Freddy R. Troya

9.3

Dubourdieu – Liaison 2022
Sauternes, Bordeaux – France 🇫🇷

Overview
This 2022 Sauternes is a blend of 99% Sémillon and 1% Sauvignon Blanc, offering an affordable yet authentic taste of botrytis-affected wines (noble rot) from this iconic region. Crafted under the influence of the Dubourdieu family legacy, it reflects both pedigree and accessibility.

Aromas & Flavors
Candied apricot, dried peach, and orange zest dominate, with layers of honey, cream, and subtle spice. A touch of citrus lift keeps it bright.

Mouthfeel
Lush, creamy, and medium-sweet with balancing acidity. Not cloying — instead, elegant and smooth with a long, harmonious finish.

Food Pairings
Equally versatile as an apéritif or dessert wine. Pair with blue cheese, foie gras, nut tarts, or simply enjoy with stone-fruit desserts. Also shines on its own as a liquid treat.

Verdict
A crazy delicious and overdelivering Sauternes at its price point. Balanced, expressive, and approachable — it won’t disappoint anyone seeking a classic noble rot experience. 🍯🍑 cheers!

Did You Know?
The late Denis Dubourdieu, known as the “pope of white wine”, was not only a legendary enologist but also a professor and educator who revolutionized Bordeaux whites and sweet wines, leaving a lasting mark on the region. — a month ago

Dorotea Elisabet

9.8

Juicy. Favorite 2009 according to noah, pineapple and floral. Opens up as you drink it. Very delicious — 4 months ago

with Noah

Byron C Mayes

9.0

Dark, glass-clinging purple with near black core. Nose is initially very shy, yielding black fruit and menthol once it opens up. Palate is full-bodied, tannic (medium plus), and echoes the nose with the black fruit softening a bit to ripe blackberry with a hint of graphite. Finish is moderately long and continues the palate. A wine that's decidedly made for richer foods, the Doubordieu Hommage is a showcase for Petit Verdot, showing its potential as a varietal wine. Rich dishes are a necessity though. Go beyond steak and straight to cassoulet and similar fare. Drink now (with a vigorous decanting) through 2033. — 2 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.2

Château Cantegril – Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscadelle / 2019
AOC Barsac – Bordeaux, France 🇫🇷

Overview
A Grand Vin de Sauternes crafted by the Dubourdieu family in Barsac, this 2019 vintage blends the region’s classics: Sémillon dominant, Sauvignon Blanc, and a touch of Muscadelle. Botrytis cinerea (noble rot) weaves its magic here, concentrating sugars and intensifying aromas.

Aromas & Flavors
Lush notes of apricot, candied orange peel, and pineapple rise from the glass, layered with honey, acacia blossom, and a hint of saffron. The sweetness is deeply expressive but never cloying.

Mouthfeel
Silky and opulent, yet balanced by Barsac’s hallmark freshness and mineral tension. A luscious golden core with excellent length, pure heaven in a glass.

Food Pairings
Perfect with Roquefort, foie gras, or blue cheeses, but equally divine alongside fruit tarts, crème brûlée, or spicy Asian cuisine. For a daring contrast, try with fried chicken.

Verdict
2019 Château Cantegril is heaven on earth, an elegant and classic Barsac that shows the Dubourdieu family’s mastery. A wine that proves Sauternes and Barsac remain unmatched when it comes to liquid gold.

Did You Know?
Barsac AOC wines can legally be labeled either “Barsac” or “Sauternes.” Château Cantegril is often described as one of the “entry gates” to the Dubourdieu family’s sweet wine heritage, offering top quality at a more approachable level than their Château Doisy-Daëne.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight: This is one of those wines that makes you stop mid-sip and smile, it’s just that magical. — 6 days ago

Sam Friedland

8.9

Balanced acidity, Mellon and pears — 2 years ago

Brandi Bratek

9.0

Great Bordeaux taste without the massive price tag. — 3 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Chateau’s Second Cru Classe in 1855, located in Barsac in the Sauternes appellation, has been in the Dubourdieu family since 1924. Big bouquet of ripe sweet stone fruits and citrus floral scents. On the palate peach and honey flavors adding in some sweet orange citrus showing off the "noble rot" fruit. Lingering finish ending with sweet mineral character. Very Nice! Tasting Sample! — 7 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.1

Château Doisy-Daëne – Grand Vin Sec 2021
Bordeaux Blanc Sec AOC – Barsac, Bordeaux, France 🇫🇷

Overview
From the famed Barsac estate more often associated with sweet Sauternes, Denis Dubourdieu’s Château Doisy-Daëne crafts a brilliant dry white made entirely from 100% Sauvignon Blanc. It is a benchmark example of Bordeaux Blanc Sec: precise, mineral-driven, and age-worthy.

Aromas & Flavors
Expressive notes of grapefruit, lime zest, white peach, and gooseberry, layered with subtle floral hints and a chalky mineral backbone.

Mouthfeel
Taut, vibrant acidity balanced with crystalline purity. Medium-bodied, with a long, stony finish that lingers with citrus and saline freshness.

Food Pairings
Grilled seabass, oysters, sole fish with beurre blanc, Lobster salad with citrus dressing or sushi, asparagus, chèvre salad, or zucchini blossom fritters.

Verdict
A razor-sharp, elegant Sauvignon Blanc that showcases Barsac terroir in a whole new light. Structured enough to age beautifully but already shining with energy in youth. Cheers!

Did You Know?
Denis Dubourdieu, often called “the Pope of Bordeaux Blancs”, pioneered modern techniques for Sauvignon Blanc in Bordeaux, emphasizing freshness, terroir expression, and precision, hallmarks evident in this wine. — 6 days ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Clos Floridène – 2021
Graves, Bordeaux – France 🇫🇷

Overview
Founded by the late Denis Dubourdieu, Clos Floridène has built a reputation for producing approachable yet refined wines from Graves. This 2021 vintage is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot, delivering structure with easy drinkability. (Educational note: Graves, one of Bordeaux’s oldest appellations, is famed for its gravel soils that add freshness and balance to its reds and whites.)

Aromas & Flavors
Juicy red fruits (cherry, raspberry, plum) with blackberry and cassis, framed by cedar, oak spice, and a subtle earthy note.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied with polished tannins and balanced acidity. Solid yet affable structure, making it an effortless “uncork and pour” wine.

Food Pairings
Great with roasted chicken, duck breast, grilled lamb chops, or charcuterie. Also pairs with earthy mushroom dishes or semi-aged cheeses.

Verdict
A charming Graves red — approachable, structured, and thoroughly enjoyable. The 2021 Clos Floridène captures Left Bank elegance in a wine ready to drink today. 🍷

Did You Know?
Clos Floridène was founded in 1982 and guided by Denis Dubourdieu, one of Bordeaux’s most respected enologists, often called the “pope of white wine.” — a month ago

Melissa E

9.1

2015. Wonderful peachy-vanilla nose. Tasted also a bit of lime. Purchased when I was told that this was one of the last white Bordeaux wines by winemaker Denis Dubourdieu, intriguing story so I had to try it. — 6 years ago