Château d'Armailhac 2021

Candid and very fruity, raspberry, rhubarb, blackcurrant. On the palate, soft, round, with crisp fruit and well-judged tannins. Fresh finish, with blood orange and floral notes on the aftertaste. Has developed well.

Heady nose of black bramble fruit and fragrant black cherries, with a dusting of clove and cinnamon, and a touch of orange peel — slightly bitter but juicy — plus a hint of toast. Quite tight and lean, direct and focused; this is streamlined — you can feel the cool blue fruit and slightly tense tannin structure, seamless yet held in a single line down the center of the wine. A little strict, but pure, precise, and clean. Lovely clarity of expression, a silky texture, and 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 flavors that coat the mouth — cinnamon, clove, redcurrants, cherries, blueberries, and blackcurrants. Cola and licorice linger on. Sleek and well delivered.

This fresh and vivid red shows mineral and lead-pencil notes with currants and berries. Some dried flowers. Medium body. Fine tannins and a lively finish. Crisp from bright acidity. Needs one or two years to soften slightly.

63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot. Cask sample. Fragrant nose with brambly fruit and floral notes. Fresh, fruity and sapid on the palate with grainy tannin behind. Lacks intensity but has zest and energy to compensate. More for the medium than the long term. (JL)

The 2021 d’Armailhac is very pretty, expressive wine driven by strong Cabernet Sauvignon inflections. Crushed flowers, herbs, mint, blood orange and earthy notes abound. It's a wine from a cold year, to be sure, but all the elements are very nicely balanced. There's terrific purity here.

Black currants, espresso, flowers, chocolate, and cigar wrapper nuances pop in the nose. The palate carries on with the theme in the nose with its layers of soft, elegant, black and red currants, mint and cocoa. There is a touch of chalky dust that lingers in the fresh, finish. The wine blends 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Drink from 2025-2045.

Dark ruby garnet colour with purple reflections, delicate brightening on the rim. Fine floral nuances of dried roses, a hint of preserved cherries, fresh plums, inviting bouquet. Juicy, with fresh acidity on the palate, fine savoury tannins, mineral, salty nuances, lingers long, a touch of red berries in the aftertaste, already well-developed. (08/01/2024, drink +20 years).

The 2021 Château D'Armailhac is terrific and, like all the releases under the Mouton-Rothschild umbrella, it has terrific depth of fruit and impressive richness. Ripe cassis, smoky tobacco, graphite, and ample minerality all emerge from this medium-bodied, beautifully balanced 2021. It plays in the fresher style of the vintage yet has a great mid-palate, good concentration, and a great finish. It will shine with just 2-3 years of bottle age and cruise for 15+ years in cold cellars.

63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot, 13% ABV. Delicate bouquet of red cherry, fresh rosemary, Sichuan pepper and iris fragrance, violets. On the palate, delicate with a silky texture, supporting freshness, a tight, “refined” tannic framework, and a muscular body. Focused finish with red-berry contours, spice, and dark graphite. Rich and powerful yet remaining elegant, it has reached a new level for me!

Kunz barrel sample 2022: (63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot, 13% alc. by vol.) Silky, fragrant, fruity bouquet, black cherries, cassis, Black Currant, smoke, fine herbs. Finely creamy, elegant, fresh palate with powerful fruit, good, finely powdery tannins, dark aromatics, dense, elegant structure, long, aromatic finish.

(63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot, 13% abv) Silky, fragrant, fruity bouquet, black cherries, cassis, Black Currant, smoke, fine herbs. Finely creamy, elegant, fresh palate with powerful fruit, good, slightly powdery fine tannins, dark aromatics, dense, elegant structure, long, aromatic finish. 18/20 2028 - 2050

In bottle, this shows a beautiful curl of rosebuds and peony flowers, with a delicate tannic frame, loganberry and blackberry fruits, salinity on the finish, and it has filled out well through the mid-palate with ageing. Good quality. pH 3.73. 50% new oak, 60 IPT, Lucie Lauilhé’s first vintage as technical director, and the first vintage in the new cellar.

A blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot, the 2021 d’Armailhac has a deep garnet-purple color. It skips out of the glass with energetic scents of juicy raspberries, cranberries, and red cherries, followed by hints of pencil shavings and lavender. The light to medium-bodied palate is refreshing, with loads of spring in its step, featuring approachable tannins and a red berry lift on the finish.

The wine drinks beautifully, all about fruit, with notes of blackcurrant and red berries. The palate is supple and fresh, carried by a juicy core, silky tannins, and a saline finish. A classic, refined Pauillac.

A deep, seductive nose of purple fruits, enriched by flamboyant roasted notes. The palate, full-bodied at first, proves extremely succulent, with intense black fruit. A fluid, chiselled, thoroughly delicious texture emerges mid-palate and lingers through to a lively, long finish.

Classic and elegant, d’Armailhac stands out for its tension and muscle, while the perfectly integrated tannins ensure power. A fresh, sapid wine with a slightly saline finish. A fine success!

Lovely deep colour. Moderately aromatic nose, pure, with ripe fruit. Soft on the attack, slender through the mid-palate and fragrant, the wine develops with savoury flavours and lengthens with great delicacy. Very enjoyable, without being profound.

First vintage in the new winery! This year, favorable to the Cabernets, brings among other things 13% Franc and a selection of Merlots, all coming together in a delicate, fresh, spring-like nose, with a silky texture extending along a fine, zesty acidity. Classic and pure.

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.