Chateau Dassault 2023

JAMES SUCKLING: "A young grand cru with blackberry, black-cherry, chalk and stone character. Medium to full body with firm tannins and a long, linear finish. Touch of class here."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "There have been many changes at this address in the last 18 months: Thomas Duclos has come on board as consulting enologist, and the estate has acquired the vineyards of Petite Faurie de Souchard (not to be confused with nearby Petite Faurie de Soutard), which complements their existing clay terroirs with some of Saint-Émilion's limestone slopes. The result is the 2023 Dassault, a lovely wine evocative of dark cherries, wild berries and licorice. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and supple, it's beautifully integrated and pure. Harvest lasted for over one month, block by block."

VINUM: "Zeigt mehr Tiefgang als auch schon, schwarze Kirsche, dunkle Beeren, Süssholz, florale Töne; kompakt am Gaumen, nicht überladen, frischer, saftiger und vor allem auch eleganter als in anderen Jahren; hat an Präzision gewonnen."

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, tiefer Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Reife Pflaumen und Brombeeren, dunkle Kirschen sind unterlegt, zart nach kandierten Orangenzesten. Saftig, elegant, feine Süße, ein Hauch von Feigen, integrierte Tannine, gute Frische, schokoladiger Nachhall, ein stoffiger Speisenwein mit Entwicklungspotenzial."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Dark in color, the wine is plush, polished, fresh juicy, and packed with layers of blackberries, black cherries, chocolate, and plums, with length vibrancy, and length in the round, polished, lush, salty, refreshing, spicy finish. This is the first vintage with Thomas Duclos as the consultant at Chateau Dassault. The wine blends 73% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink from 2027-2040."

JEB DUNNUCK: "Ripe red and black fruits, smoky oak, graphite, and some leather notes all define the aromatics of the 2023 Château Dassault, a medium to full-bodied, ripe, textured, straight-up sexy 2023 that shines for its purity and balance. It has the vintage’s paradoxical mix of ripeness and freshness, quality tannins, and outstanding length. The blend is 73% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc, and the balance Cabernet Sauvignon, aging in 50% new French oak, 20% in foudre, 10% in amphora, and the balance in used barrels."

WEINWISSER: "Offenes rotbeeriges Bouquet, Thymian und Erdbeergelee. Am satten Gaumen mit seidiger Textur, engmaschigem Tanningerüst, nerviger Rasse und mittlerem Körper. Im gebündelten aromatischen Finale Schattenmorellensaft und Pflaumenhaut gepaart mit sandiger Adstringenz. Aufgerundet."

LISA PERROTTI-BROWN: "A blend of 73% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2023 Dassault has a deep garnet-purple color. It is a little shy to start off, needing some shaking to bring out notes of black cherry compote, plum preserves, and redcurrant jelly, leading to hints of dried sage and tree bark. Medium-bodied, the palate offers a good intensity of black and red fruit layers, with plush tannins and compelling tension, finishing with a savory lift."