Duhart Milon Rothschild 2002

This is an excellent effort boasting notes of cedar, spice box, earth, and red and black currants in a medium-bodied, elegant style that exhibits the hand prints of Lafite Rothschild. A pure wine, it should age nicely for 10-15 years. Duhart is a chateau to watch as the Rothschilds (of Lafite) are making serious investments and pushing full-throttle to upgrade the quality and image of this estate.

Tasted blind at Farr's 2002 Bordeaux tasting. Very elegant and refined on the nose: bright red-berried fruit, raspberry and wild strawberry entwined with cedar-wood and graphite. Very well balanced on the palate: natural and just the right amount of austerity with black pepper and pencil lead. Very fine tannins, feminine, lithe, beautifully poised on the finish. Lovely. Tasted October 2009

Drink 2011-16 Thick and velvety and a little bit ordinary as opposed to Pauillac. Jagged.

Seventy-one percent of the crop made it into the 2002 Duhart, a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, and 3% Cabernet Franc. This estate is receiving more attention from the Rothschilds and appears to be moving up in quality with each new, good vintage. The promising 2002 exhibits great fruit on the attack along with copious quantities of creme de cassis intermixed with dried herb, leather, and vanilla notes. Medium-bodied, with excellent purity and a long, concentrated finish, it will be drinkable between 2008-2016.