Antonio Galloni : 91 points The 2016 La Dauphine is fabulous. Exotic, super-ripe and flamboyant to the core, the 2016 possesses tremendous depth and tons of personality. Blackberry jam, plum, chocolate, espresso, spice and licorice give the 2016 its distinctly dark personality. The extracted style brings out darker shades of fruit and heavy torrefaction notes at the expense of fruit brightness and freshness, which is a stylistic choice. I would prefer to drink the 2016 over the next few years. 2018 – 2024
Neal Martin : 91 points The 2016 La Dauphine offers attractive raspberry and blackberry scents mixed with pressed rose petal and antique bureau aromas that feel well defined. The palate is medium-bodied with supple ripe red fruit, fine grip, good body and density and layers of toasty red fruit toward the finish. Hints of white pepper emerge on the aftertaste. Good potential here.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown : 90 points Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 de la Dauphine reveals notes of baked black cherries, dried mulberries, spice cake and tobacco with a core of blackberry compote and mincemeat pie plus a touch of dark chocolate. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers loads of savory accents to compliment the ripe black fruits, framed by rounded tannins and finishing on an herbal note.
James Suckling : 93 points A firm and chewy red with dark-berry, chocolate and walnut character with some salty, mineral undertones. Full body. Dense and driven for the vintage. A blend of 90 per cent merlot and ten per cent cabernet franc.
