Winemaker Notes
Dedicated to the expression of terroir and dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, Château Dauzac reveals a nicely complex bouquet that slowly unfolds during aeration. On the palate, it strikes a subtle balance between the richness of its tannins and the aromatic diversity of its supple fruits, emblematic of great wines for ageing.
Cabernet Sauvignon dominates with its complexity, elegance and minerality, while Merlot adds roundness and silkiness. Always deep in color, Château Dauzac expresses a subtle balance where fruits, flowers and spices are combined, with a complex body and tannins ensuring an emotional tasting experience.
Blend: 57% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
The brightness of fruit with blackcurrants, cedar and lead pencil is so vivid here. Medium- to full-bodied with integrated and polished tannins and focused fruit that remains fresh and tensioned. The solid center palate showcases density and balance. Seamless and really long.
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Vinous
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 toward the finish. Nevertheless, this is a very admirable Margaux in the making. With five to seven years in bottle, it will be doling out a lot of pleasure.–Neal Martin
Barrel Sample: 92-94 -
Wine Spectator
Fresh, pure and driven, with lilac, violet and iris notes streaming through in unison, plus red and black cherry and blackberry puree. There's a late, minerally echo on the lengthy, minimal-oak finish. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Redcurrants, cassis, spicy oak, and floral notes are just some of the nuances in the 2022 Château Dauzac, a pure, medium to full-bodied Margaux that has terrific overall balance, nicely integrated tannins, and a great finish. It’s beautifully done and just another brilliant Margaux in the vintage that has so much to love.
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Decanter
So perfumed and fragrant on the nose, tart and vibrant, really quite intensely fruit with high acidity gives this an electric sense on the palate. Buzzy and tangy, red fruits, strawberries and red cherries with chalky, powdery and flint=laced tannins that coat the mouth gently giving tannic weight and texture. Well made with definition and freshness - a cool mint touch on the finish. Remains quite straight and serious, a touch austere to begin with then settles. Energy and brightness here, there’s tension and freshness which is great. Sharp and well defined.
Barrel Sample: 92
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
Silky, seductive and polished are the words that characterize the best wines from Margaux, the most inland appellation of the Médoc on the Left Bank of Bordeaux.
Margaux’s gravel soils are the thinnest of the Médoc, making them most penetrable by vine roots—some reaching down over 23 feet for water. The best sites are said to be on gentle outcrops, or croupes, where more gravel facilitates good drainage.
The Left Bank of Bordeaux subscribes to an arguably outdated method of classification but it is nonetheless important in regards to history of the area. In 1855 the finest chateaux were deemed on the basis of reputation and trading price—at that time. In 1855, Chateau Margaux achieved first growth status, yet it has been Chateau Palmer (officially third growth from the 1855 classification) that has consistently outperformed others throughout the 20th century.
Chateau Margaux in top vintages is capable of producing red Cabernet Sauvignon based wines described as pure, intense, spell-binding, refined and profound with flavors and aromas of black currant, violets, roses, orange peel, black tea and incense.
Other top producers worthy of noting include Chateau Rauzan-Ségla, Lascombes, Brane-Cantenac, and d’Issan, among others.
The best wines of Margaux combine a deep ruby color with a polished structure, concentration and an unrivaled elegance.