2005 d'Armailhac
Buying options
Tasting notes
Lots of spicy, tobacco, saddle leather, and ripe black (and red) fruits emerge from the 2005 Château D'Armailhac, a medium to full-bodied, focused Pauillac that has fine tannins, a supple, layered, precise mouthfeel, and a great finish. While it’s clearly drinking well, it is still slightly tight and compact on the palate, so don’t be afraid to give this some air if drinking any time soon. It should evolve gracefully over the coming 15-20 years if well stored.
Critic scores
Average Score
Wine Spectator
Robert Parker
More reviews and scores
Wild strawberries on the nose, this has high aromatics, gentle toast and cigar box, blond tobacco, undergrowth, the beginning of tertiary, extremely elegant, fine, and classic Armailhac at the time. Almost feels like we are in St Julien, and then the more powerful Pauillac tannins arrive. This is harmonious, with complexity and freshness, with the Cabernet Frnc giving salinity on the finish. Campfire smoke and soy start curling out after 30 minutes. 25% new oak. Jean-Paul Vezart winemaker at both Armailhac and Clerc Milon at the time.
The 2005 d'Armailhac is in a gorgeous spot today. Early signs of aromatic nuance have started to develop, but the 2005 has at least a handful of years of fine drinking ahead of it. Quite frankly, I am surprised how fresh the 2005 is. Dried flowers, cedar, mint, pipe tobacco and sweet red toned fruit are all very nicely delineated. Readers looking for an affordable, mature Claret to drink now will find much to like.
About the producer
Ch. d’Armailhac is a Pauillac Fifth Growth owned by the Rothschilds, who also own Ch. Mouton Rothschild. Lavished with the same attention to detail and having benefitted from extensive investment in recent years, this estate can offer brilliant value in comparison to its First Growth sibling.