CHÂTEAU DURFORT VIVENS
2021 2ème Cru Classé Margaux
A very focused red, showing blackberry, blueberry and currant aromas and flavors, together with bark. It’s full and layered with lots of fine tannins that give this wine a velvety texture. 97% cabernet sauvignon and 3% merlot. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Rating: 94-95 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (May 2022)
* This is a pre-shipment/primeur offer. All orders are accepted under the TERMS of this offer which differ from the terms of the rest of the site.
You’ll find several Cabernet-dominant blends in classified Médoc estates in 2021, like this near-100% example (97%, with a slice of Merlot that was affected by both fruit set and frost). It translates into an attractive deep plum colour, with violet reflections, and a purity to the blueberry and raspberry fruits, far removed from the solar aromatics we have got used to. Cool vintage signatures abound with undergrowth and liqourice bud, and similarities to good vintages of the 1980s in terms of balance and tannic frame. I have been a huge fan of Durfort in recent years, and this has plenty of potential for ageing. Plenty of adapting in the vineyard to achieve this result, including leaving grass and cereal cover throughout to increase water stress. Eric Boissenot consultant. 35hl/h yield. Harvest September 24 harvest to October 21 (later even than the 2010). 70% new oak and the rest amphoras. Drinking range: 2026 - 2038 Rating: 93 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (May 2022)
The 2021 Durfort-Vivens, picked from September 24 until October 18, the latest ever, also contains the highest amount of Cabernet ever, at 97%. Gonzague Lurton told me that biodynamie has nudged the blend naturally toward the variety. Matured in 30% amphorae and 70% new oak, it presents a well-defined nose of perfumed pressed iris flower filtering through the lattice of black fruit, touches of peony emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins, and like the Ferrière, almost Pauillac-like albeit, leading to an elegant and quite understated finish. Drinking range: 2025 - 2045 Rating: 91-93 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (May 2022)
The 2021 Durfort-Vivens offers a compelling mix of Cabernet aromatics and notable textural richness. There's tremendous weight, depth and intensity here. Blueberry, lavender, sage, mint and tobacco come together in this potent, deeply structured Cabernet. Inky red fruit, blood orange, mint and exotic spice linger on the substantial finish. Yields were 32 hectoliters per hectare, which is about average, and certainly far better than other vintages where mildew has been a threat, most notably 2018. This is a strong showing from Gonzague Lurton. I should note that Lurton also made his new parcellaire wines, but those aren't shown or sold en primeur, hence their exclusion in this report. Drinking range: 2028 - 2041 Rating: 93-95 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (May 2022)
You’ll find several Cabernet-dominant blends in classified Médoc estates in 2021, like this near-100% example (97%, with a slice of Merlot that was affected by both fruit set and frost). It translates into an attractive deep plum colour, with violet reflections, and a purity to the blueberry and raspberry fruits, far removed from the solar aromatics we have got used to. Cool vintage signatures abound with undergrowth and liqourice bud, and similarities to good vintages of the 1980s in terms of balance and tannic frame. I have been a huge fan of Durfort in recent years, and this has plenty of potential for ageing. Plenty of adapting in the vineyard to achieve this result, including leaving grass and cereal cover throughout to increase water stress. Eric Boissenot consultant. 35hl/h yield. Harvest September 24 harvest to October 21 (later even than the 2010). 70% new oak and the rest amphoras. Drinking range: 2026 - 2038 Rating: 93 Jane Anson, Decanter (May 2022)
Containing fully 97% Cabernet Sauvignon this year, the 2021 Durfort Vivens shows considerable promise, unwinding in the glass with aromas of cassis, dark berries, loamy soil, cigar wrapper and spices. Medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, it's velvety and impressively concentrated, with powdery tannins, lively acids and a long, penetrating finish. Tasted twice. Rating: 92-94 William Kelley, The Wine Advocate (May 2022)
Château Durfort Vivens
The Durfort de Duras family came to Bordeaux in the 14th Century and laid the foundations of today's estate. They also, for a while, owned the near-by Château Lamothe (which went on to become Château Margaux). In 1824 the family sold to a Monsieur de Vivens who added his name to his new property. Under his ownership, Durfort-Vivens was awarded Second Growth status in 1855, a status it has often struggled to live up to. In 1937 the company that owned Château Margaux bought Durfort-Vivens and it was, once again, in common ownership with the villages grandest estate. Indeed, until 1961 when Durfort-Vivens was sold to Lucien Lurton, the wine from Château Durfort Vivens was made at Château Margaux.
