Chateau La Dauphine

Once owned by the Moueix family, they sold the estate onto Jean Halley in 2001 - instead choosing to focus on their assets in Pomerol and Saint Emilion. It seemed that this maligned appellation of Bordeaux had forever lost its appeal back in the mid 20th century.

Halley immediately galvanised the estate, pouring in investments of over ten million Euros. The chateau and chais have been restored, the vines have been replanted and restructured, yields have been lowered to maximise concentration, new equipment has been installed and a second wine has been introduced.

The consultant oeonologist for the past five years has been Denis Dubourdieu, no less. He works alongside Guillaume Halley – Jean Halley’s son and now La Dauphine’s owner and director.

Guillaume has set about making wine that sells his utmost priority. He has simplified the label and cut down on the number of negociants that sell it (so as to ensure a greater level of commitment). More radically, he has merged his Canon Fronsac property (the former Canon de Brem) into the better known Fronsac appellation, resulting in greater quantities of the popular La Dauphine, and the creation of a second wine that – the result being that only the highest quality grapes go into the grand vin.

The Halley’s massive investment – of both money and energy – has yielded tangible results. In 2001 the vintage bested two Premier Cru in a blind tasting—a feat it has since repeated in 2008, when it came out on top of Chateau Latour. Chateau Mouton Rothschild and Chateau le Tertre Roteboeuf came out on top, but, given the monumental difference in price, this is small comfort. It shows that the vignerons of the most established estates cannot simply rest on their laurels when it comes to quality - even if their reputation carries them much of the way!