Château d'Armailhac 2020

The finesse and aromatic richness of a fine red wine from Pauillac

The estate

The origins of Château d’Armailhac date back to 1750. The vineyard was then called "Mouton d'Armailhacq". A Fifth Classified Growth of 1855, Château d’Armailhac shines bright in the appellation of Pauillac. It was in 1931 that the young Baron Philippe de Rothschild became a minority shareholder in the Mouton d'Armailhacq estate. Eventually, the château came under the full ownership of Baron Philippe de Rothschild. It was in 1989 that Baroness Philippine de Rothschild decided to restore the estate to its original name: Château d’Armailhac.

The vineyard

The Château d’Armailhac vineyard covers 70 hectares of vines north of the Pauillac appellation. The vines are planted in very stony gravel soils upon clay-limestone subsoils.

The vintage

A very mild winter and early spring favoured an early budding of the vines. The snowfall at the end of March did not impact the vineyards. Marked by temperatures above seasonal norms, the spring was also punctuated by abundant precipitation, especially at the beginning of May. From mid-May, hot and dry conditions significantly accelerated the vegetative cycle, with flowering taking place 12 days ahead of its usual date. While the month of June was characterised by great weather contrasts, the month of July was marked by heat waves and severe drought. The few rainy days in August activated veraison and resulted in a uniform development of the berries. Historically early, the 2020 harvest yielded fully ripe grapes in perfect sanitary condition. Despite lower yields than in recent vintages, the quality was exceptional, producing fresh, balanced and dense wines with powerful tannins and a beautiful finesse.

The blend

The Château D'Armailhac 2020 was made from a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (59%), Merlot (30%), Cabernet Franc (8%), Petit Verdot (3%).

The tasting

Colour

The wine displays a deep red colour with subtle purple reflections.

Nose

Full and expressive, the nose combines fragrances of black fruits with finely roasted nuances. During the tasting, the beautifully rich aromatic palette reveals notes of sour cherries and confectionery.

Palate

Rich and structured, the attack harmoniously expresses the perfect ripeness of the fruit. The palate seduces with its density, its aromas of blackcurrant and liquoice, as well as with its tannins of great finesse. Harmonious and persistent, the finish is marked by constant freshness.