D'Armailhac

The wine is a glittering ruby red. The refined and elegant nose displays redcurrant and raspberry aromas combined with brioche and violet notes. On the attack, juicy, succulent fruit emerges from beneath rounded, well-integrated tannins. The palate, nicely balanced by a fresh, mineral structure, reveals delicate chocolatey flavours enfolded in a smooth, silky texture. The harmonious finish lingers on crisp, slightly sappy fruit.

Wine Advocate 91: Part of the empire of the Chateau Mouton Rothschild, this estate was once known as Mouton Baronne Philippe. This impressive, deep, opaque ruby/purple wine, with loads of charcoal, crème de cassis and a flowery-ness, this is rich, medium to full-bodied, beautifully textured, quite pure, and avoids any of the astringency or hollowness that some Médocs possess in this vintage. The wine is complete and finishes authoritatively. The tannins are there, but ripe, integrated and velvety. This is a very impressive d’Armailhac to drink over the next 20-25 years.

James Suckling 92: This is very polished and refined with blackcurrant, raspberry and citrus-peel undertones. Full body, extremely fine texture and a long, long finish.

James Suckling 93: Attractive aromas of sweet plums, cassis, dusty spices and tobacco. Medium-bodied with integrated, fine-grained tannins. Delicate flavors and a long, scented finish. 50% cabernet sauvignon, 36% merlot, 12% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot. Drink now or hold. From a vertical tasting at the chateau.

Vinous 90: The 2014 d'Armailhac has a high-toned, slightly volatile nose that needs to forage more composure and refinement. The palate is sweet and candied on the entry; maybe it was just picked a little tardy? It just misses the precision and clarity of the best Pauillac. Tasted blind at the Southwold 10-Year-On tasting.

Decanter 93: A beautiful black fruit laden Pauillac that, even at this early stage, exhibits an essence of sister estate Mouton. The wine is starting to open out but there is a lot more to come with silky tannins that are well integrated. As usual, in a modest vintage, this is a wine that punches well above its weight.

Wine Advocate 92: Composed of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, the 2015 D'Armailhac displays a medium to deep garnet-purple color and exuberant notions of exotic spices and potpourri over a core of black and red cherry preserves plus wild blueberries and a waft of tar. Medium to full-bodied, the palate reveals mouth-filling, juicy black berry flavors with approachable, grainy tannins and wonderful freshness on the finish.

James Suckling 93: Aromas of dusty plums, berries and fine tobacco with a touch of dried earth. Medium- to full-bodied with firm, fine-grained tannins and a long, scented finish. 60% cabernet sauvignon, 29% merlot, 9% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot. Drink or hold. From a vertical tasting at the chateau.

Vinous 94: The 2015 d'Armailhac has a vivacious, minty, finely delineated bouquet that has a spring in its step. The palate is medium-bodied, strict and focused, with sapid black fruit laced with graphite. This classy offering gains depth with a satisfying, long aftertaste. It was quite an impressive showing. Tasted blind at the 2015 Bordeaux Ten-Year- On tasting at Farr Vintners.

Decanter 93: This wine is definitely softening and taking on shape in the bottle. The juiciness is starting to appear and you can see why this is the most easily approachable of the Mouton stable when young. Really enjoyable, delicately shaped but with the Pauillac signature of menthol and slate. 2% Petit Verdot completes the blend.

Wine Advocate 93: Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 D'Armailhac opens with gregarious crème de cassis, blackberry pie and mulberries scents with hints of chocolate box, roses and charcoal with a waft of dried sage. Medium-bodied, the palate has a rock-solid frame of firm, grainy tannins and wonderful freshness, finishing long and earthy.

James Suckling 95: This is a really driven d’Armailhac showing blackcurrants and fruit tea with hints of bark on the nose and palate. Full-bodied, very firm and structured with a long and powerful finish. Direct and linear. Try after 2023.

Wine Advocate 92: The 2021 d'Armailhac has turned out beautifully, bursting with attractive aromas of minty cassis and blackberries mingled with notions of pencil shavings and sweet pipe tobacco. Medium to full-bodied, ample and polished, it's supple and seamless, with a fleshy core of fruit and a licorice-inflected finish. En primeur, I compared this to a modern-day version of the estate's immensely charming 1999, and anyone who remembers the 1999 will find that the 2021 delivers just as wide a drinking window.

James Suckling 92: This fresh and vivid red has minerals and lead pencil with currants and berries. Some dried flowers. Medium body. Fine tannins and a lively finish. Crispy from bright acidity. Needs one or two years to soften slightly.

