2017 Dalem
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Tasting notes
The 2017 Dalem is a rich, powerful wine, although it is not as unctuous or deep as it usually is. Then again, that's 2017. Black cherry, plum, chocolate, new leather, licorice and cloves all meld together in this racy, super-expressive Fronsac. Dalem was much more overt en primeur, but it is quite reserved from bottle, at least in the early going. In exchange, though, the wine is more harmonious and better integrated than it was back then. Tasted three times.
Critic scores
Average Score
James Suckling
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 Dalem has a good intensity of baked plums, Black Forest cake and mulberries scents with nuances of pencil shavings, tar and chargrill. Medium-bodied, the palate bursts with expressive fruit, supported by a velvety texture and oodles of freshness, finishing long and savory.
The 2017 Dalem is vinified without SO2 and sees 40% new oak. It has a clean and precise bouquet with perfumed blackberry and freshly picked mint aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grain tannins. One of the most elegant Dalem wines that I have tasted in recent years with a clean and precise finish that is top drawer. This has kicked on since bottling and is turning into a very lovely Fronsac. Tasted twice with consistent notes.
Deep ruby/purple-hued, the 2017 Chateau Dalem is a Merlot-dominated blend that includes 5% Cabernet Franc and comes from a 15-hectare vineyard located on an upper plateau in Fronsac, overlooking the Dordogne Valley. Classic notes of blackcurrants, roasted herbs, chocolate, and a touch of rocky minerality all emerge from the glass, and it's terrific on the palate as well, with medium to full body, a ripe, textured, balanced mouthfeel, and a great finish. Enjoy this outstanding effort over the coming 8-10 years.