Tasting Notes
Neal Martin 92
The 2020 Chateau de la Dauphine has quite a decadent nose but it seems focused and delineated, raspberry coulis mixed with wild strawberry, later a touch of star anis. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red fruit, firm tannins, fine arching structure with a judicious touch of cracked black pepper on the finish. Excellent.
Anticipated maturity: 2026-2045
Antonio Galloni 93
The 2020 La Dauphine is positively stellar. Soft and voluptuous, with fabulous depth, the 2020 offers up a heady melange of blackberry jam, chocolate, licorice, spice, new leather and incense. This extroverted, inviting Fronsac is just gorgeous.
Anticipated maturity: 2025-2035
Wine Advocate 91
Deep purple-black in color, the 2020 de la Dauphine opens with expressive notes of baked blackberries, prunes and Christmas pudding, leading to hints of eucalyptus, tar and dusty soil. The full-bodied palate is rich and decadent, delivering impactful exotic spice-laced black fruit preserves with just enough freshness and a velvety texture, finishing long and opulent.
Anticipated maturity: 2024-2039
JancisRobinson.com 16.5
85% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc. Cask sample taken 14 April. Aged for 12 months in barrel (30% new). Certified organic.
Blackish purple. Some real energy on the nose. Then succulent fruit on the palate before some well-managed tannins. This needs quite a bit of time, and is a particularly dramatic vintage, but it is clearly capable of delivering quite a bit of pleasure eventually.
Anticipated maturity: 2027-2041
