Château Durfort-Vivens 2024

What a fragrance—always a little addictive—a picture-perfect Cabernet perfume: playful, herbal-spicy, dark-fruited; on the palate precise, polished, elegant, this year with clearly less muscle than in the warm years, yet with impressive finesse; red-fruited on the finish, long-lasting, fresh. A Margaux delicacy like no other.

Dark heady fragrance, rich notes of ripe blackcurrants, dark chocolate, tobacco and mint. Smooth and sapid, this has a great lift and life straight away—succulent and fleshy, chalky but also ripe, there’s a great sense of charm here. Filling and fruity. It tapers a little, just softening toward the finish but the aromatics go on for ages. This has structure and frame, not a light wine, with plenty of character. I really like it. Feels accomplished with brightness and precision. A restrained touch with gorgeous salty stones and slate. A yield of 37 hl/ha. Ageing 70% in new oak barrels, 30% in amphorae for 18 months. pH 3.75.

A refined, captivating bouquet that combines the sweetness of ripe dark fruit with the mineral freshness of the foreshore, lifted by a subtle sappy note evoking a crushed rosemary stem. The palate is a supple, airy caress, like a lullaby sung in a gentle, melodious voice. The fruit, pure and supple, gradually gains in intensity, driven by a vibrant saline backbone, before a long, indulgent, delectable finish that blends fruit and flowers.

Lovely deep plum colour, this is very high Cabernet Sauvignon but this is an estate where they often goes high, (2021 vintage was even higher than this at 97%). Savoury, slim, floral, precise and vivid, salinity, grip, lovely sense of lift and grip. 3.75 pH. Harvest 23 September to 8 October. 37 hl/ha. 70% new oak, 30% in amphora.