Château d’Armailhac
Château d’Armailhac
Château d’Armailhac is a Pauillac Fifth Growth estate. It was historically part of the Mouton Rothschild estate. The name of the estate came from one of the first owners of the estate, Dominique d’Armailhacq. As early as 1740 the wine was sold under the name of “Mouton d’Armailhacq”. It was acquired by Baron Philippe de Rothschild in 1934 and was for a time called Château Mouton d’Armailhacq. This estate was one of the first on the Left Bank to plant Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot; they also have some of the oldest vines in the Médoc with around 20% date back to 1890.
Château d’Armailhac sits right between Mouton Rothschild and Pontet-Canet. Compared with neighbour Pontet-Canet, d’Armailhac remains very affordable and is an estate to look out for in top vintages.
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Wine Spectator (90)
Juicy red. Plenty of tobacco, berry and currant character in this. Medium-bodied, with fine tannins and a long finish. Best after 2008. 15,415 cases made. -JSInc. VAT£1,365.67 -
Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (90-92)
Saturated ruby-red. Crystallized dark berries, licorice, violet and a hint of game on the nose. Dense and thick but bright, with lively, cabernet-driven flavors of crushed dark berries, licorice, tobacco leaf, fresh herbs and earth. Offers unusually full volume for Armailhac, with lots of stuffing to buffer its firm spine of acids and sweet tannins. A superb vintage for this wine.Inc. VAT£944.47 -
Wine & Spirit Magazine (92)
Located in the north of Pauillac, between Mouton and Pontet-Canet, this 123-acre estate is also part of G.F.A. Baronne Philippine de Rothschild. The aroma balances meaty fruit and mineral scents, and while the pungent red fruit is always there, the tannins seem to increase their intensity with air. They cover the pure black cherry flavor like a powerful skin, deep and plush with an iron-knuckle punch. The tannins don't go away, but their inner velvet eventually wins out. This has improved significantly since the en primeur tastings and will continue to evolve for ten to 15 years in the bottle.Inc. VAT£952.80 -
Wine Advocate (90)
Tasted at Bordeaux Index's annual 10-Year On tasting in London.The 2006 Château d'Armailhac has a feisty bouquet with tobacco and sage-infused red berry fruit that seem open for business, unlike some of the other 2006 Pauillac wines. The palate is medium-bodied with fine, quite supple tannin. There is good weight in the mouth with mint-infused blackberry fruit, fine structure with admirable precision on the finish. All it lacks is the persistence of some of its peers, yet it still constitutes a very fine Pauillac that I probably under-rated out of barrel. Tasted January 2016.Inc. VAT£775.20 -
Chateau d’Armailhac is typically light in style for Bordeaux yet with plenty of Pauillac character. The 2009 is higher in Cabernet Sauvignon. It is a deeper ruby colour with more spice and cedar notes. Wine from this great vintage will improve for well over a decade.Inc. VAT£1,026.07
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James Suckling (92)
The wine has a lovely softness to it with a chocolate, currant and blueberry character. Full body, with velvety tannins and juicy finish. Savory wine. 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot.Inc. VAT£829.27 -
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (92)
A very pretty wine for the year, the 2012 d'Armailhac is plush, open and seductive. Dark red cherry, tobacco, wild herbs, smoke, leather and game are all pushed forward in a pliant, supple Pauillac that is already quite open and expressive. Dark red cherry, plum, tobacco, smoke and licorice meld into the pliant finish, all with sweet floral overtones that add to the wine's considerable appeal.Inc. VAT£914.47 -
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (93)
The 2014 d'Armailhac is bright, precise and finely sculpted. Expressive red stone fruit, flowers, mint, chalk and citrus abound in this vibrant, beautifully delineated Pauillac. Open-knit and expressive, with good depth and silky tannins, the wine exudes class. The fresh, invigorating style is classic 2014. This is a lovely showing. Tasted two times.Inc. VAT£922.87 -
James Suckling (93-94)
Opulent and powerful for d’Armailhac with blackcurrants, blackberries and black olives. Full-bodied, tannic and extremely muscular. Very well done indeed.Inc. VAT£775.27 -
Decanter (94)
