2021 Chateau d’Armailhac, 5th Growth Pauillac (6 x Bottle)
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First year with the new cellar at Armailhac, and a new technical director, as Lucie Lauilhé has replaced Jean-Paul Paultert, with Paultert retiring after 29 years in the post (Lauilhé was only present for harvest and blending, 2022 will be her first full year). There are big plans for this property, but in 2021 it is playing things a little safe, with juicy balance, delicate tannins, plenty of grip and precision to the raspberry and blackberry fruits, but a little soft on the finish. There is due to be a 2nd wine in the future, which will help with concentration, but the signature of 2021 is evident here. A little more Cabernet Franc, after poor fruit set with the Melrot. 3.73ph. 50% new oak, 60IPT. Tasted twice.
2021 Chateau d’Armailhac, 5th Growth Pauillac (6 x Bottle)
First year with the new cellar at Armailhac, and a new technical director, as Lucie Lauilhé has replaced Jean-Paul Paultert, with Paultert retiring after 29 years in the post (Lauilhé was only present for harvest and blending, 2022 will be her first full year). There are big plans for this property, but in 2021 it is playing things a little safe, with juicy balance, delicate tannins, plenty of grip and precision to the raspberry and blackberry fruits, but a little soft on the finish. There is due to be a 2nd wine in the future, which will help with concentration, but the signature of 2021 is evident here. A little more Cabernet Franc, after poor fruit set with the Melrot. 3.73ph. 50% new oak, 60IPT. Tasted twice.
Producer | Chateau D'Armailhac |
---|---|
Sub-Region | Pauillac |
Region | Bordeaux |
Country | France |
Vintage | 2021 |
Colour | Red |
ABV | 13.00% |
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Inside Bordeaux
In bottle, this has a beautiful curl of rosebuds and peony flowers, with a delicate tannic frame, loganberry and blackberry fruits, salinity on the finish, and it has filled out well through the mid palate over ageing. Good quality. 3.73ph. 50% new oak, 60IPT, Lucie Lauilhé first vintage as technical director, and first vintage in new cellar.
92 Points / Drinking 2026 - 2038
By Jane Anson / April 2024
Robert Parker Wine Advocate
Reminiscent of a modern-day version of this estate’s delicious 1999, the 2021 d’Armailhac is a terrific wine bursting with aromas of wild berries, cherries, exotic spices and rose petals. Medium to full-bodied, supple and seamless, it’s fleshy and enveloping, with melting tannins and an ample core of sweet, succulent fruit. This is a pleasure-bent wine that will offer a broad drinking window.
91-93 Points
By William Kelley / April 2022
Vinous
The 2021 ‘Armailhac is elegant and lithe in feel. Bright floral and savory notes lend freshness throughout a core of red berry fruit. In this tasting, Armailhac comes across as a bit vegetal, with slightly angular contours that hopefully will resolve with élevage. This is the first vintage made in the château’s new cellar.
88-90 Points / Drinking 2029 - 2041
By Antonio Galloni / May 2022
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.
90 Points / Drinking 2027 - 2041
By Antonio Galloni / February 2024
Vinous
The 2021 d’Armailhac, aged in 50% new oak, is the first vintage to be vinified in the new winery, which was completed a month before the harvest. It has quite a strict bouquet, tight and focused, with broody dark berry fruit, pencil box and tar, quite classic in style. The palate is harmonious and smooth with fine tannins, just the right amount of acidity and a sapid finish that lingers in the mouth. Residual graphite notes linger after the wine has exited. Very fine. (13.0% alcohol)
90-92 Points / Drinking 2025 - 2045
By Neal Martin / May 2022
Vinous
The 2021 d’Armailhac, which was bottled mid-May, has an attractive nose with perfumed blackberry and blueberry fruit, the oak here seamlessly integrated—quite “Mouton” in style. A mini-Mouton perhaps? It becomes much plusher than the Clerc Milon after 10 minutes in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied, taut and linear, with grainy tannins, a pronounced graphite element and a pliant, Merlot-driven finish, making it quite approachable in style.
90 Points / Drinking 2026 - 2045
By Neal Martin / February 2024