2021 Château d'Armailhac, Pauillac
Released en primeur this morning, 2021 Château d'Armailhac is from the same mighty DBR stable as Mouton Rothschild and boasts an impressive new winery for this vintage. Work in the vineyards has been bringing this wine ever closer to its DBR stablemates in recent years...it is, after all, a Pauillac fifth growth, putting it on an a par with Lynch-Bages and Grand Puy Lacoste, which makes the release price of £391 per dozen bottles seem a bargain.
The critics can't quite agree over d'Armailhac this year, with The Wine Advocate's William Kelley describing it as "terrific ...a pleasure-bent wine that will offer a broad drinking window" (91-93 points) whilst Neal Martin found it "strict and tight (Very fine)". Our experience tasting in the new winery was more akin to Neal Martin's, but we suspect that this may well be one of those wines which is even more impressive in bottle, so we will be eager to taste it again in London next year and we think the scores may climb higher.
Bordeaux En Primeur, Landing in spring 2024.
Limited availability. To order, e-mail us at sales@richardkihl.ltd.uk
Producer Profile
Château d'Armailhac, Cru Classé Pauillac
Château d'Armailhac is a Cinquième Cru Classé in Pauillac, under the same ownership as sister-estates Châteaux Mouton-Rothschild and Clerc-Milon. In fact, Armailhac's vines were once part of the larger Mouton estate. Baron Philippe Rothschild purchased the estate in 1934. The 70 hectare vineyard is planted to 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot.
If you closely a the photograph of the château, you may notice it is only half-built. Famously, when it was constructed in 1810, the owners ran out of money and had to stop work before the right-hand side could be built.
| RED | 2021 | 5 cases | Château d'Armailhac | 75cl | £390 per case of 12 | Château d'Armailhac 2021 / 5 cases / 75cl £390 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot. Cask sample. Fragrant nose with brambly fruit and floral notes. Fresh, fruity and sapid on the palate with grainy tannin in behind. Lacks intensity but zest and energy to compensate. More for the medium than long term. Drink 2026 – 2035. 16 points" jancisrobinson.com (JL)------"The 2021 d'Armailhac, aged in 50% new oak, is the first vintage to be vinified in the new winery, which was completed a month before the harvest. It has quite a strict bouquet, tight and focused, with broody dark berry fruit, pencil box and tar, quite classic in style. The palate is harmonious and smooth with fine tannins, just the right amount of acidity and a sapid finish that lingers in the mouth. Residual graphite notes linger after the wine has exited. Very fine. (13.0% alcohol). 90-92 points" points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"Reminiscent of a modern-day version of this estate's delicious 1999, the 2021 d'Armailhac is a terrific wine bursting with aromas of wild berries, cherries, exotic spices and rose petals. Medium to full-bodied, supple and seamless, it's fleshy and enveloping, with melting tannins and an ample core of sweet, succulent fruit. This is a pleasure-bent wine that will offer a broad drinking window. 91-93 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"First year with the new cellar at Armailhac, and a new technical director, as Lucie Lauilhé has replaced Jean-Paul Paultert, with Paultert retiring after 29 years in the post (Lauilhé was only present for harvest and blending, 2022 will be her first full year). There are big plans for this property, but in 2021 it is playing things a little safe, with juicy balance, delicate tannins, plenty of grip and precision to the raspberry and blackberry fruits, but a little soft on the finish. There is due to be a 2nd wine in the future, which will help with concentration, but the signature of 2021 is evident here. A little more Cabernet Franc, after poor fruit set with the Melrot. 3.73ph. 50% new oak, 60IPT. Tasted twice. 92 points" janeanson.com |
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