Château Dalem

Fronsac

2018 Château Dalem

MAR 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, some spices, liquorice nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, spices, liquorice, faint minerals note, long finish. 91-93

2017 Château Dalem

APR 18 Ruby. Anise, fruity, minerals, elegant, blueberries nose. Scented. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, juicy, red berries, anise, blueberries, playful, long. Superb effort again. 90-92

2016 Château Dalem

MAY 17 80M 20CF Ruby. Fruity, violets, blueberries, spices, intense, detailed and nuanced nose, bright. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, anise, spices, detailed, bright fruit, a truly great Dalem, probably the best ever. Juicy. 93

2016 Château Dalem
APR 17 Ruby. Blueberries, dark fruits, some spices, vanilla, floral notes nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, blueberries, red fruits, refreshing, detailed, elegant body and texture, long. 91-93

2015 Château Dalem

MAY 19 Ruby. Cassis, blueberries, scented, minerals and anise nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, layered, minerals, refreshing, long. 92

2015 Château Dalem

FEB 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, spices, detailed, minerals, blackberries nose. Scented. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, raspberries, dark fruits, minerals, intense and long. 92

2015 Château Dalem

OCT 18 90 M 10 CF Ruby. Anise, blueberries, fruity, scented, elegant nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, red berries, anise, some spices, juicy, detailed, minerals, long. 92

2015 Château Dalem

SEP 18 Ruby. Fruity, anise, spices, blueberries and minerals nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, blueberries, spices, juicy, long. 92

2015 Château Dalem
APR 16 Ruby. Scented, violets, dark fruits, elegant nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, juicy, rounded, elegant, quite playful, long. 90-92

2014 Château Dalem

JAN 19 Ruby. Scented, minerals, blueberries, anise, floral nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, minerals, detailed, playful, elegant, nuanced and long. 91

2014 Château Dalem

OCT 18 90 M 10 CF Ruby. Blueberries, scented, fruity, some spices, elegant nose, detailed, raspberries. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, red berries, anise, some spices, bit leaner finish. Long. 90

2014 Château Dalem

SEP 18 Ruby, dark fruits, anise, spices, scented, minerals nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, blueberries, minerals, elegant texture, long. 91

2014 Château Dalem

MAY 17 Ruby. Fruity, anise, blueberries, some figs, ripe nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, anise, spices, dark berries, ripe and long. 89

2014 Château Dalem

APR 15 Ruby. Scented, dark fruits, spices. Blueberries and vanilla. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, dark berries, good length. 86-88

2013 Château Dalem

MAY 17 Ruby. Floral, lightly scented nose, fresh and elegant, fruity. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, red berries, lighter but elegant, good length. 88

2013 Château Dalem
APR 14 Ruby. Dark berries, vanilla and spices nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity if leaner, good length. 85-87

2012 Château Dalem

APR 13 Deep ruby. Fruity, scented and elegant nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, lively, elegant and almost playful, refreshing and quite long. 87-89

2011 Château Dalem

OCT 18 90 M 10 CF Ruby. Scented, minerals, floral, nuanced, detailed nose, blueberries. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red berries, anise, fruity, elegant, playful, minerals, lovely, long. 91

2011 Château Dalem

MAY 17 Ruby. Blueberries, fruity, anise, spices, quite intense nose, even dense. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, anise, spices, quite intense, detailed and long. This has gotten more depth and layers since I tasted it last, long. 91

2011 Château Dalem

DEC 15 Ruby. Spices, dark fruits, scented nose, bit more shut than last bottle. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, rounded, elegant and playful, dark berries, good length. 88

2011 Château Dalem

SEP 15 Ruby. Lightly scented, warm ripe blackberries nose, scented and fruity. Freshish acidity, ripe tannins, some fresh notes, fruity, light jammy note, good length. 88

2011 Château Dalem
JAN 15 Ruby. Dark fruits, blueberries, scented, some vanilla. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, elegant, lively, fresh, good length. 89

