Château d'Armailhac - Pauillac 2017 4df5d4d9d819b397555d03cedf085f48

Wine Advocate

92 / 100

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe3/17/2020

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. Drinking Window : 2021 - 2037. 92+

Vinous

89 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe3/11/2020

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.

Wine Spectator

94 / 100

byJames Molesworththe2/7/2020

Dark in profile but very fresh, with a racy beam of black currant and black cherry fruit that bristles with energy, flanked by a well-honed graphite edge and backed by sweet tobacco and singed alder notes throughout. A crackling Pauillac that's built for the cellar. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2023 through 2038. — JM

Jamessuckling.com

94 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe1/13/2020

Lots of chocolate and berry aromas with currants. Full-bodied, round and juicy with hints of blueberries and white pepper. Long and flavorful. Firm. A blend of 68% cabernet sauvignon, 22% merlot, 7% cabernet franc and 3% petit verdot. Needs another two or three years to soften. Better after 2022.

Le Point

15 / 20

byJacques Dupontthe6/20/2018

Fruits noirs, notion de maturité, tanins fermes, vifs, bouche stricte, très droite, demi-corps.

Jeb DUNNUCK

91-93 / 100

byJeb Dunnuckthe6/12/2018

The 2017 Château d'Armailhac is an undeniable success in the vintage. Based on a rough blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot that will see 35% new French oak, this medium to full-bodied, textured, shockingly opulent 2017 offers of terrific notes of black cherries, blackberries, spice box, and earth. With its impressive depth and density, it should drink nicely in its youth yet also cruise in the cellar.

WeinWisser

17,5 / 20

byRené Gabrielthe5/31/2018

Dichtes Purpurgra-nat mit fila Rand. Süsses schwarzes Johannisbeerbouquet mit Heidelbeerge-lee und Lakritze, dahinter ein zarter ver-führerischer Vanilletouch. Am Gaumen mit engmaschigem Tanningerüst und feinmehligem Extrakt. Zeigt jetzt schon eine schbne Balance. lm aromatischen Finale eine Explosion von blauen Beeren, frischem schwarzem tasmanischem Bergpfeffer und Holunderessenz. Gut ge-

macht!                           
17.5/20 2025 - 2045

Vinifera

90-92 / 100

byJacques Perrinthe5/28/2018

Derrière le bois, on retrouve le côté myrtille du cru et des notes de zan-graphite. C’est un vin complet, fruité et épicé, garni mais allongé, ne manquant pas de chair jusqu’en finale.

Vinous

87-90 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe5/15/2018

The 2017 d'Armailhac is soft, open-knit and fruity, with plenty of luscious fruit and considerable near-term appeal. Gentle contours, silky tannins and lifted aromatics add to the wine's appeal. Because of the late-season rains and their negative effect on Merlot, the 2017 has the highest percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon (68%) since records exist, with the exception of the 2002. "After the frost, which did not really affect us, the major challenge in 2017 was heat stress," Mouton Technical Director Philippe Dhalluin told me. "We had no rain until the end of June. Then, in September, when we needed a bit of rain again, we got more than double what would have been optimal. The September rain affected the Merlot and Cabernet Franc, while the Cabernet Sauvignon was able to take advantage of the last 15 days of the growing season, which were much more favorable. In the cellar, we opted for longer macerations at lower temperatures, as we wanted to avoid extracting the type of hard tannins that mark other vintages with very dry summers, such as 2011."

The Wine Cellar Insider

91-93 / 100

byJeff Levethe5/11/2018

The opening act is black fruit, juicy plums, smoke and just a tip of licorice in the background. Intermission finds soft, fresh, sweet blackberries while a salty minerality lingers in the wings. The wine is a blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. The harvest took place from September 6 to September 29.

Vinous

90-92 / 100

byNeal Martinthe5/1/2018

The 2017 d’Armailhac has an opulent bouquet despite this comprising one of the highest percentages of Cabernet Sauvignon ever, which Philippe Dhalluin attributes to the maturity of the berries. There is some lovely cassis and blueberry fruit here with a smear of vanilla. The palate is structured with fine tannin, here the Cabernets are much more expressive with a fine bead of acidity, an attractive pencil lead tincture coming through towards the finish. This is a more floral d’Armailhac that will drink well for the next decades. [Readers should note that my sample included 60% new oak although the final blend will be 40%.] Tasted three times with consistent notes.

Wine Advocate

90-92 / 100

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe4/27/2018

A blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot, the 2017 D'Armailhac is deep garnet-purple in color and very open on the nose with expressive notes of crushed black cherries, black raspberries and cassis with hints of baking spices, lavender and wood smoke. The palate is medium-bodied with a great core of vibrant red and black fruits, ripe, grainy tannins and superb freshness, finishing long and minerally.

Decanter.com

91 / 100

byJane Ansonthe4/25/2018

The dry conditions in the summer hurt the Merlots in many areas, and consequently many wines have a higher level of Cabernet. Here, they have used the highest percentage in Armailhac since 2002. There's great energy to the pretty dark fruit; it's not fleshy but it has a lovely sense of direction with concentration and beautiful extraction. Fine tannins lend good grip through the palate. The drought rather than the frost impacted yields here, but only to 40hl/ha. Harvested 6-29 September. 40% new oak. All blends at Mouton completed by 1 December, the earliest ever.

Drinking Window 2025 - 2038

Jean-Marc QUARIN

16 / 20

byJean-Marc Quarinthe4/17/2018

Wine Enthusiast

91-93 / 100

byRoger Vossthe4/17/2018

This is a structured wine with ample fruit notes. Swathes of blackberry and delicious, juicy acidity come together with the dry core on the palate. In a style that will age quickly, it is already showing a ripe, generous character.

Jamessuckling.com

93-94 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/6/2018

Opulent and powerful for d’Armailhac with blackcurrants, blackberries and black olives. Full-bodied, tannic and extremely muscular. Very well done indeed.

Wine Spectator

90-93 / 100

byJames Molesworththe4/4/2018

Juicy and forward, with anise-tinged plum and cherry fruit backed by a light brambly structure. A lingering chalk echo adds length. This delivers nice latent depth.—J.M.