Doisy Védrines 2022

Exotic honeyed mint, caramelized pineapple, and orange marmalade all emerge from the 2022 Château Doisy-Védrines, another ripe, powerful Sauternes that has beautiful balance and length. Despite the richness and opulence of the year, it has a good spine of acidity and stays light on its feet.

A ripe, complex and elegant bouquet of apricots, spices, saffron and pineapple introduce the 2022 Doisy-Védrines, a medium to full-bodied, dense and enrobing Sauternes full of energy. With good depth at the core and a layered, deep mid-palate, it segues into a long, mineral and delicately apricot-driven finish. This blend of 90% Sémillon, 8% Sauvignon Blanc and 2% Muscadelle will offer a broad drinking window and is a stunning effort, as it often is at this address. There are 162 grams per liter of residual sugar. It was picked from 3 October to 28 October in three tries and matured in one-third new barrels.

Sharp pineapple and pink grapefruit, with lemon and lime zest, with a ton of personality and kick. Impossible to suppress a smile while tasting this lovely wine, that captures the exuberance of the vintage while maintaining its sense of abandon and contrasting acidities. Even more impressive when you see this has a tiny 8hl/h yield (an improvement on 2021, when no wine was made following frost), 33% new oak for ageing. Located in Barsac but bottled under Sauternes. Harvest October 2 to 28, four passes through the vineyard.

The 2022 Doisy-Védrines has a pretty nose with dried honey, peach skin and beeswax scents that unfold in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with an unctuous opening. This feels very smooth, with better acidity than its peers and a brightness on the finish that is very appealing. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting in London.