Chateau D' Armailhac 2018

Château D' Armailhac Cinquieme Cru Classe Pauillac, Bordeaux, France, 2018

Grapes: A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon 55%, Merlot 30%, Cabernet Franc 10%, Petit Verdot 5%, deep gravel over clay/limestone soil, 70ha vineyard, 46 year average vine age (a proportion goes back to 1890!), yield 32hl/ha, aged 18 months in French oak barrels (50% new)

Producer Tasting Note:

The wine has a deep colour with a garnet hue. The rich, packed nose opens on aromas of blackberry and marzipan. With airing, the initial fruit is complemented by an array of spice and dark chocolate notes. The powerful and well-structured attack reveals peppery and slightly minty flavours, leading into a mid-palate underpinned by elegant and dense tannins on roasted coffee-bean and liquorice notes. A long and smooth finish rounds off a remarkably harmonious wine.

Critics' Tasting Notes:

"A soft and generous red with plum, tobacco and currant character and a delicious, full body and brightness. Juicy. Attractive, earthy aftertaste. Layered and dense." 

(93-94/100) points, James Suckling, JAMESSUCKLING.COM

"Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 D’Armailhac (a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot) hits the ground running with wonderfully open-knit, flamboyant scents of Morello cherries, black raspberries, blackcurrant jelly and rose oil, leading to an undercurrent of cinnamon toast, aniseed and mossy tree bark. The medium to full-bodied palate is charged with energy and expressiveness, delivering red and black berry layers with loads of spicy sparks, framed by plush tannins, finishing long and fragrant."  Drink 2022-2039

93+/100 points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, WINE ADVOCATE, March 2021

"A world-class bottling, the 2018 Château d’Armailhac has the flavor density and structure to live on for two decades. Needing about an hour in the decanter to fully get going, you are aroused to beautiful Asian spices and perfumed black rose petals that mark the nose alongside graphite, wet stone and rich blackberry compote. The palate is lush and round with a silky mouthfeel and great sense of underling tension. Uncork one now and let sit in the decanter — you are going to be amazed at its development!"  Drink 2024-2040

95/100 points, Owen Bargreen, October 2024

Food Match: Lamb chops, braised beef, venison, roast duck breast, truffles, mature Cheddar cheese