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.