Tasting Notes
James Suckling 95-96
Firm and structured with medium body and beautiful dark and blue fruit underneath. Tannins are fine-grained and linear, with some chalky minerality to it. It is seamless and delicate, very attractive and fresh. Long.
Vinous 92-94
The 2022 Dauzac, aged 75% in new oak and 5% amphora, takes time to settle in the glass. In fact, I’d allow it 10-15 minutes of aeration. It eventually offers attractive blackberry and sea spray/estuarine scents, as if a bit of the Gironde fell into the glass. Nothing wrong with that! The palate is medium-bodied with granular tannins and tensile black fruit laced with graphite. It tails off a little towards the finish. Nevertheless, this is a very admirable Margaux in the making. With five to seven years in the bottle, it will be doling out a lot of pleasure.
Jane Anson 94
Dauzac is an 1855 classified estate that is full of energy right now, and has created a sculpted, nuanced wine in 2022 that marries the concentrated black pepper and rosemary spice of the vintage with restrained black chocolate, slate, graphite and fresh mint signatures of the Left Bank. Enjoyable, with a wall of muscular tannins, shot through with oyster shell salinity. Impressive, with clear ageing potential. 75% new oak barrels for ageing, with a few amphora. Laurent Fortin director, Cecile Tremaille technical director, Eric Boissenot consultant.
Jeb Dunnuck 91-93
The deep purple/plum-hued 2022 Chateau Dauzac is another medium to full-bodied, balanced, elegant Margaux in the vintage that has some smoky background oak, classy notes of darker blue fruits, violets, and chocolate, ripe yet present tannins, and outstanding length. The balance is spot-on here, and it’s going to have a lengthy, broad drink window.
The Wine Independent 87-89
Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2022 Dauzac jumps from the glass with bold, up-front notes of baked plums, creme de cassis, and fruitcake, leading to wafts of tobacco leaf and tapenade. The medium-bodied palate features bright, refreshing black fruits with a zippy line and lightly chewy tannins, finishing with a lively lift.