Le Pélican is the special cuvée or second wine of Château Doyac, crafted to be open-knit and earlier-drinking while retaining the estate’s polished style. It shares Doyac’s modern, fruit-forward character with an extra level of approachability. In the glass, Le Pélican offers vivid aromas of red and black berries (raspberry, currant, blackberry) along with hints of oak spice and floral notes. The palate is medium-bodied and smooth – expect juicy, punchy fruit flavors that are fresh and easy-going. The tannins here are softer and more immediately supple, allowing the wine’s creamy dark fruit and subtle vanilla-cocoa notes to take center stage. A touch of peppery spice or graphite from the terroir adds interest. The wine has good balance, with a lively acidity keeping the ripe fruit in check, and a rounded, silky finish that leaves impressions of sweet blackberry and a whisper of oak. As a whole, Le Pélican de Doyac is seductive and crowd-pleasing – it delivers the essence of the Haut-Médoc (cassis, cedar, fine tannin) in a more relaxed, ready-to-enjoy package, making it perfect for drinking while the grand vin ages.

Château Doyac produces a charming, well-balanced Haut-Médoc that has garnered praise in recent years. The wine is fruit-rich and finely tuned – overflowing with plump dark fruits (black cherry, cassis) yet kept lively by good freshness and structure. On the nose it shows aromas of ripe blackberry and plum along with subtle notes of peppery spice, cedar, and cocoa. The palate is rounded and rich, with a refined, silky texture and supple tannins that give gentle structure. Layers of juicy Merlot-driven fruit are complemented by hints of dark chocolate, sweet spice, and a touch of graphite minerality. Despite the ripeness of fruit, Doyac remains elegant and medium-bodied, not heavy. The finish is impressively long and smooth, with soft tannins and lingering blackcurrant and vanilla notes. In short, Château Doyac offers lots of fruit, balance and finesse – a modern Haut-Médoc that is full of charm, approachable when young (thanks to its polished tannins), yet with enough depth and acidity to age a bit. The overall impression is one of harmony: a fine core of ripe fruit, gentle oak influence, and a long, elegant close.