Franc de Pied

In its best years from 5 to 20 years, at its peak between 40 and 50 years.

The 2024 vintage promises to be a landmark year, combining finesse, balance and aromatic sparkle. After a relatively mild winter,  spring conditions were generally favourable, with uniform, early flowering, heralding a promising potential for quality. The summer was characterised by a fine climatic dynamic. Although the first part was punctuated by a few storms, these ensured precious water reserves, supporting the vine’s development. Then, a hot, dry August helped the grapes to ripen gradually and evenly, ensuring optimum concentration of aromas and tannins. The alternation of sunny days and cool nights in August and September played a key role in the balance of the vintage, preserving a fine acidity and providing remarkable depth of flavour. The harvest, which ran from 23rd September to 7th October, was optimal, allowing us to pick grapes that were perfectly ripe, combining freshness with intense aromatic expression. Thanks to meticulous selection and expert work in the vineyard, the 2024 vintage is shaping up to be a dazzling year, in which each grape variety expresses its full potential.

In its best years from 5 to 20 years, at its peak between 40 and 50 years.

The vines got off to an earlier start than in recent decades. This year, spring frosts were mild and spared our plots. The warmer-than- average spring allowed us to enjoy a magnificent flowering period, which began at the end of May. Until early summer, weather conditions were mild and very humid. This equation meant that our teams had to keep a watchful eye on the plants. Different herbal teas are used for each treatment to reinforce the vine’s defenses, thus effectively protecting our vineyard. Veraison begins slowly at the end of the first half of July and ends at the beginning of August. Radically different from July, the weather in August becomes dry, with normally warm temperatures. Conditions intensify in September, with several weeks above 40°C coupled with hot nights. We began harvesting our plots on September 11th and finished on the 27th under optimal weather conditions. The juices are concentrated and rich, but with excellent acidity that will guarantee great ageing potential.

At its best between 5 and 20 years of age, can keep up to 40-50 years.

The 2022 vintage will be remembered by all. The particularly mild winter led to a very early budburst. Frosts were avoided during the cool nights of April. Once again, the Gironde estuary served as a protector for Château Dauzac’s vineyard. Flowering began around May 15th in ideal weather conditions, but the end of flowering was marked by violent storms. Fortunately, the vineyard was spared from hail. This last rainy episode then gave way to a very hot and dry summer. The drought was the most concerning element of this vintage. Herbal teas applied regularly to the vines helped them to strengthen their resistance and cope with this climate. August only rain helped the vines to complete their veraison. The harvest took place under exceptional weather conditions from September 5th to 26th. The overall yield was small due to the lack of water but the remarkable quality will make the 2022 vintage one of the greatest ever known in Bordeaux.

At its best between 5 and 20 years of age, can keep up to 40-50 years

One vintage follows another but no two are alike. The 2021 vintage called for a lot of patience and commitment. We worked relentlessly to protect our vines from disease pressure. The vintage began by an especially mild and rainy winter. Bud break was uniform and occurred early but the extra-cold and rainy spring meant that the head start was soon lost. During the spell of frost in April, Château Dauzac’s vineyards were protected due to their proximity to the Gironde estuary, which acts as a natural thermal regulator. Flowering began around May 25th in ideally warm and dry weather. June was especially rainy, with approximately 127% more rain than average. At times, the rain had an impact on flowering, with traces of coulure (also known as shatter) and millerandage. The cold and damp summer called for watchfulness at all times. Mildew pressure increased and was more intense. Preventing the mildew from developing turned out to be one of the summer’s main goals. Veraison was delayed due to the 20% lack of sunshine, while temperatures remained cool and below average. Uniform veraison was only reached between August 15th and 20th. Harvesting began on September 22nd in our earliest-ripening Merlot plots and ended October 13th with our grand Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, which managed to take advantage of the sunny days after the rainy spell in early October. Plot-by-plot selection and meticulous sorting of the grapes harvested allowed for high-quality winemaking.