A perplexing estate, there has been some back-pedaling in quality, given the very cedary, herbaceous nose, including some notes of leafy vegetables. The wine is a medium-bodied blend of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc. The alcohol level is 13.9%, slightly lower than many of the better wines in this vintage, given the ripeness and high alcohols 2010 produced. A rather safely made, correct, but uninspiring effort, this medium-bodied Margaux should drink nicely for 10-15+ years.
Tasted at Haut-Bages Liberal and twice at the UGC, this has a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc and 26% Merlot, the Durfort-Vivens displays fine purity on the nose with noticeable glycerine. The palate is medium-bodied with a relatively soft entry, well-integrated oak, dark berried fruit, a touch of tar, some tobacco/espresso developing with aeration. It is quite fleshy towards the finish...a very fine effort. Tasted April 2011.
A chewy red, with blackberry and blueberry character and polished tannins. Full, with a solid core of fruit. Serious finish. Balanced and attractive
Very dark. Slightly oxidised sample replaced by one that is fresher on the nose but pretty tough, dry and demanding on the finish. Quite extreme wine! A bit hollow in the middle. Over extracted? Not charming. I'll try to taste another sample.
Gonzague Lurton's wine is always classically structured and a pure expression of its Margaux terroir. 70% Cabernet Sauvignon 26% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc. Black colour but quite a fresh floral nose. Good black fruit, not forced, well balanced. Elegant Margaux.
There are some attractive fragrances on the nose light and quite red fruited. The palate has a richer feel with sweet fruit in the middle but the firm tannins tend to hold the fruit back on the finish.
Beautifully expressed Margaux-Cabernet fruit, great richness and depth, deep silky texture, certainly worth its Second Growth status. Drink 2017-35.
Following decades of mediocrity, this property has finally produced a wine worthy of reviewing. A blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc, the 2010 (13.9% alcohol) possesses a dark purple color as well as a sweet bouquet of spring flowers, black currants, blueberries and damp earth. Medium-bodied, elegant and concentrated with more depth, richness and texture than other recent vintages, it will benefit from 6-8 years of cellaring and should drink well over the following two decades.
