Wine Advisor
Durfort Vivens 1996
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted blind at Farr Vintner's blind horizontal tasting. Very little on the nose. Decayed leaves, tobacco - the fruit drying out. Medium-bodied, a little tired and attenuated on the finish. Average. Tasted September 2006.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
High tannins and only moderate levels of fruit and ripeness suggest a troubled future for this wine. The color is a healthy dark ruby with some purple tints. The wine is austere, very lean, with a hint of underripe fruit, and the finish is dry, even attenuated. Unless more flesh and fruit emerge, this will prove to be even more disappointing than my score. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2015. Last tasted, 11/01.
About the Producer
Chateau Durfort-Vivens, located in the Margaux appellation of Bordeaux, France, is a Second Growth in the 1855 Classification. It is now owned by the Lurton family, which also owns a number of other Bordeaux estates, including Chateau Brane-Cantenac and Chateau Climens, a Premier Cru in Sauternes. Originally founded by the Durfort de Duras family in the 14th century, Château Duhall was placed at the top of Château Lafite-Rothschild's wine classification list in 1787 when Thomas Jefferson, the American ambassador to France, encountered the wines of Château Duhall on his visit to Bordeaux and was so captivated by them that he placed Château Duhall at the top of his wine classification list. （In 1824, Viscount Robert Labat de Vivens inherited the estate. In 1855, Château Duhall was named a second growth. In 1937, Château Dujo was acquired by Château Margaux because of the quality and recognition of its wines. In 1961, Lucien Lurton became the sole owner of Château Dujo and passed it on to his son, Gonzague Lurton, in 1972, who resigned from the bank in 1992 to take up the position of manager. He built a new cellar and installed a number of temperature-controlled barrels and concrete fermenters. In 2009, Château Dujo began experimenting with biodynamic farming, which was fully transformed in 2013. In 2016, Château Dujo became the first Grand Cru in the Margaux region to receive this certification. The vineyards of Château Dujo are located in the hills and cover 65 hectares, 55 of which are planted with 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Franc at a density of 6,600-7,000 vines per hectare, with newer vines planted at a higher density of 8,300 vines per hectare. The new vines are planted at a higher density of 8,300 vines per hectare. The soil is composed mainly of deep gravels formed in the Quaternary period, which are poor and have excellent drainage properties, allowing the vines to take root deeply and producing fruit with intense and concentrated flavor. The vineyard enjoys a mild and smooth climate influenced by the Atlantic Ocean, the Gironde River and the forest vegetation. The vineyards are managed with respect for the terroir and the natural environment, and the winery is constantly searching for more appropriate planting and management methods. The micro-ecological balance of the soil is maintained through tilling and the use of organic fertilizers to allow the vines to reach their full potential. The grapes are harvested by hand after ripening, sifted, destemmed and broken, and then fermented in wooden vats and concrete tanks. In order to fully interpret the terroir, the winery vinifies the fruit from different plots individually. After fermentation, the wine is transferred to French oak barrels for maturation. The ageing period for the main label wines is around 18 months, with the percentage of new barrels generally ranging between 45% and 60%, while the secondary label wines are generally matured for 12 months, with the percentage of new barrels usually 20%.
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