Château Dauzac 2005

Château Dauzac is a Margaux Fifth Growth estate that holds great promise.  With a long history that dates back to 1622, Château Dauzac has changed hands many times.  Yet with the present ownership and influence of Laurent Fourtin, one cannot help but be optimistic about what the future holds for this Left Bank estate.  The grand vin from Château Dauzac has a purity to it and a gentle freshness that encapsulates the nuance so often associated with great Margaux terroir.  With the increasing investments that have been put into the property, quality continues to increase yet prices remain affordable.  To all buyers who love the elegant finesse of a great Margaux for a reasonable price, consider the offerings of Château Dauzac. 

Château Dauzac was originally owned by Jean Cousseau and sold to Carmelite Nuns in the early 1600s. Fifteen years later, Pierre Drouillard purchased the property and partnered with the Jean Baptiste Lynch, the mayor of Bordeaux.  The Lynch family was a well-known name in the wine trade, famous for their ownership of Château Lynch Bages and Château Lynch-Moussas.  Shortly after it was classified as a Fifth Growth estate in 1855, Château Dauzac was acquired by the Johnston family who were proud owners of the Saint Julien powerhouse, Château Ducru-Beaucaillou. 

Throughout the 19^th and 20^th Centuries, Château Dauzac passed through the hands of several owners.  One of which was Jean-Jacques Bernat, a well-known ice cream manufacturer who used blocks of ice to regulate the temperature in his stainless-steel vats during fermentation.  This paved the way for a viticultural practice called thermoregulation in winemaking.  The current CEO is Laurent Fourtin, who joined Château Dauzac in 2013.  Fourtin was moved by the uniqueness of the terroir at Château Dauzac, and the Fifth Growth producer affects him on a very strong emotional level.  His goal is to restore Château Dauzac to its rightful place as one of the best Margaux Fifth Growth estates and it is clear he is well on his way.  Château Dauzac is presently owned by Christian Roulleau, the head of the Samsic Group.

In 2004, the facilities at Château Dauzac were upgraded and a modern gravity flow winery was introduced. Their vineyards are planted in one single block – quite a rare occurance in the Margaux appellation.  Of their 120 hectares of farmland, 49 are planted with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot vines.  The vines are a bit older here, and some of the oldest vines are 80 years old.  It is a bit warmer at this property, and harvest usually begins a bit earlier than in other parts of Margaux.  Château Dauzac is experimenting with biodynamic farming on a tiny, .6-hectare parcel of Cabernet Sauvignon in their vineyard.  All the vines are harvested by hand here and in 2016 the property invited everybody who was friends with them on Facebook to join their harvest, making them a true estate of the modern age.  Given the recent changes implemented at the estate, one can only imagine what excitement the future holds.

"In my opinion, this is as high as Dauzac has ever set the quality bar. Like most of its neighbors in Margaux, this estate has hit a home run in 2005. Scents of pain grille, crushed rocks, white flowers, and sweet black currants and cherries soar from the glass of this offering. Revealing tremendous power, intensity, length, and still to be resolved tannin, this is not meant for consumers seeking immediate gratification. It requires 5-6 years of cellaring, and should keep for 25-30 years. Yes, it is the best Dauzac ever made!" - Robert Parker Jr., The Wine Advocate (4/23/2006, Issue 164), Ratings: 90-92, Drink: 2011-2036

''Tasted at the vertical retrospective at the property. The 2005 Château Dauzac, a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot, appears to have reached full maturity on the nose, although there is abundant blackberry and mulberry fruit to suggest that it will keep for many years. The palate is medium-bodied, a little rustic on the entry with touches of bay leaf and tea leaf, though there I perceived some dryness creeping in towards the finish. Drink this now and over the next 5-8 years, because though it constitutes a commendable 2005, it is not quite living up to the promise it showed in its youth and in my opinion, is surpassed by subsequent vintages. Tasted June 2015.'' Neal Martin, The Wine Advocate (5/29/2016) Ratings: 89 Drink: 2016-2025

Awards: 2005 Vintage 2 Stars  (Le Guide Hachette des Vins)