits, juicy, fruit forward, good length. 88

 

2012 Château Simard

Ruby, garnet rim. Red berries, anise, dark fruits, some spices nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, juicy, elegant and refreshing, some tobacco, good length. 88

 

2020 Château Moulin Saint-Georges

Ruby. Blueberries, red fruits, scented, nuanced, detailed, fruit forward nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red berries, juicy, nuanced, detailed, elegant, fruit driven, long. 91

2024 from Ausone tasted

2024 Château Ausone

Ruby. Scented, red berries, fruit forward, nuanced, detailed nose, floral and layered. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, detailed, juicy, red and dark fruits, elegant texture and lovely salinity, lovely tension, long finish. One of the starrs of the vintage. 95-97

 

2024 Chapelle d'Ausone

Ruby. Blackberries, anise, dark fruits, nuanced, elegant nose, detailed. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, juicy, lovely tension, mineral, bright and really juicy palate, long finish. 92-94

 

2024 Château La Clotte

Ruby. Red fruits, anise, spices, some herbs, blueberries nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, juicy, refreshing, elegant, red fruits, floral notes, long. Lovely tension in it. 92-94

 

2024 Château de Fonbel

Ruby. Red berries, anise, dark fruits, blueberries and some herbs nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red berries, anise, spices, leaner finish, refreshing. 88-90

 

2024 Château Moulin Saint-Georges

Ruby. Scented, blackberries, anise, red and dark fruits, nuanced nose, detailed. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, juicy, fruit forward, detailed, elegant texture, refreshing, saline notes, long. Linear. 92-94

2024 Cheval Blanc tasted

2024 Château Cheval Blanc

Ruby. 28 hl yield. Scented, detailed, nuanced, floral, bright and layered nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blackberries, nuanced, refreshing, elegant, detailed, long finish. 94-96

 

2024 Le Petit Cheval

Ruby. Dark fruits, blueberries, nuanced, fruit forward nose, lifted nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, blueberries, nuanced, juicy, refreshing, good length. Lighter but very refreshing. 90-92

 

2024 Château Quinault L'Enclos

Ruby. Dark fruits, anise, spices, fruit forward nose, blackberries. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, juicy, refreshing, detailed, elegant texture, long. 90-92

2024 Las Cases, Clos du Marquis, Potensac and Nenin tasted

2024 Château Léoville Las Cases

Ruby. Around 30-32 hectoliters yield across the Delon estates Scented, cassis, blueberries, lifted, detailed and nuanced nose, layered. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, nuanced, juicy, spices, elegant texture, nuanced, long finish. 93-95

 

2024 Le Petit Lion

Ruby. Red berries, anise, some dark fruits nose, lighter. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, juicy, dark fruits, detailed, lighter, refreshing and juicy, good length. 88-90

 

2024 Clos du Marquis

Ruby. Scented, dark fruits, blueberries, lifted and detailed nose, quite bright. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, juicy, spices, detailed, elegant, lovely expression, long finish. 91-93

 

2024 Château Potensac

Ruby. Scented, blackberries, anise, dark fruits, blueberries nose, nuanced. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red and darker fruits, bright, leaner, elegant. 89-91

 

2024 Château Nenin

Ruby. Scented, blackberries, anise, spices, fruit forward nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, spices, juicy, fruit forward, elegant texture, long finish. Largest amount of Cabernet Sauvignon ever in the blend of Nenin. 90-92

 

2024 Fugue de Nenin

Ruby. Scented, red and dark fruits, spices, nuanced nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, juicy, dark fruits, elegant texture, bit short. 87-89