Château Doisy Védrines 1997, Sauterne

Château Doisy Védrines 1997, Sauterne

Château Doisy-Védrines stands as a titan of Barsac, a historic estate celebrated for producing a Sauternes of remarkable power, richness, and complexity. As a Second Classified Growth of 1855, its pedigree is impeccable, a status it has upheld for centuries through the dedicated stewardship of the Castéja family.

While its neighbors may champion ethereal lightness, Doisy-Védrines makes its mark with a bold and generous style. It is a wine that fills the palate with luscious, exotic fruit and honeyed intensity, all while retaining the essential nerve and freshness that is the hallmark of its prestigious Barsac terroir.

The history of Doisy-Védrines is one of remarkable stability. It was originally part of a larger Doisy estate, which was divided into three separate properties prior to the historic 1855 Classification. Doisy-Védrines, along with its siblings Doisy-Daëne and Doisy-Dubroca, was individually recognized for its superior quality. Soon after, the estate came into the hands of the Castéja family, one of Bordeaux’s most established and respected wine dynasties.

For nearly two centuries, the Castéja family has maintained continuous ownership, a rare feat that has ensured a consistency of vision and an unwavering commitment to quality. This long legacy is embedded in every bottle, representing a deep, generational understanding of this exceptional land.

The château’s 27-hectare vineyard is perfectly situated on the highest point of the Barsac plateau, a limestone elevation that is home to the appellation’s finest estates. The terroir is a complex mix of sandy gravel and clay topsoil over a classic limestone subsoil.

This combination is key to the wine’s character; the clay imparts a sense of richness, power, and body, while the deep limestone bedrock provides excellent drainage and imbues the wine with the essential minerality and acidity needed for balance and longevity. The vineyard is planted with approximately 80% Sémillon, which forms the rich, textural backbone of the wine, complemented by 15% Sauvignon Blanc for aromatic lift and acidity, and a touch of 5% Muscadelle for added floral complexity.

The winemaking at Doisy-Védrines follows a traditional and proven path, designed to capture the full, opulent potential of its terroir. The harvest is conducted entirely by hand in multiple, meticulous passes through the vineyard to select only the grapes perfectly shriveled and concentrated by Botrytis Cinerea, the noble rot. In the cellar, the wine is fermented and then aged in oak barrels for around 18 months.

The result is a wine that is unabashedly rich and hedonistic. It bursts from the glass with powerful aromas of pineapple, mango, candied orange peel, and apricot jam, layered with notes of honey, almond, and ginger spice. The palate is full-bodied, viscous, and mouth-coating, yet it is always lifted by a vibrant acidity that prevents it from ever becoming heavy. This is a formidable Sauternes, built for the long haul, that will reward patient cellaring by developing extraordinary complexity over many decades.