2017 d'Armailhac
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Tasting notes
Tasted blind. Deep ruby colour. Enticing blueberry sweetness on the nose. Juicy and pure with fresh blackcurrant. Good energy from bright acidity that is well managed. All summer fruits and vanilla bean on a moreish finish. (TP)
Critic scores
Average Score
James Suckling
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
The 2017 d'Armailhac is juicy, luscious and super appealing. Sweet red cherry, red plum, cedar, tobacco and licorice are all pushed forward in a racy, mid-weight Pauillac that will drink well right out of the gate.
Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 D'Armailhac comes bounding out of the glass with bold notions of baked plums, redcurrant jelly and crème de cassis plus wafts of violets, dark chocolate and fragrant earth. Medium-bodied, the palate bursts with energetic red and black fruits, framed by ripe, grainy tannins and oodles of freshness, finishing long and vibrant.
The 2017 d’Armailhac, which was bottled in June 2019, has an attractive bouquet with blackberry and bilberry fruit. The oak is nicely integrated, maybe a little conservative compared to other vintages though that is in keeping with the style of the year. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannin, a little "angular" perhaps, with a fine bead of acidity and touches of iron-tinged red fruit on the finish. Probably an earlier drinking d’Armailhac, but one with plenty of character.
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.