Château Dalem Château Dalem 2022 750ml

Aromas of spiced plums and cocoa-dusted blueberries with hints of walnuts and dry earth. Medium- to full-bodied with layers of fine-grained tannins and a chalky texture. Structured and concentrated with a vivid and crunchy dark fruit palate. Pure and succulent with notes of spices and dried herbs with a lingering finish. Try after 2024.

This has a wide velvety texture with medium to full body and beautiful dark fruit in the middle. Ripe but crunchy with well integrated velvety tannins. Lingering and textural at the end. One of the best from here.

A nicely saturated core of plum and cassis flavors is well-supported by warm earth and sweet tobacco notes. Shows violet and sanguine flashes through the focused, steady finish. Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2026 through 2035. 5,000 cases made, 2,000 cases imported.

A solid version, with a core of dark cherry and red currant fruit laced with a taut, chalky mineral edge. Subtle tobacco and warm earth hints dot the finish. Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2024 through 2034. 7,000 cases made, 2,000 cases imported. (James Molesworth)

I loved the 2020 Château Dalem, and this serious Fronsac should rank with the top wines from the appellation. Ample red and black fruits, tobacco, crushed stone, and background oak all comprise the bouquet, and it’s medium to full-bodied and offers richness paired with elegance, beautiful tannins, and a great finish. Tasted multiple times.

Deep purple-black in color, the 2020 Dalem leaps from the glass with notes of ripe black cherries, juicy blackberries and stewed plums, plus suggestions of garrigue, star anise and chocolate mint. The full-bodied palate is chock-full of wonderfully pure, expressive black fruits, supported by plush tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing long with a spicy kick. The blend is 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, aging for approximately 14 months in French oak barrels, 52% new.

The 2022 Dalem is a gorgeous, sensual wine. Sweet red/purplish berry fruit, lavender, rose petal, mint and spice abound in a Fronsac that impresses with its energy and nuance. Dalem is once again terrific in 2022