Château d’Armailhac is a historic Pauillac estate, classified as a Fifth Growth in 1855, with roots dating back to the 14th century and a legacy intertwined with the Rothschild family.
The 2021 is a glittering ruby red. The refined and elegant nose displays redcurrant and raspberry aromas combines with brioche and violet notes. On the attack, juicy, succulent fruit emerges from beneath rounded, well-integrated tannins. The palate, nicey balanced by a fresh, mineral structure, reveals delicate chocolatey flavors enfolded in a smooth, silky texture. The harominous finish lingers on crisp, slightly sappy fruit.
Blend: 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot
94 Decanter Smells heady, black bramble fruit on the nose, fragrant black cherries, a dusting of clove and cinnamon spice, orange peel - slightly bitter but juicy with a hint of toast too. Quite tight and lean, direct and focussed, this is streamlined - you can feel the cool blue fruit and slightly tense tannin structure, seamless but all held in one line in the centre of the wine. A little strict, but pure, precise and clean. There is lovely clarity to the expression, a silky texture with 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 flavours that coat the mouth - cinnamon, clove, redcurrants, cherries, blueberries and blackcurrants. Cola and liquorice lingers on. Sleek and well delivered. Drinking Window: 2025 - 2045
92 Falstaff 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.(8/1/2024, drink +20 years).
92 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate 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.
92 James Suckling This fresh and vivid red has minerals and lead pencil with currants and berries. Some dried flowers. Medium body. Fine tannins and a lively finish. Crispy from bright acidity. Needs one or two years to soften slightly.
91 Jeb Dunnuck 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.
90 Vinous 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. –Antonio Galloni
