In Bond per 12x75cl En Primeur
"Aidan Bell, DBM Wines
Not tasted this year but given it's recent strong run of vintages and strong reviews for both the Chateau and the appellation in 2020 this looks like a very good value purchase.
Neal Martin, Vinous.com 92-94/100
The 2020 Dalem has a well-defined bouquet of blackberry, raspberry, cedar and light undergrowth scents, all very focused and beautifully delineated. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, ripe but elegant, with plenty of freshness toward the finish. There is an effervescent quality about this nascent Fronsac that I love. A super Dalem that will age with style. Drink 2027 -2045"
Chateau Dalem has been owned by Michel Rullier since 1955 and in 2002 he handed management to his daughter Brigitte Rullier-Loussert. The property now extends to 30 hectares and is planted 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc on soils of clay and limestone on a south, by south east facing slope.
Brigitte Rullier-Loussert;
The early ripening nature of this vintage is the undisputable hallmark of this so very particular year. We worked from 2 to 3 weeks in advance throughout the growing season compared to the 'Norm'. The winter was clement and dry and the springtime was mild and rainy: these elements favoured a rapid bud burst and a flowering around mid-May. The vines, that were not subject to lockdown rules, allowed us to maintain all of our teams in operation thus permitting us to overcome the hurdle of a very wet spring. The summer, that was hot and dry, permitted the reduction of the pest pressure and thus we were able to plan for the earliest harvest noted in Dalem’s history. The two weeks of heatwave preceding the harvest had a considerable impact on the yield but also affirmed the remarkable character of this vintage
2020 marked a turning point for Chateau Dalem with the arrival of the consulting oenologist, Eric BOISSENOT. While maintaining a loyal respect for the soul of Dalem, we work together in order to achieve even more finesse and deepness in our wines. Our soft vinifications are undertaken with the utmost proximity to each parcel, each terroir. Right from the very start, this early harvest offered us an incomparable fruit and a concentration that was worthy of the 2010(!). The vatting durations were adapted to the desired finesse and tannin maturity: between 21 and 24 days maximum. The result is incredible and this vintage will be among the grandest. Fruity, complex, delicacy, very good density, savouriness and an exceptional length of our merlots on clay and limestone soils. The 2018, 2019 and 2020 trilogy is unique. 2020 has, nevertheless, a supplementary charm, linked to our efforts undertaken for over 15 years in the vines and in the cellar.
