Chateau Dalem 2020

The vatting durations were adapted to the desired finesse and tannin maturity: between 21 and 24 days maximum. The result is incredible and this vintage will be among the grandest. Fruity, complex, delicacy, very good density, savouriness and an exceptional length of
our merlots on clay and limestone soils.

Grape Composition: 90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc

Aging: 52% in new French Oak barrels

Age of Vines: 38 years

Wine Spectator: 91
Solid, with a core of dark cherry and red currant fruit laced with a taut, chalky mineral edge. Shows subtle tobacco and warm earth hints that dot the finish. Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Wine Advocate: 93

Deep purple-black in color, the 2020 Dalem leaps from the glass with notes of ripe black cherries, juicy blackberries and stewed plums, plus suggestions of garrigue, star anise and chocolate mint. The full-bodied palate is chock-full of wonderfully pure, expressive black fruits, supported by plush tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing long with a spicy kick. The blend is 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, aging for approximately 14 months in French oak barrels, 52% new.

Decanter: 91
Glass-staining violet colour, super attractive, with enticing floral aromatics. A little austere, this takes some time to work into itself in the glass but it is enjoyable once it relaxes and opens, offering damson fruit and wet stone texture.

Vinous: 94
The 2020 Dalem has a well-defined bouquet of blackberry, raspberry, cedar and light undergrowth scents, all very focused and beautifully delineated. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, ripe but elegant, with plenty of freshness toward the finish. There is an effervescent quality about this nascent Fronsac that I love. A super Dalem that will age with style.

James Suckling: 94
Aromas of spiced plums and cocoa-dusted blueberries with hints of walnuts and dry earth. Medium- to full-bodied with layers of fine-grained tannins and a chalky texture. Structured and concentrated with a vivid and crunchy dark fruit palate. Pure and succulent with notes of spices and dried herbs with a lingering finish.

Jeb Dunnuck: 91

Beautiful as always, the 2020 Chateau Dalem has a pure, vibrant, and elegant, medium-bodied style to go with textbook notes of chocolaty red and black fruits, some leafy herb and earthy nuances, beautiful minerality, and fine tannins. This up-front, textured, nicely balanced Fronsac is drinking nicely today yet has another 7-8 years, if not a decade, of prime drinking ahead of it. Best After 2023.