2010 Château Dalem
JAN 15 Ruby. Fruity, ripe, dark berries and red fruits, vanilla, lovely nose, scented. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, ripe, elegant, playful, lively, long. 90

2009 Château Dalem

JUN 10 Deep ruby. Blueberries, vanilla, rich and sweet nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, sweet and dark fruity, juicy, spices, a bit showy alcohol, long. 89-91

2008 Château Dalem

FEB 15 Ruby. Dark fruits, some vanilla, elegant nose, almost minerals behind. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, nuanced, refreshing and lively, good length. 89

2008 Château Dalem

OCT 13 Ruby. Dark berries, some vanilla, fruity nose, elegant. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, rounded, fresh, give it half an hour in decanter. 89

2008 Château Dalem

MAY 13 Ruby. Dark fruits, minerals, vanilla and some spices on the nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, rounded, opens up nicely with air, good length. 89

2008 Château Dalem

DEC 12 Ruby. Fruity, ripe dark berries, spices, vanilla nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, rounded, fresh, lively, elegant, good length. 89

2007 Château Dalem

APR 11 Ruby, fruity and spices at the moment, again fresh acidity, somewhat leaner body, typical of the vintage, but not much of the herbs so typical, ripe tannins, elegant texture, long finish. 89

2005 Château Dalem

OCT 12 Deep ruby, vanilla and cassis nose, slightly sweet touch. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, rich texture and fruit-driven, tight yet rounded. Long finish. 89

2005 Château Dalem

APR 11 Ruby, more fruit driven than the 01, elegant texture and good acidity, feels classic in structure (meaning quite high tannins) yet lovely textured, long length. 91

2004 Château Dalem

DEC 18 Ruby. Blueberries, minerals, graphite, medium intensity, just a touch of leather and vanilla. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blueberries, elegant texture, lovely fruit driven body with elegant minerals below, just one lovely and charming Right Bank Birdeaux. Long. 90

2001 Château Dalem

FEB 19 Ruby. Blueberries, anise, figs, dates, nuanced, some minerals nose, scented. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red berries, anise, liquorice, minerals, detailed, blueberries and figs, long. 91

2001 Château Dalem

JAN 19 Ruby. Cassis, blueberries, spices, minerals nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruity, spices, minerals. Detailed, nuanced, long. 91

2001 Château Dalem

OCT 18 Ruby, garnet rim. Minerals, liquorice, figs, anise, dates and blueberries, bit more evolved bottle. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, red berries, anise, spices, anise, minerals finish, again somewhat leaner, long. 90

2001 Château Dalem

JUL 18 Ruby, thin brick rim. Anise, blueberries, figs, dates, minerals, spicy and almost salty nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, blueberries, figs, minerals, some graphite and iron notes, detailed, long. 92

2001 Château Dalem

MAY 17 Ruby. Fruity, anise. Spices, red berries, floral, scented, some mint on the nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, some anise, spices and blueberries, nuanced and long. Really getting into its stride now. Drink over the next ten years or so. 92

2001 Château Dalem

DEC 16 Ruby. Scented, fruity, anise, blueberries, figs and mint nose, lovely, scented. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, anise, spices, mint, detailed, minerals, long. A beauty at this stage. 91

2001 Château Dalem
JAN 15 Ruby, garnet rim. Scented, dark fruits, some figs and leather, elegant nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, lively, maturing but still structure for a long life, drink over the next fifteen years. 89

2001 Château Dalem

APR 11 Ruby, maturing beautifully, starting to reach a very nice drinking window, fresh acidity, tannins starting to mature as well, good length. 89

2000 Château Dalem

JUN 13 Ruby with just a hint of a garnet rim. Starting out rustic and seemingly rough but after ten minutes showing a pure fruit much more reminiscent of my last bottle about two years back. Fairly ripe and slightly rich and ripe but never massive or opulent on the nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, with a fruity and refreshing palate, somewhat leaner than the nose suggests, but elegant and quaffable. Refreshing and good length. 89

1995 Château Dalem

APR 11 (Magnum) Ruby with garnet rim, fresh and fruity still, leather, figs, plums and cassis, showing evolution in the glass. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, balanced, elegant texture, long finish. 92

1990 Château Dalem

JAN 19 Ruby, thin brick rim. Lots of broth and coffee, similar palate, tired. I have had a few of these and quite different they are, so it might be time to drink them.

