Château de La Dauphine 2018

The richness and structure of a red Grand Vin from Fronsac

A magnificent property located on the right bank of Bordeaux, Château de La Dauphine has produced a very successful 2018 vintage, one of the greatest wines of the Fronsac appellation, on the right bank of Bordeaux.

Truly an adventurous vintage that kept winemakers in a state of stress, 2018 was anything but easy. After a rainy winter and spring that exposed the vineyard to strong mildew pressure, summer finally settled in July, bringing bright sunshine that lasted until the date of the harvest. Château de La Dauphine continues to manage their vineyards with organic and biodynamic practices, without pesticides or chemicals. This hard work by the technical teams allowed for the best possible fruit despite the challenging nature of the vintage. The harvest began on September 21st and ended on October 15th, yielding small berries that reached a perfect stage of ripeness, rich in anthocyanins with thick skins and ripe seeds.

Blending Merlot (85%) and Cabernet Franc (15%), the Château de La Dauphine 2018 displays a dark purple colour. The intense and expressive nose offers sumptuous notes of black fruit, cassis, raspberry, fruit cake and plum, revealing spicy liquorice notes. On the palate, the wine displays a silky and gourmand texture, structured by firm, smooth tannins. The crisp acidity of the wine guides its development on the palate, with plenty of freshness and tension. Elegant and racy, the finish persists for a long time with this minerality typical of the great terroirs of Fronsac. Combining structure and freshness, the Château de La Dauphine 2018 is indisputably one of the key references of the Fronsac appellation in a vintage promising beautiful evolution over the years to come.