Ok, previous bottle was likely flawed as this bottle was wonderful. A bit full and large for Bordeaux but no syrupy fruit bomb here. Loads of ripe red and black berry along with cedar, green grippy tannins, and pleasant astringency.
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The 2011 Chateau Dassault is a classic claret. A relatively unknown Chateau that produced a decent wine in an unremarkable vintage. I popped and I poured, and I was pleasantly surprised. It is a smooth pour that has little tannin. It doesn't have a whole lot of fruit, but I still enjoyed it over the three evenings that I sipped it. Is it worth $45 a bottle? $40 would be better.
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Bordeaux 2011 - 10 Years On - 30 Reds: All tasted blind, not decanted. A few observations: 1) As expected, it's a mediocre vintage with many wines lacking depth and mid palate weight of great vintages. My average score for the reds was 91.3 pts vs group scores at more recent horizontals for 2010 (93.0), 2000 (92.7) and 2009 (93.9). 2) I expected more green/unripe notes and drying tannins but that is not the case (hence the solid 91.3 average). Most wines showed well-made (with only 6 out of 30 reds rated below 90 pts). 3) Left bank (average 91.8 pts) clearly trumps right bank (90.6) thanks to more mid palate substance. 4) Virtually no wine showed a) over extracted and already dying and b) with far too much ripeness. Both 2009/2010 (and 2015/2018) have several wines with these problem. 5) Most wines are in a good drinking window. Although not yet with tertiary complexity, the structure has softened and the wines are open (even without extended decanting). 6) Unfortunately (due to price), the best reds were Le Pin (97+ pts), Margaux (96), Petrus (96) and Mouton (95). 7) Good vintage for Sauternes it seems (we tasted only two) with a surprising Giraud (96 pts) beating a too sweet Yquem (93).
TN: Not overly expressive, nor precise nose with dark fruits, some smoke and minerality. Not overly exciting. On the palate there is some candied dark red and dark fruit which is quite pleaseant and sticks with you for quite a while, somer herbs and minerality. More interesting on the palate than the nose. Solid 89 pts.
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Loved this wine 3yrs ago but it’s been downhill since. These lower priced Bordeaux’s are so vintage dependent.
30+ minute decant. Dark red color with slight brown edges. Nose is hot, medicinal, and Spanish in nature. Wine is tannic with minimal fruit and harsh on the palate. Medium minus finish. Disappointing!
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1hr decant and needed every bit. Dark cherry and tar on the nose. Wine has great depth. More cherry on the palate with ample oak, cedar, and tar. Medium finish. Big fan of this producer for the price. I’m stuck between 93 & 94, so rounding up :)
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This wine delivered more than expected in terms of depth and richness of flavour. Still very typically Bordeaux and classically right bank but better than I thought I’d get from 2011. Flavours were darker fruited rounded and deep but with good tannic structure present and savoury/herb complexity. Very enjoyable.
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MW Institute 2011 Bordeaux Tasting: Oak, earth and spices. Palate is slightly rounded from the fruit, with decent acidity and oak giving some moderate structure.
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UCGB tasting Bordeaux 2011 (Amsterdam): The bouquet is really locked. On the palate dark fruits, sweet spices and a lot of oak. Some menthol. The tannin id dry and sticky, but the wine has a good length. Try around 2020 to see how it evolved. Could be really nice by then.
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Successful for the vintage, licorice, black cherries, coffee bean and vanilla scents open to a medium bodied, round, spicy, red berry filled, forward wine.
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As of 2010, the wine has begun to see malolactic in barrel and is aged in 100% new oak. With an assemblage of 80% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot, the wine opens with spice and red berries, has a medium body and ends with a slight dry sensation with kirsch and black raspberry. 87-89 Pts
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2/29/2024 - Floral Likes this wine: 86 Points
In a very nice place, but no rush at all.
Classic and balanced. Tannins smoothing out.
Not super remarkable, but a good QPR.
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2/19/2024 - Racer117 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Ok, previous bottle was likely flawed as this bottle was wonderful. A bit full and large for Bordeaux but no syrupy fruit bomb here. Loads of ripe red and black berry along with cedar, green grippy tannins, and pleasant astringency.
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2/14/2024 - Racer117 wrote: 88 Points
Disappointing. Not a bad wine but primarily strong tannic structure with some hints of red fruit. Showed no improvement over a 2 hour period.
Edit: about 2 weeks later I opened another bottle of this and it was excellent. Assessing this bottle as flawed.
