CHÂTEAU D'ARMAILHAC
2020 5ème Cru Classé Pauillac
Grapes | Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cab Franc, Cab Sauv |
Colour | Red |
Origin | France, Bordeaux |
Sub-district | Haut Médoc |
Village | Pauillac |
Classification | 5ème Cru Classé |
ABV | 13% |
The 2020 d’Armailhac, raised in 50% new oak with a planned 17-month barrel maturation, is a little deeper in color compared to the Clerc Milon. I find more complexity on the nose of blackberry, briar, cedar and pencil box aromas, less extravagant than previous vintages and more terroir-driven, perhaps. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins that have a little more edge than the Clerc Milon, plus there is slightly more mineralité and depth. In particular, the finish is very harmonious and fans out wonderfully. This Château d’Armailhac is a splendid wine in the making, and one of the best examples from the estate that I have tasted out of barrel. 92-94 Neal Martin Drinking range: 2026 - 2042 Rating: 92-94 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (May 2021)
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The 2020 d'Armailhac has a more backward nose than its peers, though it gradually unfurls to reveal wonderful blackberry, pencil shaving and violet scents that are very delineated and precise. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent ripe black fruit, quite a "juicy" Pauillac with a lot of concentration that masks the structure underneath. Very persistent on the finish with a dash of black pepper on the aftertaste, this is another long-term Pauillac. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. Drinking range: 2032 - 2065 Rating: 94 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Nov 2024)
Bright aromas of currants and raspberries, oranges, and roses. Peach skin. Medium- to full-bodied with creamy and velvety tannins. So much finesse and balance. It’s savory and slightly salty. 59% cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot, 8% cabernet franc and 3% petit verdot. Drink after 2027. Rating: 95 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (May 2023)
The 2020 d'Armailhac has all the fruit of the en primeur wine, and all the tannin too, almost like a barrel sample. I imagine the 2020 is going to need at least a few years to shed some of that tannic clout. Dark red cherry, red plum, pomegranate, blood orange, iron, white pepper and mint literally saturate the palate. The 2020 is a dense, plush d'Armailhac. It's a real head-turner. Drinking range: 2025 - 2045 Rating: 92 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Feb 2023)
Château d'Armailhac
Château d’Armailhac, which has had more names than it has needed over the years (having been Château d’Armailhacq, Château Mouton-d’Armailhacq, Château Mouton-Baron-Philippe, Château Mouton-Baronne-Philippe finally, Château d’Armailhac), was originally part of a larger Pauillac estate owned by the Marquis de Ségur. This was sold off in three lots, which became Château’s Pontet-Canet, d’Armailhac and Mouton-Rothschild. It came into common ownership with its famous neighbour to the north in 1933 when Baron Philippe de Rothschild bought the estate. There are 50ha under vine, which are planted to just under 60% Cabernet Sauvignon with roughly 20% each of Cabernet Franc and Merlot, and a tiny amount of Petit Verdot. The wines spend around 16 months in barrique, about 30% new oak with rest being old barrels from Château Mouton Rothschild. The wines are, generally, softer than other wines from Pauillac or other wines in the Rothschild portfolio, but amongst the best value. The relatively high proportions of Merlot and Cabernet Franc make d’Armailhac a good bet in lesser vintages too.
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