Wine Advisor
D'Armailhac 2013
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The d'Armailhac is a blend of 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot cropped at a whopping (for the vintage) 40hl/ha. It has quite an open, powerful bouquet in keeping with the d'Armailhac style: blackberry, cedar and graphite. The palate is medium-bodied with firm, grippy tannins, good depth with a touch of spice on the finish. Fine. Tasted April 2014.
Reviewed by: Ian d'Agata
(59% cabernet sauvignon, 28% merlot, 12% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot): Ruby-red. Plum, redcurrant, licorice and violet on the nose. Fresh, juicy and pure, showing flavors of blackberry, coffee and spicy herbs. Very precise wine thanks to lively, harmonious acidity. Finishes with sweet tannins and very good length. The yields (40 h/h) were the highest of any of the Mouton-Rothschild estates because the younger merlot didn't suffer shatter; once again, though, the aroma and flavor profile of this wine is heavily influenced by its old-vine cabernet franc. This may be even better than it's showing today.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Fruity, soft, round and easygoing, this medium-bodied blend of 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot and the rest mostly Cabernet Franc with a touch of Petit Verdot is a charming, consumer-friendly red to enjoy over the next 5-8 years.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2013 is very pretty and silky in the glass. Violets, plums, smoke, tobacco and graphite meld together effortlessly in a gracious, mid-weight wine that impresses for its length, energy and vibrancy. Overall, this is a solid showing for the year, although some slight elements of greenness lurk beneath the fruit. The blend is 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, harvested between October 1 and 14. Tasted twice.
Reviewed by: James Suckling
A pleasant, fruity wine with hints of hazelnut and currant character. Medium body, firm tannins and a clean finish that's a little light. 59% cabernet sauvignon, 28% merlot, 12% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot.
Reviewed by: James Suckling
A fresh and delicious red with blueberry, spice and chocolate. Medium body, fine tannins and a clean finish. A beauty. Drink now or hold.
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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