The period of Lurton ownership has seen slow steady progress for Durfort-Vivens particularly since Lucien's son Gonzague took over and had a new chai built in the 1990s.
Gonzague decided to take the whole property into organic farming in 2012, and achieved certification in 2016. Following a biodynamic regime, the estate is also certified by Demeter.
AOC appellation : Margaux
Ranking : 2nd Classified Growth in 1855
Surface of the vineyard : 65 hectares of which 55 are vines
Soil : deep gravel from the Quaternary
period (Günz and Mindel) with a sand/clay matrix
Density : 6600 to 8300 vines/hectare
Vats : wooden, concrete vats and terracotta jars with capacities that enable each parcel to be treated separately.
Barrels : Bordeaux type barrels made of French oak from the centre of France. 60 % of new oak
Owner : Gonzague Lurton
Production Manager : Léopold Valentin
Please make sure that you have read the terms of this offer which are different from those on the main website. If you are unclear as to what is involved in primeur purchases please do contact our private client team via email or on 020 7018 0187.
Ordering
Prices are all in bond by the case size stated.
Pre-Orders are a firm commitment to buy wines on release, as long as the release price is within the upper and lower price bands set by you on the pre-order form. Pre-orders will be fulfilled subject to availability but providing this firm commitment to buy effectively gives you priority and is a good idea for the most desirable wines.
Wines listed on the website can be ordered in the usual way via the website wishlist order form. You can also send orders directly to our private client team via email. Please note that, for the most sought-after wines, priority will be given to those who ordered the same wines last year and to those that have pre-ordered.
Confirmation
All orders will be confirmed by email and are binding unless written cancellation is received within seven days of email confirmation. Pre-orders are not binding if the release price is above your upper price band.
Invoices are all raised at the in bond price (excluding any duty and VAT) which will become payable at the prevailing rates when the wines arrive in the UK, should you wish to take duty paid delivery.
Payment is required on sight of invoice, by cash, cheque, debit card or bank transfer. We regret we cannot accept credit cards for en primeur orders. We reserve the right to apply a dunning charge of 2% per month on invoices unpaid after 30 days.
Delivery
- Shipment to our bond (at LCB Creek Road) and insurance are included in the in bond price.
- Delivery is free to Lea and Sandeman / Elephant storage accounts, both duty paid and in bond.
- Other deliveries (In Bond and Duty Paid) are also free subject to a minimum order from the offer of £500. Orders below this total will be charged an administration and handling fee of £16.50+ VAT when invoices are issued. We will group deliveries and this is a charge for your entire purchases, not a per-case charge.
- Delivery of 2024 Bordeaux bought en primeur is expected during 2027. Delivery dates may vary as wines are shipped from Bordeaux at different times.
Practical notes - how it works
We start a sale in each customer's name and add all their primeur orders to one sale which is invoiced at the end of the campaign (or when the customer wishes). Immediate payment of invoices is then required by cash, cheque, debit card or bank transfer. We and our customers find that having a single invoice for the vintage is the simpler option but please note that confirmed orders are still binding even if the final invoice has not yet been issued.
Please specify on your wishlist order form where you would like the wines shipped on arrival in the UK. If this is to a third-party bonded warehouse, please specify the relevant account details. If the wines are required duty-paid we will issue a second invoice for duty and VAT at the prevailing rate when the wines are available for delivery.
Half-bottles, Magnums and larger bottles.
One of the additional advantages of buying en primeur is being able to order the wine in the format you want. While most of our listings are for 75cl bottles, we can source wines in any format that is offered by the Château. Please note that format requests cannot be changed once wines have been invoiced. Additional charges for special formats do apply and are as follows:-
- +£18.00 per case of 12 half-bottles
- +£30.00 per case of 24 half-bottles
- +£7.50 per case of 3 Magnums (2 bottles equivalent, 1.5 litres each)
- +£11.00 per case of 6 Magnums
- +£45.00 per individually boxed Double Magnum (4 bottles equivalent, 3 litres)
- +£60.00 per individually boxed Imperial (8 bottles equivalent, 6 litres) for Salmanazars, Balthazars, Nebuchadnezzars and Melchiors please enquire for availability and price.
Storage Options:
Wines bought en primeur won't arrive in the UK until 2027. If you do not wish to take home delivery at that point, you may wish to consider where you would like the wines shipped. Lea & Sandeman offers duty paid and in bond storage through a dedicated storage company called Elephant Storage. For more details on the terms and fees associated with storage please go to our Storage Homepage or contact our private client team for more information.