2023 Château d'Armailhac, Pauillac
2023 Château d'Armailhac is offered for sale en primeur at £204 per six bottles.
The 2023 was part of a strong quintet of wines we tasted at Château Cler-Milon this year. We always have to remind ourselves that, like Pontet-Canet and Lynch-Bages, d'Armailhac is a Pauillac Fifth Growth. Possibly because it is overshadowed by its more famous sibling, Mouton-Rothschild.
Quality has risen steadily here in the last two decades and we wondered if it had begun to plateau. However, with a new winery in 2021 and new technical director Lucille Lauilhé joining in 2022, we think the latest release shows even more progression towards precision and finesse. So far, the '23 has not garnered the same high scores as the '22, but at this price, we think this latest vintage of d'Armailhac will be one you want to drink and enjoy in just a few years time...
Offered en primeur, on allocation. Landing spring 2026.
Magnums available with £20 ex-VAT bottling surcharge per six, please enquire for other formats.
All previous offers of 2023 Bordeaux can be found here.
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 | 2023 | Château d'Armailhac | 75cl | £204 per case of 6 | Château d'Armailhac 2023 / / 75cl £204 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"The 2023 d'Armailhac is a plump, juicy wine that very much captures the generous side of the year. Succulent red plum, spice, new leather, rose petal and pomegranate are nicely amplified. Armailhac can have a slight edginess in its tannin profile, but today, that is not especially evident. This is a very sexy, almost opulent d'Armailhac, despite having the most Cabernet Sauvignon ever in the blend. 2028-2043. 90-92 points." Antonio Galloni, Vinous, Apr '24------"The 2023 d'Armailhac was picked from September 7 to 30 and aged in 50% new oak. It contains the highest percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon to date. Its tightly wound bouquet demands encouragement from the glass, perhaps just missing the panache that elevated the previous vintage. You could argue that this seems more "serious. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins and a firm backbone. It's a little pepperier than previous vintages, closing with a streamlined finish. Give this two or three years in bottle. 2028-2043. 91-93 points." Neal Martin, Apr '24------"The 2023 d'Armailhac is an attractive effort, bursting with aromas of cherries, raspberries, licorice and cigar wrapper. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and succulent, with a pretty core of fruit, sweet powdery tannins and lively acids, it's a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot—which is a rather high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon for this address. 92-93 points." (WK) Wine Advocate------"There’s a powdery and open texture to this red. Full-bodied and layered with a pretty and weightless texture. Blackcurrants and blueberries and an orange-peel undertone. Velvety texture at the end. 70% cabernet sauvignon, 15% merlot, 13% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot. 93-94 points" jamessuckling.com------"High Cabernet, as is the story of the vintage on the Left Bank. A wine that also continues the new story of Armailhac following serious investment in vineyards and cellar, and technical director Lucie Lauilhé. Bright and vivid from the first moment, layered cassis, crushed mint, liqourice root, crushed rocks, an excellently precise, structed and textured Armailhac. Love it. Harvest September 7 to 30. 80ha in production, 50% new oak barrels for ageing. 94 points" janeanson.com |
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