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2/1/2024 - Barolo Freak Likes this wine: 88 Points
The 2011 Chateau Dassault is a classic claret. A relatively unknown Chateau that produced a decent wine in an unremarkable vintage. I popped and I poured, and I was pleasantly surprised. It is a smooth pour that has little tannin. It doesn't have a whole lot of fruit, but I still enjoyed it over the three evenings that I sipped it. Is it worth $45 a bottle? $40 would be better.
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11/10/2021 - Cailles wrote: 89 Points
Bordeaux 2011 - 10 Years On - 30 Reds: All tasted blind, not decanted. A few observations: 1) As expected, it's a mediocre vintage with many wines lacking depth and mid palate weight of great vintages. My average score for the reds was 91.3 pts vs group scores at more recent horizontals for 2010 (93.0), 2000 (92.7) and 2009 (93.9). 2) I expected more green/unripe notes and drying tannins but that is not the case (hence the solid 91.3 average). Most wines showed well-made (with only 6 out of 30 reds rated below 90 pts). 3) Left bank (average 91.8 pts) clearly trumps right bank (90.6) thanks to more mid palate substance. 4) Virtually no wine showed a) over extracted and already dying and b) with far too much ripeness. Both 2009/2010 (and 2015/2018) have several wines with these problem. 5) Most wines are in a good drinking window. Although not yet with tertiary complexity, the structure has softened and the wines are open (even without extended decanting). 6) Unfortunately (due to price), the best reds were Le Pin (97+ pts), Margaux (96), Petrus (96) and Mouton (95). 7) Good vintage for Sauternes it seems (we tasted only two) with a surprising Giraud (96 pts) beating a too sweet Yquem (93).
TN: Not overly expressive, nor precise nose with dark fruits, some smoke and minerality. Not overly exciting. On the palate there is some candied dark red and dark fruit which is quite pleaseant and sticks with you for quite a while, somer herbs and minerality. More interesting on the palate than the nose. Solid 89 pts.
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12/4/2020 - PMJak11 wrote: 89 Points
Loved this wine 3yrs ago but it’s been downhill since. These lower priced Bordeaux’s are so vintage dependent.
30+ minute decant. Dark red color with slight brown edges. Nose is hot, medicinal, and Spanish in nature. Wine is tannic with minimal fruit and harsh on the palate. Medium minus finish. Disappointing!
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11/6/2020 - PMJak11 Likes this wine: 94 Points
1hr decant and needed every bit. Dark cherry and tar on the nose. Wine has great depth. More cherry on the palate with ample oak, cedar, and tar. Medium finish. Big fan of this producer for the price. I’m stuck between 93 & 94, so rounding up :)
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7/14/2018 - nwebstar Likes this wine: 93 Points
Little upgrade on 2nd night tasting. Tremendous wine. Blackcurrant, burnt plum, sage, clove and tobacco. Lovely depth and structure.
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7/13/2018 - nwebstar Likes this wine: 92 Points
This wine delivered more than expected in terms of depth and richness of flavour. Still very typically Bordeaux and classically right bank but better than I thought I’d get from 2011. Flavours were darker fruited rounded and deep but with good tannic structure present and savoury/herb complexity. Very enjoyable.
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4/17/2016 - CamWheeler wrote: 88 Points
MW Institute 2011 Bordeaux Tasting: Oak, earth and spices. Palate is slightly rounded from the fruit, with decent acidity and oak giving some moderate structure.
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1/20/2016 - RajivAyyangar wrote: 87 Points
Institute of Masters of Wine - 2011 Bdx Tasting (Hyatt, San Francisco): Intense merlot notes (chocolate-covered cassis) on the nose. A bit hollow on the back end of the palate. Elevated tannins.
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11/13/2014 - rossi.wine wrote: 88 Points
Very rich, dark fruit, spices. A bit too sweet and heavy with drying tannins. Decent finish. 87-89
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5/8/2014 - Zweder wrote: 90 Points
UCGB tasting Bordeaux 2011 (Amsterdam): The bouquet is really locked. On the palate dark fruits, sweet spices and a lot of oak. Some menthol. The tannin id dry and sticky, but the wine has a good length. Try around 2020 to see how it evolved. Could be really nice by then.
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11/17/2013 - Jeff Leve wrote: 89 Points
Successful for the vintage, licorice, black cherries, coffee bean and vanilla scents open to a medium bodied, round, spicy, red berry filled, forward wine.
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4/24/2012 - Jeff Leve wrote: 88 Points
As of 2010, the wine has begun to see malolactic in barrel and is aged in 100% new oak. With an assemblage of 80% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot, the wine opens with spice and red berries, has a medium body and ends with a slight dry sensation with kirsch and black raspberry. 87-89 Pts
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