Chateau d"Armailhac Pauillac (Grand Cru Classe) 2016

Château d'Armailhac, a Fifth Growth Pauillac estate owned by the Baron Philippe de Rothschild family since 1933, is managed alongside Mouton Rothschild and Clerc Milon.

Today Baroness Philippine’s children, Camille and Philippe Sereys de Rothschild and Julien de Beaumarchais de Rothschild continue the family’s quest for excellence and innovation in the vineyard and winery.

The 76-hectare estate is managed alongside stablemates Château Mouton Rothschild and Château Clerc Milon; expertise is shared across the properties.

Its south-facing vineyard, located next to Château Mouton Rothschild is made up of deep, gravelly soil which is primarily planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, followed by Merlot (35%), Cabernet Franc (8%, from old vines), and Petit Verdot (2%).

The wine is known for its high proportion of 60 years old-vine Cabernet Franc. Grapes are hand-harvested, sorted, and destemmed.

“Inviting, with notes of currant preserves and cherry sauce giving way to taut charcoal and singed alder accents.

The chalky finish is a bit tight, but the stuffing is there. This has really good energy. Score Range: 92-95”

- JM, Wine Spectator

“The 2016 D'Armailhac is a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit

Verdot that was picked between 27 September and 14 October. The bouquet is very impressive, typical

d’Armailhac in terms of the opulence and flamboyance with lush black cherry and boysenberry fruit, a subtle

floral note developing with time in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with a crisp and tensile entry; there is

immense purity here with some lovely blue fruit appearing on the finish. This is a d'Armailhac that is emboldened

by unprecedented tannic structure that gives it real backbone and a sense of authority. Quite simply, this is one

of the best wines of Château D'Armailhac that I have tasted, somehow not a million miles away from Grand Puy

Lacoste in style. Drink 2021 - 2045.

- NM, Wine Advocate

“This is a really driven d’Armailhac showing blackcurrants and fruit tea with hints of bark on the nose and palate.

Full-bodied, very firm and structured with a long and powerful finish. Direct and linear. Try after 2023.”

- JS, JamesSuckling.com

“This is a ripe wine, full of black fruits with attractive tannins. It has depth but the wine is more about fruitiness

and relatively quick development. Drink this already delicious, lightly spicy wine from 2022.”

- RV, Wine Enthusiast

“Bright mid crimson. Some real interest and depth on the nose of this wine. Still quite a way to go with tannins

still quite separate from the (interesting) fruit. Bone dry finish but there is energy and persistence and character

here. 17/20 points”

- JR, JancisRobinson.com

“There's fairly high acidity on the attack here, and yet it's well balanced by a body that's richer and deeper than

in many years of Armailhac. You can definitely feel the texture and the powerful depth of brambly fruit, and

there are also some of the signature lilting floral notes, given extra charge through graphite, liquorice, cassis,

and that pulsating acidity. Great quality. 2% Petit Verdot completes the blend.”

- JA, Decanter.com

“A wine that always delivers on the value for money front, this is a serious, well-made red that doesn’t lack

ambition. The oak is a little prominent, but there’s more than enough leafy fruit sweetness and fine-grained

tannins to soak it up. 2020-28.”

- Tim Atkin MW

“The 2016 d'Armailhac is surprisingly dense and powerful, almost shockingly so. A burst of sweet red cherry,

tobacco, smoke, earth, and grilled herbs gives the wine a smoky, savory dimension that is quite attractive and

nicely complements the intense fruit. Far from an easygoing wine, the 2016 is massively tannic, even if that is not

always evident because of the wine's raciness and pure fruit density. The Cabernet Sauvignon is especially

dominant today. D'Armailhac often develops into a fairly rustic Pauillac, so it will be interesting to see what

happens here. Tasted three times.”

- AG, Vinous

“A thrilling bottle of wine that readers should snatch up is the 2016 Château d’Armailhac. This deeply colored,

medium to full-bodied, powerful Armailhac gives up a lovely perfume of blackberry and plums fruits, violets,

graphite, cedar pencil, and earthy, herbal nuances. Classic, ripe, layered, and just a beautiful Pauillac any way

you look at it, it has plenty of upfront sex appeal but is going to keep for 20-25 years as well. Bravo! The 2016 is

a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot.”

- Jeb Dunnuck