| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > Pauillac |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
This impressive Pauillac is performing even better from bottle than it did from barrel. Made by the staff at Mouton Rothschild, it is a blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Merlot and Cabernet Franc. A dense ruby/purple color is followed by a bouquet of grilled meats, subtle herbs, coffee, black currants, and a hint of camphor. The sweetness of the tannins, full-bodied mouthfeel, and stunning length, all in gorgeous symmetry, suggest this is one of the finest d'Armailhacs yet made. Moreover, it is still reasonably priced by the standards of this region. Anticipated maturity: now-2025.
The 2006 Château d'Armailhac has a feisty bouquet with tobacco and sage-infused red berry fruit that seem open for business, unlike some of the other 2006 Pauillac wines. The palate is medium-bodied with fine, quite supple tannin. There is good weight in the mouth with mint-infused blackberry fruit, fine structure with admirable precision on the finish. All it lacks is the persistence of some of its peers, yet it still constitutes a very fine Pauillac that I probably under-rated out of barrel. Tasted January 2016.
Lovely licorice and currant aromas follow through to a medium- to full-bodied palate, with fine tannins and a soft, fruity finish. Nicely done for the vintage.
64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot.
First note: Very much lighter purplish crimson than Clerc Milon. Light, very aromatic with a hint of wood shavings and some quite notable ripeness. Warm, round fruit on the front palate - very suavely handled though not at all intense. Lightweight but very well balanced. Pretty wine for early consumption. No greenness just a lack of concentration. Rather inky on the finish.
Second note (blind): Mid crimson. Nice aromatic lift. If you had to construct a completely typical middle of the road left bank 2006 this would be it. Not the most exciting and with a little noticeable acidity but very creditable - just a little tiring on the finish. Too green really for comfort on the finish if one is able to look at it objectively…
Bright red-ruby. Raspberry, mocha and coffee aromas perked up by pepper, tobacco leaf and fresh herbs. Silky on entry, then suave and refined in the middle palate, with perfumed flavors of redcurrant, leather and peppery herbs. Finishes subtle and persistent, with fine-grained tannins. A very refined claret: this has turned out very well.
The dark ruby/purple-hued, mid-weight, elegant 2006 possesses sweet tannin as well as abundant concentration. A blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and a dollop of Petit Verdot, it is an elegant, refreshing wine offering good purity as well as the potential to keep for 10-15 years.
Tasted at Mouton Rothschild. Sample from two different bottles, the first a little blowsy and lacking vigour (86/100) but the second more representative. There is a tangible sandy element on the nose, quite tertiary although lacking a little definition. The palate is low-key on the entry, with a savoury note coming through. Some spicy black fruits, Morello and a touch of liquorish. Moderate length. A tad disjointed at the moment, but approachable and enjoyable if not profound. Tasted April 2007.
Red-ruby. Dusty aromas of medicinal dark fruits and flowers. Sweet, spicy and perfumed in the mouth, with currant fruit lifted by violet and complicated by a leathery note. Juicy but a bit youthfully tough, with the firm tannins currently cutting off the wine's fruit. With its sound acid/tannin spine, this will need at least five or six years of cellaring.
