🍷 La Dauphine Merlot 2019 Dry Red wine brings generous Merlot fruit and the freshness of Cabernet Franc together in a characterful Bordeaux red. From the hills of Fronsac on Bordeaux’s Right Bank, this dry wine offers a satisfying balance of richness, savoury detail and a firm, refined structure. It is a lovely choice for a relaxed dinner with good food, or a thoughtful gift for someone who enjoys expressive French wines.
🌿 Organically grown grapes are central to the estate’s approach. The blend combines 90% Merlot with 10% Cabernet Franc, drawing on Fronsac’s clay and limestone soils. Careful selection and parcel-by-parcel winemaking help preserve the fruit’s character, followed by around twelve months in French oak barrels, with 30% new oak. This brings depth and gentle woody complexity while allowing the fruit and freshness to remain at the heart of the wine.
🍒 In the glass, Château de La Dauphine Merlot 2019 Dry Red wine shows a deep ruby colour and inviting impressions of plum, ripe cherry and blackberry. Delicate tobacco, herbs and warm spice add a savoury dimension as the wine opens. The palate is full and juicy, with ripe, finely woven tannins and a fresh mineral edge. Dark fruit continues into a long finish, making each sip feel generous yet composed.
🍽️ Pair it with grilled steak, slow-roasted lamb, duck breast or mushrooms served with a rich sauce. Aged hard cheeses also suit its fruit and structure. Serve at 16–18°C in a generous red-wine glass; an hour of aeration can help the aromas unfold. Let it develop slowly alongside the meal rather than rushing the first glass.
✨ La Dauphine Merlot 2019 Dry Red wine offers plenty to enjoy today and the structure to reward careful cellaring. Alexandre Ma awarded this vintage 93/100 in November 2021, recognising a distinctive wine from an estate whose organic approach and precision give Fronsac an appealing voice.
📋 Key Details
- 🏰 Producer: Château de La Dauphine
- 🌍 Country: France
- 📍 Region / appellation: Fronsac AOC, Bordeaux
- 📅 Vintage: 2019
- 🍷 Style: Dry red, full-bodied
- 🍾 Volume: 750 ml
- 💪 Alcohol: 14.5% ABV
- 🪵 Maturation: Around 12 months in French oak; 30% new barrels
- 🔒 Closure: Cork, wax seal
- 🌿 Aromas / flavours: Plum, cherry, blackberry, tobacco, herbs and spice
- 🌡️ Serve: 16–18°C; around one hour of aeration
- 🍽️ Pairing: Steak, lamb, duck, mushrooms and aged hard cheese
- 🍇 Grapes: 90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc
- 🏆 Highest verified score: Alexandre Ma — 93/100 (November 2021)
