Wine Advisor
D'Armailhac 2007
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted blind at the 2007 Bordeaux horizontal in Southwold. A better showing of d’Armailhac, which has improved considerable in bottle. There is a slight dustiness on the nose with baked cherry and a touch of pencil shavings. Moderate vigour, but this will need time to open up. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins, nice cohesion with a touch of white pepper, just a little dry and tertiary towards the finish. Tasted January 2011.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted at the UGC in London. This has a simple, light cedar scented nose with blackberry leaf, wild hedgerow, a touch of mint and pencil box. Just lacking a little clarity and lean compared to the 2008. The palate is medium-bodied, a little lean, fine tannins, ripe black fruits, quite sharp acidity with a poised, earthy, cedary finish. Early drinking d'Armailhac but well-crafted. Drink now-2015. Tasted November 2009.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
An interesting nose this year, different from previous Chateau d’Armailhac, less voluptuous but perhaps great definition and refinement. Notes of blackberry and bilberry fruit with a touch of the old “copper saucepan”. The palate is very well balanced, lovely ripe rounded fruit with good acidity. Very nice poise and tension with a clean, perhaps light bilberry and briary tinged finish. This is a classier d’Armailhac, perhaps in no small part to Monsieur Dhalluin! Very approachable though short on length, this will make pleasurable early drinking. Tasted April 2008.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Another soft wine, the 2007 d-Armailhac exhibits notes of Chinese black tea, plum sauce, and black currants in a round, superficial but attractive, easy-going, complex style. It is best drunk over the next 7-8 years.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted at BI Wine & Spirits' 10-Years-On tasting, the 2007 D'Armailhac has a very attractive bouquet with ample black fruit laced with violets and blueberry, quite Margaux-like in style. The palate is medium-bodied with svelte tannin, a crisp line of acidity, commendable structure and a lovely graphite-tinged finish that lingers long in the mouth. This appears to have improved in recent years, and it comes thoroughly recommended. Tasted February 2017.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Rated - No tasting note given.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted at Mouton-Rothschild. A lucid deep, purple colour. The nose is attractive, quite rounded and ripe, delicate blackcurrant and blueberries with fine definition, with a hint of tobacco developing with aeration in the glass. A soft entry on the palate which has a certain “plush” mouthfeel, good acidity, still a little unresolved of course but with supple blackberry, bilberry and tobacco flavours. A relatively light, slightly earthy, cedar finish. Fine, but not a long-term wine. Tasted September 2008.
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
Slightly dullish deep red. Aromatic nose offers currant, tobacco leaf and herbs lifted by a peppery quality. Juicy and light on its feet, with brisk acidity and a repeating peppery quality giving precision and energy to the perfumed mid-palate. Very crisp, delineated wine that can be enjoyed soon or held.
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
Good deep ruby-red. Blueberry, cassis and bitter chocolate on the perfumed nose, lifted by violet (the blend includes 22% cabernet franc). Juicy, spicy and nicely delineated, with good energy and tension in the mouth. Acids are nicely ripe. Finishes with fairly fine tannins and hints of leather and tobacco.
About the Producer
The existence of Château d’Armailhac dates back to the late 17th century, as evidenced in a land register from 1680 which mentions the brothers Dominique and Guilhem Armailhacq, owners of parcels of land in Pauillac. Another land register from 1750 notes that their descendants have “planted with vines” the family estate, covering 15 to 16 hectares (37-39 acres). By the end of the 18th century the estate has grown to 52 hectares (128 acres) but the brokers of the time describe its wine as “disappointingly thin”. Throughout the following century, Mouton d’Armailhacq’s owners work unceasingly to improve its quality, using techniques such as topping-up, running-off, barrel disinfection and fining. Their efforts are rewarded in 1831, when the wines of Mouton d’Armailhacq sell for twice as much as their more highly reputed neighbours. The ultimate recompense, Château Mouton d’Armailhacq is given Fifth Growth status in the 1855 Classification – the same one which made Château Mouton Rothschild “First of the Seconds”. The “first wine”, the only one authorised to bear the growth’s name, is distinguished from the “second wine”, less rich and sold for consumption in local taverns. In 1931, the young Baron Philippe de Rothschild became a minority shareholder of the Société Anonyme du Domaine de Mouton d’Armailhacq, then in 1933 acquired all the shares from the Comte de Ferrand in return for a life annuity. A year later, on the Comte de Ferrand’s death, he became the effective owner of the estate. The Mouton d’Armailhacq portfolio included the Société Vinicole de Pauillac, forerunner of what is now Baron Philippe de Rothschild SA. Inseparable from Château Mouton Rothschild, Château Mouton d’Armailhacq houses all the technical and agricultural equipment for the two estates in its extensive outbuildings. From 1956 to 1988, the wine was called Mouton Baron Philippe, then Mouton Baronne Philippe. A Fifth Growth of acknowledged quality, its original identity as Château d’Armailhac was patly restored in 1989.
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