Chateau La Dauphine 2018

JAMES SUCKLING: "Aromas of dried blueberries, currants, bitter chocolate, chalk and sweet tobacco. It’s medium-to full-bodied with compact, firm tannins that provide form and tension. Racy and energetic finish that goes on for minutes. Try after 2024."

DECANTER: "Lovely scented cherries on the nose, a rush of red and black fruits inviting you in. The texture is immediately gripping, holding the focus of the chalky cherry, blackcurrant and raspberry fruits laced with tobacco and clove. Carefully handled tannins linger on the tongue. A well-constructed wine from a biodynamically farmed estate, offering lovely drinking pleasure right now. Voluptuous yet refreshing, and a bargain to drink now or keep. Drinking Window 2021 - 2022"

WEINWISSER: "Purpurgranat mit violettem Rand. Intensives Bouquet nach frischem Schattenmorellensaft, dahinter Szechuanpfeffer, Rosenholz und Graphit. Am fleischigen Gaumen mit festem Tanningerüst und guter Rasse unterlegt. Im gebündelten Finale Pflaumenhaut und dunkle Mineralik, fein spröde. Kann noch zulegen."

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, schwarzer Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Schwarzes Waldbeerkonfit, etwas nach Gewürzen, Cassis ist von Holzwürze unterlegt, schokoladiger Touch. Saftig, straff, elegant, facettenreiche Säurestruktur, schokoladig, Herzkirschfrucht im Abgang, bleibt gut haften, vielseitig einsetzbar."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Rich, ripe, silky and seductive, the fruits have a nice bite of freshness, giving lift and energy. The medium/full-bodied, fruit-filled wine finishes with a gorgeous blend of coffee bean, licorice, plums and dark cocoa. You can pop a cork on release or age it for a few years."

JEB DUNNUCK: "Sporting a dense purple hue as well as lots of mulberry and blueberry fruits, the 2018 Château La Dauphine is medium to full-bodied and offers a complex, spicy nose of new leather, camphor, cedar, and flowers, ripe tannins, and a great finish. The whole upper plateau of Fronsac did beautifully in 2018, and this is well worth seeking out. It should improve over the coming 2-4 years and keep through 2033."