En Primeur 2017

The 2017 Doisy-Daëne is a little richer on the nose compared to recent vintages, quite pure with acacia honey, melted wax and touches of almond filtering through with aeration. The palate is well balanced with a viscous opening, finely judged acidity, borrowing some of the weight usually expressed by Doisy-Védrines to create a very satisfying and opulent finish. It does not give the live-wire tension that is common in this Barsac, but it does give plenty of depth and length.

Score: 93 - 95 Neal Martin, Vinous Media.com Maturity: 2022-2050

The 2017 Doisy Daëne has a slightly closed nose with ripe apples and fresh pears accented with sparks of lemon and orange peel plus a touch of fungi. It's very rich and bold in the mouth with balancing freshness and a long earthy finish.

Score: 92 - 94 Lisa Perotti-Brown MW, robertparker.com

A bold, ripe, unctuous style in the making, with lots of spicy orange, tangerine and peach notes that roll through an exotic, hazelnut-filled finish.

Score: 92 - 95 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator

The 2017 Château Doisy Daëne is a seriously decadent, thick, opulent beauty that packs serious sweetness in its canned peach, lime peel, and exotic tropical fruit aromas and flavors. While it’s a big wine, it has terrific balance, good density and concentration, and a huge finish. It’s a potential blockbuster Barsac that’s going to have a long life.

Score: 93 - 97 Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com

The 2017 Doisy-Védrines, which was reduced to 6hl/ha this year, is more like Doisy-Daëne! It feels much more linear and less fatter than previous vintages, notes of apple blossom and wild honey gradually unfurl in the glass. The palate is well balanced with a viscous opening, a fine bead of acidity, quite energetic in the mouth with a persistent, mineral finish. I would swear this was Doisy-Daëne but this year their personalities appear swapped...at least at this early stage!

Score: 92 - 94 Neal Martin, Vinous Media.com Maturity: 2022-2050

The 2017 Doisy-Vedrines gives up pretty lime cordial and lemon pie notes with a touch of mandarin peel and hints of chalk dust and ginger ale. The palate features super intense citrus fruit with great purity and depth, matched by wonderful freshness and a long finish.

Score: 92 - 94 Lisa Perotti-Brown MW, robertparker.com

A nice, unctuous version in the making, with apricot, melon and peach flavors laced with hazelnut and almond cream notes. A flash of green tea adds intrigue.

Score: 92 - 95 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator

The 2017 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc was picked from 31 August until 15 September via several tries through the vineyard that yielded 46hl/ha, with 13.5° alcohol. It has a very attractive, estuarine influenced bouquet with scents of cockle and oyster shell infusing the vivacious citrus fruit. This opens up very nicely with aeration in the glass. The palate is very well balanced with a fine bead of acidity. It feels quite saline and spicy in the mouth with a rather intense citric finish that is very persistent, the aftertaste again, quite saline.

Score: 93 - 95 Neal Martin, Vinous Media.com Maturity: 2021-2045

A tentative blend of 70% Sauvignon Blanc and 30% Sémillon, the 2017 Blanc opens with vibrant notes of freshly squeezed lemons, pink grapefruit and yuzu, accented by touches of lime zest and green apple plus a waft of crushed stones. Medium-bodied with lively acidity and super-intense, wonderfully expressive citrus flavors, it finishes long and chalky.

Score: 91 - 93 Lisa Perotti-Brown MW, robertparker.com

Subtle but complex aroma. There's mealy oak spice entwined with grapefruit and pear, fragrant in a restrained and serious style. Less subtle on the palate in drive and length. Firm texture and still super-fresh. Balance and persistence with a promising future. Cedary/spicy aftertaste. Will probably age a good deal longer if you are willing to be patient. (17.5+ Points)

Score: 17 - 18 Julia Harding MW, Jancisrobinson.com Maturity: 2022-232

The 2017 Domaine de Chevalier Rouge was cropped at 34hl/ha between 11 and 29 September and is matured in 35% new oak for 18 months. It has a vivacious bouquet with quite generous black fruit, raspberry, brine and black olive that is well-defined and focused, if not possessing the complexity of the previous two vintages. The palate is medium-bodied with fine, slightly edgy tannin – layers of black fruit interlaced with melted tar and graphite, closing in a little towards the finish with a gentle grip. I appreciate the deft manner in which this fans out and leaves a mineral residue on the finish. A Domaine de Chevalier of refinement rather than power, one with “buvabilité” or “drinkability”.

Score: 92 - 94 Neal Martin, Vinous Media.com Maturity: 2021-2045

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2017 Domaine de Chevalier opens with a cedary waft giving way to a good core of crushed black currants, blackberries and mulberries with suggestions of black truffles, tilled soil and black olives plus a hint of smoked meats. Medium-bodied with a good, solid frame of ripe, fine-grained tannins and oodles of freshness, it is elegantly fruited yet well sustained on the mid-palate and long finish. (93-95+)

Score: 93 - 95 Lisa Perotti-Brown MW, robertparker.com

Deep crimson. A little leafy, fragrant in a herbaceous style. Firm and chewy. Tongue-tied at the moment but there's finesse in the dark, dusty fruit and tender graphite notes. Smooth and polished yet compact tannins. Savoury, dry, subtle aftertaste. (17+ Points)

Score: 17 Julia Harding MW, Jancisrobinson.com Maturity: 2024-2037

The 2017 Ducru Beaucaillou was picked from 18 to 23 September for the Merlot, and from 25 to 30 September for the Cabernets. It is matured in 100% new oak over 18 months. It offers copious black fruit, violets, bay leaf and Asian spice notes on the nose that gathers momentum in the glass after a deceptively understated opening. The palate is medium-bodied with quite firm tannin, the oak nicely integrated, not quite as harmonious as the 2016 but then again, few 2017s are. There is a rigid structure to this Ducru Beaucaillou underneath the carapace of ripe black fruit with touches of tobacco and spice lingering on the aftertaste. It is probably going to require more cellar age than many of its peers but it will be worth the wait.

Score: 93 - 95 Neal Martin, Vinous Media.com Maturity: 2024-2045

There was no frost at Ducru-Beaucaillou in 2017 due to its proximity to the estuary. This barrel sample comes from the final blend, which was made in early 2018. Composed of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot and sporting a deep garnet-purple color, the 2017 Ducru-Beaucaillou is intensely scented of blackcurrant cordial, blackberries and lavender with hints of crushed rocks, iron ore, rose hips and Provence herbs plus touches of wood smoke and sandalwood. Medium-bodied, very firm and grainy in the mouth, it possesses lovely freshness, lifting the intense flavors, finishing long and minerally. Sporting an incredible core of muscular mid-palate fruit, this wine should age incredibly. (95-97+)

Score: 95 - 97 Lisa Perotti-Brown MW, robertparker.com

This has a warm and inviting feel, with mocha, Christmas pudding and blackberry and plum compote aromas and flavors flowing through atop fleshy, velvety structure. There’s a graphite edge along with some alluring spice accents, and this stays polished and lengthy in the end.

Score: 93 - 96 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator

Very dark with black core. Super-refined dark fruit on the nose, ripe but not overly. Just a touch – and nicely – smoky. Chewy, deep tannin texture shot through with lovely juicy fruit, red and black. Lots of energy and the oak well in the background. Firm and chewy tannins and needs time but has a long fresh finish – lovely fresh fruit to the end that is entwined with the tannins to keep them moving across your palate.

Score: 17 - 18 Julia Harding MW, Jancisrobinson.com Maturity: 2027-2040