Château d'Armailhac 2022

Expansive nose, plenty of ripe fruit, blackcurrant, mocha, with floral tones on top; soft attack, then tighter, gripping, structured, lots of tannins, great spice; long finish on red berries and dried herbs. Perhaps the best d'Armailhac ever produced.

Aromas of cherries, blackberries, pencil shavings and creamy new oak introduce the 2022 d'Armailhac, a medium- to full-bodied, sweet and dense wine that's rich and succulent, with a generous core of sun-kissed fruit, ripe tannins and an expansive finish.

Rich and toasty nose with sun-kissed blackcurrants, liquorice, tobacco, and a touch of tar. Some warmth and baked fruit add a jammy edge. Supple yet lively, with chewy fruit offset by juicy acidity and a salty, powdery minerality. A little tight but appealing, with a fresh minty lift. The 16% Cabernet Franc is unusual for Pauillac but gives a strong backbone. Less clay than the other estates, leaving a richness on the finish that reflects the vintage. Bottled end of May. 3.74 pH. 50% new oak.

Floral character such as orange blossoms and cassis with lead pencil aromas that follow through to a medium body and a lovely balance of fruit and freshness. It’s long and caressing with everything in place. Crisp. Best ever? 60% cabernet sauvignon, 22% merlot, 16% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot.

60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot. Cask sample. Expressive Cabernet nose. Juicy fruit on the palate. A little more power than in some years, the tannins ripe but firm. Plenty of lift and length on the finish. Gourmand as well. (JL)

The elegance and purity in the dark red and black fruits, coupled with its display of spices, flowers, and cigar box, makes this stand out in a crowd. Round, supple, firm, and refined, the lush, creamy, spicy, mint, blackberry, and currant endnote hits everything right from start to finish. The wine blends 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot. Drink from 2028–2050.

Rocking levels of darker currants, chocolate, tobacco, and spicy notes all emerge from the 2022 Château D'Armailhac, a blockbuster from this château that has ripe, velvety tannins, a beautiful mid-palate, and outstanding length. Based on 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot, this is easily the finest Armailhac I’ve tasted. It already offers pleasure today yet deserves 4-6 years of bottle age and will evolve for 20-30 years if well stored.

60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot, pH 3.83, 14.5% alc. Restrained start, delicate black-berry contours, walnut, elderberry jelly, mint and Brazil tobacco. On the deep palate with creamy texture, tightly knit tannic corset, supporting vivacity and a masculine body. In the concentrated, long-lasting finish with gripping tannins, dark graphite and finely crumbly astringency. Potential rating for this tannin monster. For Jean-Emmanuel this year it is much more “vertical,” i.e., it has more length than usual.

The difference from a typical vintage colour is more marked in Armailhac than Clerc Milon, where we are more used to deep colours. This by contrast is an extremely intense Armailhac, really stepping into its Pauillac boots, with a ton of deep plum, cassis and damson. Great expansion through the palate, beautiful depth of flavour, this is extremely impressive, with an edge of eucalyptus and graphite on the finish, and more grip than usual. Yields down to 26 hl/ha (there are more new plantings here so young vines). Second vintage with the new winery, and new technical director Lucille Lauilhé. Harvest September 8 to 27, 50% new oak, pH 3.83.

The nose, dark and captivating, unfurls sumptuous notes of polished plum. The palate is equally refined, asserting itself with the elegance of a made-to-measure Italian suit. Black fruit envelops the palate in a velvet caress, leading to a flavorful, sophisticated finish.

D’Armailhac reveals itself with plenty of freshness and assertiveness.

The nose is elegant, fruity, nicely racy and offers a hint of minerality. It reveals notes of blueberry, bright red cherry and, more subtly, crushed raspberry, combined with touches of nutmeg, lily, racy gravel, as well as a discreet hint of red pepper and liquorice pastille. The palate is pleasantly mineral, fresh, elegant, with a lovely richness, offering a fine texture, softness, indulgence, a subtle chiseled edge and a discreetly powdery feel. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of pulpy blackberry, creamy blackcurrant and, more lightly, Gariguette strawberry, combined with touches of racy minerality, graphene, toast, toasted hazelnut and fine hints of vanilla. The tannins are chalky and elegant. Good length. Lovely sapidity and gourmandise. A fine touch of austerity on the finish/persistence.

Dark, purple-black colour. Very aromatic nose, fine, fruity, subtle, pure, floral and liquorice-toned. The cru’s slender flavour profile is still there. However, it is now fleshier, more meticulously arranged, more melting, juicier and ultimately more refined on the finish. A great success in which the perfume of Cabernet Franc plays a major role. Blend: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Franc (medium plus, plus), 2% Petit Verdot. Alcohol: 14.5% - pH: 3.83. Yield: 28 hl/ha.

Great intensity! It asserts a distinctive personality and extraordinary power. All shaped by 60% masterful Cabernet Sauvignon, structuring the palate with vertical, precise tannins. 22% Merlot for suppleness, 16% Cabernet Franc for delicious spices, with hints of coffee bean and licorice. Destined for a very fine evolution.

A dark chocolate aroma marks this powerful wine. The Cabernet Sauvignon gives beautiful black currant flavors. The wine has intense fruit from the small berry harvest and a great future. Drink from 2028.