2010 Château Doisy-Daëne, Barsac, Bordeaux, France, Sauternes Grand Cru

Château Doisy-Daëne, Second Grand Cru Classé from 1855, located in Barsac in the Sauternes appellation, has been in the Dubourdieu family since 1924. For over eighty years three generations of vine growers have exercised their talents to produce great sweet white wines: Georges (1924-1948), Pierre (1949-1999) and Denis (since 2000).

The Doisy-Daene vineyard is over forty years old. It is currently 18,2 hectares wide. With a density of 7,000 plants per hectare, it is planted with 86% Sémillon and 14% Sauvignon.
The composition of the soil of the Barsac plateau is from a geological standpoint unique in the Bordeaux region. A thin layer of clayey sands, known as "Barsac red sands", tops the limestone subsoil. This lightly cracked calcareous bedrock limits the rooting depth of the vine to about 20 inches.

The water that got stored within the slightly porous rock throughout the winter, is progressively dispensed to the vine during the summer, preventing thus an excessive water stress.

Traditional ploughing is performed on the soil of the vineyard and no weed-killer is used. Organic manures are made with vegetal-based composts. The harvest is performed by experienced grape pickers in 3 to 6 successive selective pickings in order to collect at the ideal ripening stage, the grapes concentrated by the "noble rot". Ageing starts with 10 months in oak barrels, in the coolness of the cellars. This is followed by 9 months in stainless steal tanks before bottling.