Decanter 94: Smells heady, black bramble fruit on the nose, fragrant black cherries, a dusting of clove and cinnamon spice, orange peel - slightly bitter but juicy with a hint of toast too. Quite tight and lean, direct and focussed, this is streamlined - you can feel the cool blue fruit and slightly tense tannin structure, seamless but all held in one line in the centre of the wine. A little strict, but pure, precise and clean. There is lovely clarity to the expression, a silky texture with mouthwatering acidity. Tastes fresh and lively and so clean with that moreish salty and menthol tang that lingers on the tongue. Sleek with a really long finish. Really intense flavours that coat the mouth - cinnamon, clove, redcurrants, cherries, blueberries and blackcurrants. Cola and liquorice lingers on. Sleek and well delivered.

Wine Advocate 92: Aromas of cherries, blackberries, pencil shavings and creamy new oak introduce the 2022 d'Armailhac , a medium to full-bodied, sweet and dense wine that's rich and succulent, with a generous core of sun-kissed fruit, ripe tannins and an expansive finish.

James Suckling 97: Floral character such as orange blossoms and cassis with lead pencil aromas that follow through to a medium body and a lovely balance of fruit and freshness. It’s long and caressing with everything in place. Crisp. Best ever? 60% cabernet sauvignon, 22% merlot, 16% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot.

Vinous 94: The 2022 Château d'Armailhac has a detailed and expressive bouquet that's classic Pauillac in style, with a little more black fruit than I noticed from barrel, here laced with cedar and pencil box aromas. The palate is medium- bodied with quite a succulent entry. It has plenty of fruit concentration, gentle grip, a touch of blackberry mixed with black olive and hints of allspice. There is plenty of energy in this Pauillac and as I wrote previously, there is a very pleasing crescendo at the finish. This is one of the best vintages in recent years.

Decanter 95: Strongly scented and perfumed on the nose, dark fruits, lively and lithe, supple and smooth on the palate, richly concentrated in terms of fruit density but sleek and stylish on the palate with a burst of bright and fresh blackcurrants and black cherries. Has a tang to it, the acidity and liveliness fills the mid palate before the stony tannins come in towards the end and give this bite and focus. More tense and streamlined than Clerc Milon, but so poised and finessed. This has bite and tension, the Cabernet speaks with liquorice, tobacco and clove subtly giving the spice at the end, but also a fresh mintiness. You can taste the gravel and the clay, putting the terroir in the glass. Really quite profound with concentrated fruit, juiciness and mouthwatering acidity. Fresh and lifted on the finish, you want more of this, but it will take some time to be more charming given its serious nature right now. One to wait for and be glad you did. 3.83pH. 11.3% press wine - usually at 7-8% maximum. 2% Petit Verdot completes the blend. HVE3 certified. Tasted twice. 50% new barrels.

Wine Advocate 91-93: A blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, the 2025 d'Armailhac bursts with aromas of dark berries, violets and lilac. Medium- to full-bodied, with a sweet core of fruit, tangy acids and a youthfully chewy finish, this is a comparatively structured young d'Armailac.

James Suckling 95-96: Very polished, with fine tannins that caress your palate while the fruit is ripe but al dente, with red currants, plums and peach undertones. Medium body. Refined and intense finish. 67% cabernet sauvignon, 21%, 10% cabernet franc, and 2% petit verdot.

Vinous 91-93: The 2025 d'Armailhac was picked between September 9 and 20 and matured in 50% new oak. This has fine definition and purity on the nose, though perhaps it does not quite grab you like some recent vintages. This plays it "cool". The palate is medium-bodied with fine, slightly grainy tannins that frame the blackberry and cassis fruit. Quite peppery on the finish, less flamboyant than some vintages, though very refined and quite long. Good potential. Maybe it has something up its sleeve?

Decanter 96: Aromatic intensity, wild flowers, some chocolate and blackcurrant notes. Red cherries. Grippy and filling but soft, chalky and saline, a gorgeous weight on the palate with ripe bramble berries, cool blue fruit and lots of cola, liquorice and wet stones. Very transparent and hands off. A touch straight but lovely muscular edge without the heft. Juicy, fun, clean, pure. Balanced. Savoury. Great job controlling the extraction – tannins are there but this is sapid too. A little more serious and structured and perhaps overall elegant than Clerc. A 2% dash of Petit Verdot completes the blend.