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2003 d'Armailhac

2003 d'Armailhac

91 JS

Featured Review
Very fruity with strawberry and currants on the nose. Full bodied, with silky tannins and a long, fruity finish. Notes of toasted oak and spice develop on the palate, but this still needs some bottle age. Pull the cork after 2013. James Suckling

James Suckling | 91 JS

Critic Reviews

Very fruity with strawberry and currants on the nose. Full bodied, with silky tannins and a long, fruity finish. Notes of toasted oak and spice develop on the palate, but this still needs some bottle age. Pull the cork after 2013.

James Suckling | 91 JS
Loads of currant, berry and light toasted oak on the nose with hints of milk chocolate. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a medium-long finish. Thick texture. Nicely crafted and balanced. Best after 2011. 15,000 cases made.

Wine Spectator | 91 WS
The deep ruby/purple-hued 2003 d’Armailhac exhibits notes of Asian plum sauce interwoven with creme de cassis, licorice, and roasted herbs. With moderately high yet sweet tannin, an earthy character, and chewy, muscular, deep fruit as well as medium to full body, it should be drunk between 2008-2019.

Robert Parker | 90 RP

Wine Details for 2003 d'Armailhac

Type of Wine Bordeaux Red : Picture in your mind a combination of cedar, lead pencil, blackcurrant, plum and mineral aromatics, and texture that caresses your palate like a playful lover. The experience is thrilling from the first whiff to the final seconds of a tannic, generous finish - that is what you'll get from a Bordeaux Red
Varietal Bordeaux Blend
Country France : Wine is the lifeblood that courses through the country of France, pulsing with vigorous pride and determination. Viticulture is not just a hobby or an occupation in France; it is a passion, a cherished tradition that has been passed down through generations of wine stained hands. Winemaking is a beloved art that has been ingrained in the culture, an aptitude instilled in sons by fathers and the hallmark for which France’s reputation was built, allowing it to be renowned as, arguably, the most important wine producing country in the world.



For centuries, France has been producing wines of superior quality and in much greater quantity than any other country in the world. It boasts some of the most impressive wine regions, coveted vineyards and prestigious wines on earth. The regions of Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone, Sauternes and Champagne have become the benchmark, for which others aspire to become. Legendary producers such as Chateaux Margaux, Domaine De La Romanee Conti, Chapoutier, d’Yquem and Dom Perignon are idolized world-wide.



France has stamped its name on nearly every style of wine, from the nectar-like sweet Sauternes to hedonistic Chateauneuf Du Papes classic Bordeaux and Burgundy, to its sparkling dominance in Champagne. Many of the most infamous grape varietals in the world, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay originated in France and are not only beloved, but utilized in the creation of some of the greatest wines on earth. French wine production commands the attention of the wine market year after year. With over 860,000 hectares under vine, and numbers close to 50 million hectoliters of wine produced annually, France dominates the market and sets the standard for not only product quality, but also quantity.



France’s many contributions to the world of wine have been absolutely indispensable. The country is the originator of the term “Premier Cru,” coined the term Terroir (a French term so complex there is no literal translation) and has laid the blueprint for a structured appellation system, which others have implemented in their own countries. French vineyard techniques and winemaking practices are mimicked world-wide. California vintners have been replicating Rhone style wines for decades, South America has adopted the French varietal of Malbec and countries around the world are imitating Burgundian styled Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.



With vast diversity in terroir, France is home to some of the most hospitable winegrowing locations on earth. The combination of topography, geology, climate, rainfall and even the amount of sunlight combined with the long historical tradition of winegrowing and making, has allowed the vintners of France to not only hone their skills, but learn from nature to create a product that like the world in which it resides… is very much alive.


Overview

Producer D'Armailhac : Once upon a time Chateau d’Armailhac was part of the massive vineyards that we know of today as Chateau Mouton Rothschild. The individuals responsible for this massive overhaul of land were the d’Armailhacq brothers who starting buying up land in the late 1600’s. They earned their fortune as riverboat captains, sailing the Gironde estuary. Once they had a sizeable amount set aside, they began looking for land in Pauillac.

Their venture came to fruition and by 1740 the wine was being sold under the name Mouton d’Armailhacq but unlike its neighbors from the appellation, they were not as popular as Chateau Pontet Canet, or Chateau Brane Mouton (which eventually became Mouton Rothschild).

When the brothers began building the chateau, it was clear that they had run out of funds. Ten years after the construction began, it finally came to a grinding halt and to this day, is still unfinished (which is unexplained but may now be an ongoing tradition to leave it incomplete). They ended up having to sell a portion of their estate to satisfy their debt.

They would end up selling the entire estate to the Ferrand family in 1934, who in turn sold it to the young and soon-to-be-famous Baron Rothschild. Given the proximity of the estate in relation to Chateau Mouton Rothschild, this was an important acquisition for the family in helping to acquire additional holdings. The baron changed the name to d’Armailhac, removing the “q” from the brother’s last name.

The Left Bank, Fifth Growth property has a total of 70 hectares under vine and is planted to 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. As you would expect from Pauillac, the terroir if fabulously constructed with gravel, sand, clay and limestone. On average, the vines are 50 years old, however it is important to note that some of the oldest vines in the Medoc are at Chateau d’Armailhac dating back 130 years.

In the best vintages, d’Armailhac can age gracefully for 10-25 years. There is an annual production of 18,000 cases. Every facet in the history of Chateau d’Armailhac has played a major role in the shaping of the estate. Each family has helped to make this an extraordinary chateau with a wonderful story.

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