2022 La Dauphine

Gorgeous stuff, the 2022 Château La Dauphine is richly textured and layered, with notes of black cherries, red plums, spicy wood, dried flowers, and chocolate. Round, concentrated, and medium to full-bodied, it has polished tannins and a great finish. It has a solid 10-12 years of prime drinking ahead of it.

The 2022 Château de la Dauphine has manifested a little more precision and restraint on the nose with dusky black fruit, tobacco and light allspice scents. The palate is medium-bodied and well balanced with supple tannins and a gentle, almost understated finish that makes this easy to drink in its youth. This is very fine.

Good quality, plenty of grip and lift through the mid palate, just a little subdued overall on the aromatics, more focus on texture, and a touch of bitterness on the finish, think dark cherry edge of rosemary, violet, juicy signoff, and an understated charm. 30% new oak, with the rest a mix of amphora and large oak casks. Organic, wax closure, 30hl/h yield, 3.5ph, harvest 8 to 23 September, Julien Viaud consultant. Certified organic.