Chateau D’Armailhac 2020

SKU
DACS202010 UCAU
  • "Quite simply, this is one of the best wines of Château D'Armailhac that I have tasted..." Neal Martin, The Wine Advocate
  • "It is juicy, with concentrated blackberry and plum flavors." Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast
  • "Such richness through the palate..." Jane Anson, Decanter
  • 1 or more bottles
    $129.99
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  • Decanter
    93 points
  • James Suckling
    94 points
  • Antonio Galloni
    89-91 points

Editors notes

This good value classed growth Pauillac was formerly known as Mouton Baronne Philippe and is made by the same wine-making team as Mouton Rothschild. The blend here in 2018 was 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot.

Medium-deep purple in the glass, with a mixture of sweet red and black fruits on the nose, layered with the toastiness of judicious new oak use. The palate is seductive, with polished and silky tannins gently framing the bright core of fruit. While ripe, there is good lift and vibrancy as the tannins build to give a crunchy, chalky finish that is savoury and long.

Details

Tasting Profile

  • Light (Light)
    Full (Full)
  • Low Tannin (Low Tannin)
    Tannic (Tannic)
  • Sweet (Sweet)
    Dry (Dry)
  • Low Acidity (Low Acidity)
    High Acidity (High Acidity)
  • Aroma
    • Blueberry
    • Boysenberry
    • Herbal
  • Palate
    • Blue Fruits
    • Cassis
    • Graphite

Food Pairings

  • Pork
  • Red Meat

Critic Scores & reviews

  • Decanter

    93
    "A little austere on the opening beats. Carving out its place more clearly alongside its two Pauillac siblings, this has some excellent sappy dark fruits, plenty of tannins and power but also elegance and confidence. This Armailac is gorgeous, lovely mid palate dept, and plenty of juicy blueberry and bilberry fruit, with lift through the finish, 3% Petit Verdot completes the blend. 50% new oak. Harvest September 7 to 29. The new cellar with be finished for the 2021 harvest, but this one was made in the temporary cellar. I really like this, it has a floral edge, a juice and freshness and sense of elegance; a good two minutes after you have stopped tasting a wave of subtle smoke comes in - the after wash of a fine gravel terroir. 50% new oak, harvest from September 7 to 29 across the three estates."
  • James Suckling

    94
    "A fresh, layered red with blackberry and chocolate. It’s full and beautiful. Cool finish. Soft tannins spread across the finish. Savory."
  • Antonio Galloni

    89-91
    "The 2020 d'Armailhac is bold, assertive and full of character. Inky red fruit, red plum, iron, gravel and incense all hit the palate. The tannins are a bit severe, but then again, that's Armailhac. The Cabernets seem especially expressive, in both the aromatics and the tannin structure. One of the recent developments here has been a move toward slightly longer élevage to complement fruit that is a bit more structured than in the past because of changes in farming. Tasted two times."

Other vintages

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Locations

France

Wine is being produced throughout France and has been done for over 2,500 years with certain Châteaux dating their history back to Roman times, around 6th Century BC. Ranking second in the world in per-capita consumption and first in total production quantity. More so than the overall quantity of wine is the quantity of truly great wines coming out of France makes the nation the envy of wine-making nations worldwide.

Two concepts pivotal to the higher end French wines, in particular, are the idea of 'terroir' and the Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) system. Terroir refers to the way the geography, geology and climate find their way into the glass, telling a story of the origin of the wine. The AOC was set up in 1935 and has the primary goal of protecting the authenticity of the wines and the livelihoods of the producers. Appellation rules strictly define which varieties of grapes and winemaking practices are approved for classification in each of France's several hundred geographically defined appellations, which can cover entire regions, individual villages or in some cases, like in Burgundy even specific vineyards.

Classic wine regions in France include Champagne (home of Champagne), Burgundy (Pinot Noir and Chardonnay), Bordeaux (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot), Alsace (Aromatic varietals), Loire Valley (Chenin Blanc, Crémant) and the Rhône Valley (Syrah, Grenache Mourvedre)

The Bordeaux classification of 1855 is still in use, as is the Sauternes and Barsac Classification of the same year. Wines from certain regions can be bought En Primeur, which is when the wine is sold prior to it being bottled.

Bordeaux

Bordeaux has a rich history of winemaking, dating back to the Roman times. Today, it is known as one of the most significant wine regions in the world, with a reputation for producing complex, full-bodied red wines. The region is home to a diverse range of terroirs, each with its own unique microclimate, soil composition, and grape varieties.

The left bank of Bordeaux is dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, which thrives in the region's gravelly soils. These wines tend to be bold, tannic, and complex, with notes of blackcurrant, cedar, and tobacco. On the right bank, Merlot is king, producing wines that are softer and fruitier, with notes of plum, cherry, and chocolate.

Aside from the red blends, Bordeaux is also renowned for its sweet wines, particularly from the Sauternes and Barsac appellations. These wines are made using a unique process that involves botrytis, or "noble rot," which concentrates the sugars in the grapes, resulting in a lusciously sweet and complex wine.

Bordeaux's classification system has evolved over time, with some estates moving up or down the ranks depending on the quality of their wines. Today, the system includes five growths, with Premier Cru being the highest and Deuxièmes Crus being the second-highest. There is also a separate classification for the sweet wines of Sauternes and Barsac, with Chateau d’Yquem holding the highest rank.

Overall, Bordeaux is a region that continues to captivate wine enthusiasts around the world with its rich history, diverse terroirs, and exceptional wines.

Medoc

Home to over 650 vineyards and spanning over 4,900 hectares, Bordeaux’s Médoc wine region comprises four of the most distinguished wine villages in the area: Saint-Estephe, Saint-Julien, Pauillac, and Margaux. The peninsula of Médoc is home to coastal lagoons, sand dunes, and pine forests. It is known to have formed into a peninsula over time as the Garonne and Dordogne rivers carried in large quantities of mineral rich silt and light reflective, well drained gravel, which turned out to be perfect for harvesting red wine grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. The main aromas of the beautifully refined red wines from this area are: spices, oak, red fruit and vanilla.

The region of Médoc is divided into three areas: the Landes du Médoc, the Bas-Médoc, and the Haut-Médoc. The Landes du Médoc is located in the entire western half of the peninsula. Although there are no vineyards here, the land is still important because its pine trees protect the grape vines from the harsh cold winds blowing in from the Atlantic Ocean. The Bas-Médoc( lower-Médoc) runs downstream on the estuarine side of the peninsula. The wines produced here are usually more affordable than those produced in Haut-Médoc. Haut-Médoc (upper-Médoc) is the most well-known of the three sections. The wines produced here are some of the most expensive wines worldwide and were famously ranked in The Médoc Classification of 1855, which is to this day in use.

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About the brand Chateau d'Armailhac

Château D'armailhac, Previously Named Château Mouton-d'armailhacq (Historical Name From Inception, 1750–1955), Château Mouton-baron Philippe (1956–1973), Mouton Baronne (1974–1978) And Château Mouton-baronne-philippe (1979–1988), Is A Winery In The Pauillac Appellation Of The Bordeaux Region Of France. The Wine Produced Here Was Classified As One Of Eighteen Cinquièmes Crus (Fifth Growths) In The Bordeaux Wine Official Classification Of 1855.

The Chateau Has 126 Acres (0.51 Km2) Planted With Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, And Petit Verdot With An Average Annual Production Of Over 18,000 Cases. Purchased By Baron Philippe De Rothschild In 1934, The Estate Is Currently Owned By The Mouton Branch Of The Rothschild Family.

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