Wonderful florality on the nose, perfumed and full of black cherries. Great freshness here, such good juice content, immediately so alive and fresh, there is a real buzz to this wine with some creamy/chalky edges that are so refreshing. Great personality with vibrant fruit. Rich and layered, super concentrated but with this fun lively aspect. Tannins are chewy and ripe because of the weather but there's a great lift and sense of life to this. I really like it. A blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot.Inc. VAT£664.87
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Wine Spectator (90)
Juicy red. Plenty of tobacco, berry and currant character in this. Medium-bodied, with fine tannins and a long finish. Best after 2008. 15,415 cases made. -JSIn Bond£1,106.00 -
Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (90-92)
Saturated ruby-red. Crystallized dark berries, licorice, violet and a hint of game on the nose. Dense and thick but bright, with lively, cabernet-driven flavors of crushed dark berries, licorice, tobacco leaf, fresh herbs and earth. Offers unusually full volume for Armailhac, with lots of stuffing to buffer its firm spine of acids and sweet tannins. A superb vintage for this wine.In Bond£755.00 -
Wine & Spirit Magazine (92)
Located in the north of Pauillac, between Mouton and Pontet-Canet, this 123-acre estate is also part of G.F.A. Baronne Philippine de Rothschild. The aroma balances meaty fruit and mineral scents, and while the pungent red fruit is always there, the tannins seem to increase their intensity with air. They cover the pure black cherry flavor like a powerful skin, deep and plush with an iron-knuckle punch. The tannins don't go away, but their inner velvet eventually wins out. This has improved significantly since the en primeur tastings and will continue to evolve for ten to 15 years in the bottle.Inc. VAT£952.80 -
Wine Advocate (90)
Tasted at Bordeaux Index's annual 10-Year On tasting in London.The 2006 Château d'Armailhac has a feisty bouquet with tobacco and sage-infused red berry fruit that seem open for business, unlike some of the other 2006 Pauillac wines. The palate is medium-bodied with fine, quite supple tannin. There is good weight in the mouth with mint-infused blackberry fruit, fine structure with admirable precision on the finish. All it lacks is the persistence of some of its peers, yet it still constitutes a very fine Pauillac that I probably under-rated out of barrel. Tasted January 2016.Inc. VAT£775.20 -
Chateau d’Armailhac is typically light in style for Bordeaux yet with plenty of Pauillac character. The 2009 is higher in Cabernet Sauvignon. It is a deeper ruby colour with more spice and cedar notes. Wine from this great vintage will improve for well over a decade.In Bond£823.00
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James Suckling (92)
The wine has a lovely softness to it with a chocolate, currant and blueberry character. Full body, with velvety tannins and juicy finish. Savory wine. 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot.In Bond£659.00 -
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (92)
A very pretty wine for the year, the 2012 d'Armailhac is plush, open and seductive. Dark red cherry, tobacco, wild herbs, smoke, leather and game are all pushed forward in a pliant, supple Pauillac that is already quite open and expressive. Dark red cherry, plum, tobacco, smoke and licorice meld into the pliant finish, all with sweet floral overtones that add to the wine's considerable appeal.In Bond£730.00 -
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (93)
The 2014 d'Armailhac is bright, precise and finely sculpted. Expressive red stone fruit, flowers, mint, chalk and citrus abound in this vibrant, beautifully delineated Pauillac. Open-knit and expressive, with good depth and silky tannins, the wine exudes class. The fresh, invigorating style is classic 2014. This is a lovely showing. Tasted two times.In Bond£737.00 -
James Suckling (93-94)
Opulent and powerful for d’Armailhac with blackcurrants, blackberries and black olives. Full-bodied, tannic and extremely muscular. Very well done indeed.In Bond£614.00 -
Decanter (94)
Wonderful florality on the nose, perfumed and full of black cherries. Great freshness here, such good juice content, immediately so alive and fresh, there is a real buzz to this wine with some creamy/chalky edges that are so refreshing. Great personality with vibrant fruit. Rich and layered, super concentrated but with this fun lively aspect. Tannins are chewy and ripe because of the weather but there's a great lift and sense of life to this. I really like it. A blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot.In Bond£522.00