1990 Château Dalem

DEC 18 Magnum. Ruby, thin brick. Figs, blueberries, spices, anise, dates, minerals, nuanced nose, maturing. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, figs, dates, spices, a mature magnum that is somewhat drying. Long. 90

1990 Château Dalem

JUL 18 Corked

1990 Château Dalem

JUL 18 Lean and balsamic, faulty storage. 

1990 Château Dalem

DEC 17 Ruby core, brick rim. Minerals, iron, figs, blueberries still, detailed nose, floral high note, violets. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, elegant texture getting polished, minerals backbone, figs and dates, long. 92

1990 Château Dalem

DEC 12 Ruby, garnet rim. Fruity, dark berries, figs, prunes, light floral touch, elegant nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, lively, dark and some red berries, long. 92

1990 Château Dalem

APR 11 Ruby, garnet rim, floral, expressive, fruit driven, prunes and cassis. Fresh acidity, some elegant tannins, lively and flirting, drinking beautifully now, long and fresh finish. 93

1989 Château Dalem

APR 17 Magnum. Ruby, garnet rim. Blackberries, some mint, anise, figs, faint minerals nose, developing. Faint floral note. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, anise, spices, dark berries, structured, firm, tannins, leather, long. 90

1985 Château Dalem

MAY 18 Magnum. Ruby. Ruby, garnet rim. Minerals, very minerals nose, some figs, dates, light spices, light floral note nose. Fresh acidity, ripe and few tannins, soft, gentle, lovely palate, smooth and nuanced, superb balance, beautiful length. Utterly charming. 90

1985 Château Dalem

APR 11 (Magnum) Ruby, garnet rim. Prunes, blackcurrant's, leather, perfumed and elegant. More acidity, fresh, lively, tannins ripe, elegant texture, long and fresh finish. 93

1981 Château Dalem

APR 11 Ruby with thin brick rim, roses, prunes, violets and fine leather, fresh acidity, mature and really pleasing, elegant finish. 81's, especially Right Bank can surprise, as this one. 90

1974 Château Dalem

FEB 18 Ruby, brick rim. Earthy, dusty, iron and blood nose. Lean palate, dried out. 

1970 Château Dalem

NOV 13 Top shoulder fill. Ruby with orange rim. Figs, prunes, floral notes and cherries nose, anise. Fresh acidity, tannins polishing off, leaner, elegant, red berries, cherries, long. 91

1970 Château Dalem

APR 11 Very top shoulder fill, ruby with orange rim, prunes, roses, floral, flirting and expressive, even plums. Beautiful texture, fresh acidity, soft and ripe tannins, refreshing, to me peaking right now. Gorgeous wine, very good length. 93

1967 Château Dalem

NOV 17 Ruby, brick rim. Anise, figs, blueberries, some spices, mint and minerals, earthy characters behind, light tobacco notes. Magic nose. Fresh acidity, ripe and soft tannins, figs, dates, minerals, some raisins, soft and gentle texture yet elegant fruit, to be very picky a bit lean finish, long. Served blind, quite shocked about the vintage. 91

1964 Château Dalem

APR 11 Very top shoulder fill, ruby with orange rim. Truffles, roses, figs, raisins, some sweetness, cherries and leather. Fresh, elegant, like that old gentleman with a linen suit and a Jaguar XK 140 roadster on a hot summers day, classic, but not for everybody's taste, tannins seems long gone, long finish. For those who love old wine. 92