An estate in full expansion over the past five years. This is powerful, intense, rich, ripe and high in alcohol, but it has excellent balance, and the silky-soft tannins manage to accompany the smoked oak step by step. It needs time, but is elegant and well-extracted. For me, this is the truly accomplished modern face of St-�milion..January/2018

Blackberry and fresh herb character such as basil or oregano. Full to medium body, chewy tannins and a long, intense finish. A young red with focus and energy. Drink in 2021..February/2018

A rush of inky blue/purplish fruit, bittersweet chocolate, espresso, spice, lavender, licorice and menthol infuses the flamboyant 2015 Dassault. Racy and voluptuous on the palate, it exudes confidence from start to finish. There isn’t a lot of subtlety here, but the 2015 is super-delicious. The blend is 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon; the Cabernets add a bit more nuance than the wine showed en primeur..February/2018

The 2015 Chateau Dassault is a big, rich, unctuous beauty that offers tons of ripe, dark, chocolate-laced fruits as well as background notes of damp earth, licorice and bay leaf. While a big, full-bodied effort, it has terrific elegance, as well as ripe, polished tannin, plenty of freshness, a great mid-palate, and the class to evolve for two decades. Tasted three times..November/2017

The 2015 Dassault is medium to deep garnet-purple colored and scented of prunes, cherry cordial and blueberry pie with underlying mincemeat pie and Chinese five spice hints. The full-bodied palate is packed with berry preserves and dried fruits flavors with chewy tannins, finishing just a little firm.