Dalem - Fronsac 2022

Alexandre Ma

94

byAlexandre Mathe3/10/2025

During the harvest season, I had the opportunity to taste the grapes of Château Dalem. The firm and concentrated Merlot berries, the astonishing acidity, and the high concentration of polyphenol left a deep impression on me. After double confirmations of En Primeur and in bottel tasting, I can confidently say that the 2022 vintage is the pinnacle of Château Dalem! If I were to choose a most representative vintage, I would undoubtedly choose 2022. This wine’s delicate tannins, mature blueberry and blackcurrant aromas, and subtle salinity showcase Fronsac’s terroir and the winemaker’s exquisite craftsmanship. After tasting this wine, you’ll understand why Bordeaux is the king of value for money.

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

93

byJane Ansonthe3/7/2025

A superb value choice in the vintage. The fruit is dripping with juicy orange peel and slate minerality, and conveys both the exuberance of the vintage with the tension of limestone. Vineyard dating back to 1610, owned today by Brigitte Rullier. Tasted three times and a standout every time. Harvest September 14 to 29, 30hl/h yield, 50% new oak barrel, Eric Boissenot consultant, in one of his rare forays over to the Right Bank.

The Wine Cellar Insider

94

byJeff Levethe3/4/2025

Dalem, Château

Jeb DUNNUCK

91

byJeb Dunnuckthe2/28/2025

Darker currants, cassis, graphite, and spring flowers define the aromatics of the 2022 Château Dalem. It has a Saint-Émilion-like sense of minerality, a medium to full body, and a layered, pure style that has tons to love. Drink bottles over the coming 15 years or so. I wasn’t able to get the release price, but this wine is almost always a brilliant value.

Yvesbeck.wine

95

byYves Beckthe2/25/2025

90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc Que d'expressions, de pluralité, de fraîcheur dans le bouquet de Dalem qui brille autant de ses notes de baies rouges que de son caractère crayeux. Dense et velouté en attaque, le vin cumule largeur et vigueur. Il adopte une stature sereine et aboutie, garante d'un avenir prometteur tout en étant déjà délicieux ! Très belle réussite. 2026-2047 95/100

Vinous

91,5

byNeal Martinthe2/12/2025

The 2022 Dalem no longer shows overripe traits on the nose as it did from barrel, attesting to prudence during its élevage. The palate is medium-bodied, fresh and focused, with a touch of sapid black fruit. Lightly spiced with a splash of black pepper on the finish, this is a well-crafted Fronsac that deserves bottle age and will repay patience.

Jamessuckling.com

95

byJames Sucklingthe2/3/2025

A fresh-toned and complex Fronsac, showing a touch of cocoa powder to the ripe berry fruit plus a hint of ink, graphite and spices. Almost full-bodied but not heavy, with vibrating tannins towing the fruit to a long, lively finish. The tannins are chalky and already dissolved. Merlot and cabernet franc. Delicious now but will hold well in the next eight to ten years.

Vinous

93

byAntonio Gallonithe1/28/2025

The 2022 Dalem is seriously impressive. Dark plum, black cherry and spice notes open first, followed by lifted floral tones and vibrant acids that pull it all together. I would give this a bit of time to soften, as the tannins are pretty potent.

Decanter.com

92

byGeorgina Hindlethe5/25/2023

Bright and lively, a little raw and high toned but settles with a mineral grip to the fine tannins and lots of cool blueberry fruit and chalky, stone touches. Lively, succulent and fun, a little tense and straight still, not yet widening, but this has purity and definition and will be easy to drink.

Alexandre Ma

93-94

byAlexandre Mathe5/17/2023

During the harvest season, I had the opportunity to taste the grapes of Château Dalem. The firm and concentrated Merlot berries, the astonishing acidity, and the high concentration of polyphenol left a deep impression on me. After tasting the wine En Primeur, I can confidently say that the 2022 vintage is the pinnacle of Château Dalem! If I were to choose a most representative vintage, I would undoubtedly choose 2022. This wine's delicate tannins, mature blueberry and blackcurrant aromas, and subtle salinity showcase Fronsac's terroir and the winemaker's exquisite craftsmanship. This wine stands for the high-value Bordeaux.

Vinous

90-92

byNeal Martinthe5/17/2023

The 2022 Dalem seems just a little overripe on the nose with touches of tinned prune commingling with the black plummy fruit. The palate is ripe and precocious with decadent black cherry and cassis fruit. A licorice touch emerges toward its dense and powerful finish. A bit of hubris in this Dalem, maybe at the expense of finesse?

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

92

byJane Ansonthe5/16/2023

Powerful, plenty of tannins, with dark chocolate character, fig, blackberry, cassis, cocoa bean, liqourice. A good quality wine with chunky tannins. 50% new oak, 3.6ph

Yvesbeck.wine

93-95

byYves Beckthe5/10/2023

Que de fraîcheur, d'éclat fruité et de minéralité dans le bouquet de Dalem 2022. Le vin a du corps, des tannins puissants mais veloutés et une acidité structurante qui assure parfaitement les arrières tout en conférant du pep et en poussant l'intensité fruitée de la finale. Un vin qui crée l'harmonie entre la vigueur de ses tannins et la vivacité de sa structure. Tout est en place !

Bettane & Desseauve

91-92

by Bettane & Desseauvethe5/10/2023

Matière bien dessinée avec un joli fond. Le tannin serré lors de nos premières dégustations commence à se détendre.

Jeb DUNNUCK

91-93

byJeb Dunnuckthe5/10/2023

I loved the 2022 Château Dalem, and this château offers some serious bang for the buck. Cassis, plums, black cherries, and leafy herbs, as well as some spicy oak, all emerge on the nose, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a round, supple mouthfeel and outstanding length.

Vinous

91-93

byAntonio Gallonithe5/9/2023

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 Drinking window : 2027-2037

The Wine Cellar Insider

93-95

byJeff Levethe5/5/2023

Spices, flowers, fruits, silky tannins and layers of red and black plums that are a treat to taste. The wine is medium-bodied, soft, round and delivers length and complexity in the finish. Drink from 2025-2037.

Wine Advocate

89-91

byYohan Castaingthe4/28/2023

The 2022 Dalem reveals a pretty bouquet of cherries, dark berries, spring flowers and cassis, framed by hints of nicely integrated new oak. Medium to full-bodied, lively and tensile, with a charming core of fruit, bright acids and chalky tannins, it concludes with a long, saline finish.

Jamessuckling.com

94-95

byJames Sucklingthe4/19/2023

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.

Jancis Robinson

16,5

byJancis Robinsonthe3/28/2023

Purplish crimson. Fruit seems even darker and more floral than on the Ch de la Huste just tasted, with more of Cabernet Franc’s typical fragrance of dark-red fruit. Really juicy on the palate, the tannins finer grained than on Ch de la Huste. Altogether a little more elegant. Relatively restrained.