Armailhac - Pauillac 2020

TASTED

94 / 100

par Andreas Larsson le 06/07/2021

Great purity and intensity, très Cabernet and très Pauillac with violet, crème de cassis, ripe dark fruit, fine spices, very mild oak underneath. The palate is sapid and fluid with great density, grainy fine tannin, a good sense of freshness both in terms of acidity and tannin with a long pure finish.

Le Figaro

94-96 / 100

le 02/06/2021

Un nez généreux et séduisant de mûre et de fruits noirs, à la fois frais et aérien. Une grande finesse, et toujours cette belle densité, ici plus athlétique que le rugbyman en smoking du passé, même s'il n'a pas quitté sa cravate. Un vin qui nous laisse sur une finale puissante et délicieusement saline.

Vinous

89-91 / 100

par Antonio Galloni le 01/06/2021

The 2020 d'Armailhac is bold, assertive and full of character. Inky red fruit, red plum, iron, gravel and incense all hit the palate. The tannins are a bit severe, but then again, that's Armailhac. The Cabernets seem especially expressive, in both the aromatics and the tannin structure. One of the recent developments here has been a move toward slightly longer élevage to complement fruit that is a bit more structured than in the past because of changes in farming. Tasted two times.

Jeb DUNNUCK

92-94 / 100

par Jeb Dunnuck le 28/05/2021

A blend of 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, hitting 13.2% alcohol, the 2020 Château D'Armailhac sports a vivid purple hue to go with beautiful cassis and blackberry fruits intermixed with lots of chalky minerality, toasty oak, graphite, and tobacco. It has the round, supple style of the vintage yet still brings ample tannic grip, solid mid-palate depth, and a great finish. It's beautifully done and should be drinkable with just 2-4 years of bottle age yet age just fine

Vinous

92-94 / 100

par Neal Martin le 27/05/2021

The 2020 d’Armailhac, raised in 50% new oak with a planned 17-month barrel maturation, is a little deeper in color compared to the Clerc Milon. I find more complexity on the nose of blackberry, briar, cedar and pencil box aromas, less extravagant than previous vintages and more terroir-driven, perhaps. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins that have a little more edge than the Clerc Milon, plus there is slightly more mineralité and depth. In particular, the finish is very harmonious and fans out wonderfully. This Château d’Armailhac is a splendid wine in the making, and one of the best examples from the estate that I have tasted out of barrel.

Decanter.com

93 / 100

par Jane Anson le 25/05/2021

A little austere on the opening beats. Carving out its place more clearly alongside its two Pauillac siblings, this has some excellent sappy dark fruits, plenty of tannins and power but also elegance and confidence. This Armailac is gorgeous, lovely mid palate dept, and plenty of juicy blueberry and bilberry fruit, with lift through the finish, 3% Petit Verdot completes the blend. 50% new oak. Harvest September 7 to 29. The new cellar with be finished for the 2021 harvest, but this one was made in the temporary cellar. I really like this, it has a floral edge, a juice and freshness and sense of elegance; a good two minutes after you have stopped tasting a wave of subtle smoke comes in - the after wash of a fine gravel terroir. 50% new oak, harvest from September 7 to 29 across the three estates.

The Wine Cellar Insider

92-94 / 100

par Jeff Leve le 21/05/2021

Juicy, spicy, supple and fresh, the wine is medium-bodied, refined, soft and polished, finishing with ripe, red and black currants, savory herbs, tobacco leaf and hints of spicy pepper on the backend. The wine blends 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot, 13.3% ABV. alcohol. 92-94

Wine Advocate

90-92 / 100

par Lisa Perrotti-Brown le 20/05/2021

Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2020 D'Armailhac strides confidently out of the glass with classic scents of cassis, warm plums and cedar chest, plus wafts of pencil lead, bay leaves and kirsch. The medium-bodied palate has a sturdy frame of chewy tannins and plenty of freshness to support the crunchy black and red fruits, finishing savory. The blend this year is 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot, with an alcohol of 13.3%.

Bettane & Desseauve

92 / 100

par Bettane & Desseauve le 12/05/2021

Anthocyanes

95-97 / 100

par Yohan Castaing le 11/05/2021

Un bouquet très frais, très gourmand avec des notes de fruits noirs, d'épices, de graphite, de mure et de cassis. Bel éclat de fruits noirs. Sur la droiture, l'allonge, très dense avec une fraicheur mentholée pour un d'Armailhac pur, net et très ciselé. Aérien en finale. Un domaine qui confirme son évolution stylistique vers plus de pureté et de précision. Un vin qui fera date