Château Duhart-Milon 2002

Characteristics and Tasting Notes for Château Duhart-Milon 2002

Tasting Notes

Appearance
This wine reveals a deep, brilliant ruby colour with beautiful colour intensity.

Nose
The aromatic bouquet expresses notes of blackcurrant, ripe black fruits and liquorice, enhanced by touches of bitter chocolate, mint and cedar. Subtle nuances of spice and earth complete this olfactory profile, with a very slight herbaceous hint.

Palate
The tasting reveals a powerful, fruity wine, supported by a dense structure. The tannins, both firm and elegant, integrate perfectly to offer a velvety texture. The whole stands out for its great purity and extends into a long finish with smoky, liquorice-tinged accents.

Food and Wine Pairing
This great wine pairs wonderfully with roasted or grilled red meats, such as a rack of lamb or a piece of aged beef. It also pairs perfectly with flavourful poultry such as roast duck, traditional stewed dishes such as a daube, as well as pressed cooked cheeses such as beaufort or aged comté.

Serving and Cellaring
Château Duhart-Milon 2002 has excellent ageing potential. According to official estimates, its optimal drinking window extends to around 2020.

The Elegance of a Great Pauillac Wine at Château Duhart-Milon

The Estate
Located in Pauillac in the Bordeaux region, Château Duhart-Milon was officially founded in 1868. This fourth-growth classified estate now belongs to Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite), under the direction of Saskia de Rothschild. Historically linked to the lands of its illustrious neighbour, the estate spans 76 hectares. The property stands out for its recent environmental commitment, illustrated by its conversion to organic farming and its membership of the B Corp community. This prestigious estate embodies the classic elegance of the Médoc, combining a rich history with a resolutely modern and sustainable vision.

The Vineyard
The terroir stretches as a single block along the Milon hillside, within the Pauillac appellation. The vines flourish on soils composed of fine gravel and wind-blown sands, resting on a limestone subsoil. The estate applies simple espalier pruning with a high planting density. Committed to an eco-responsible approach, the vineyard incorporates agroforestry and grass cover practices, and is moving towards organic farming to preserve local biodiversity.

The Vintage
The year began with a warm, dry winter, leading to early budbreak. However, flowering suffered from cold, rainy weather, causing coulure and millerandage. After a rather cool July and August, September proved exceptional. Warm, dry and sunny days, contrasting with cool nights swept by the north-east wind, allowed optimal ripeness to be reached before a harvest that spread from late September to early October.

Winemaking and Ageing
For Château Duhart-Milon 2002, the grapes were hand-harvested and subjected to rigorous plot-by-plot sorting combined with monitoring of phenolic ripeness. Traditional vinification took place separately according to each lot. Alcoholic fermentation was carried out in wooden and stainless steel vats under controlled temperatures, followed by a maceration period of fifteen to twenty days. After malolactic fermentation in stainless steel tanks, the wine was aged in French oak barrels.

Grape Varieties
Cabernet Sauvignon 75%, Merlot 22%, Cabernet Franc 3%