TOP

Château Dauzac: Tasting & Drinking

I recall a time when Château Dauzac was of no significance whatsoever, one of several châteaux within the Margaux appellation which could easily be passed over in the hunt for quality. Happily, these days this is certainly no longer true. I have witnessed the revitalisation of the estate, and its wines have gone from being ones to ignore, to being good-value under-the-radar ‘sleepers’, to being wines truly worthy of the estate’s grand cru classé status.

In recent years, the 2016 vintage tasted during the primeurs has been one of the more impressive, with fine potential, with both 2015 and 2014 coming in only a notch behind. Both are comfortably eclipsed, however, by the 2010 and 2009 vintages. The first of this back-to-back pair of vintages shows the ripe and textural qualities that mark the vintage, while the 2010 is true to type, the wine filled with sweet fruit nicely balanced by grip and substance. This was a vintage in which the Margaux appellation excelled, punching way above its weight, giving us successful wines the equal of their cru classé peers, in many cases superior, promising the sort of joyous drinking experiences not seen since 1983, a very fine vintage for Margaux yet always overshadowed by 1982 of course, or perhaps 2005.

As for other vintages, these have not always been as striking as those vintages already discussed, although decent efforts in 2006 and 2012 among other vintages tell us that this remains a château worth watching, especially as the wines still frequently offer value as well as quality. (11/1/07, updated 5/3/08, 4/4/18, 22/4/20)

Please log in to continue reading:

Subscribe Here / Lost Password