CHÂTEAU DE LA DAUPHINE

2014 Fronsac

Grapes Cab Franc, Merlot
Colour Red
Origin France, Bordeaux
District Right Bank
Sub-district Fronsac & Canon Fronsac
Village Fronsac
ABV 13%

La Dauphine has made great strides in recent years and the 2014, despite showing a slightly uncomfortable face at the en primeur tastings, has turned out into a beautifully seamless modern take on the appellation. Very dark blue-black fruit flirting with a certain sweetness, very fine tannins and a suave sweep of volume through the mid-palate, it had a nice lively, juicy bright finish. Can be drunk now at a pinch, but better from 2018, and has a good ten years in it. Drinking range: 2018 - 2030 Rating: 91 L&S (May 2017)


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The 2014 Château de la Dauphine was picked at 37hl/ha between 30 September and 8 October, matured in 30% new oak. This is a vintage that showed extremely well last time we met. It has a generous bouquet with black and red fruit, dark chocolate and a touch of truffle intermingling with liquorice. Where the 2014 really shines is on the palate: well balanced with a fine bead of acidity, crisp tannins, quite dense with liquorice and tobacco towards the finish. This might need another year in bottle, but I won’t begrudge anyone cracking this Fronsac open in the near future. Drinking range: 2022 - 2032 Rating: 90 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Jun 2022)

The 2014 La Dauphine has turned out to be soft, delicate and nicely perfumed, although perhaps a touch less boisterous than it was from barrel. Sweet red cherry, mint, wild flowers and tobacco grace the palate. This is an especially ripe, racy Fronsac, but there is good aromatic lift as well. Drink it over the next few years. Tasted three times. Drinking range: 2018 - 2026 Rating: 89 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Feb 2017)

The La Dauphine is gorgeous. Succulent black cherries, plums, smoke, licorice and sweet spice meld together in a juicy, forward Fronsac that should drink well pretty much right out of the gate. The style is forward, fruit-driven and racy to the core. There is so much to like here. Rating: 88-91 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (May 2015)

Château de La Dauphine

The château on this property was built between 1744 and 1750. Soon after it was built, it has a visit from the Dauphine of France, wife of the son of Louis the XV. She was also mother to later kings Louis XVI, Louis XVIII and Charles X. The name of the château was changed to honour this visit.

In 1985, François-Régis Marcetteau de Brem sold La Dauphine to the Moueix family of Libourne (owners of Trotanoy and Pétrus). They sold it to Jean Halley in 2000, and after his death in 2011, his son Guillaume began a complete renovation starting with a new, state of the art wine-making facility, and began a move towards 100% organic farming. They are now using biodynamic preparations as well. The property has been certified organic since the 2015 vintage, and coincidentally, this was when the current owners, the Labrune family, bought it. They announced themselves keen to continue the direction of travel, and have expanded the property by buying neighbouring Vrai Canon Bouché.

The property is now 66 hectares, making it one of the largest in the Libournais. It's planted with 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc vines that grow on hillsides. The wine is fermented over 20 days in concrete vats and aged for 12 months in French oak barrels with 30% renewed each year, although like a lot of Bordeaux properties they are also experimenting with ageing an amphora. The wine has a substantial capacity to improve further with age. Consultant oenologist; Michel Rolland. Production 150,000 bottles.

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