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Armailhac 2012

RegionBordeaux
Subregion France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > Pauillac
ColourRed
TypeStill
Grape VarietyCabernet Sauvignon

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Tasting Notes

Part of the empire of the Chateau Mouton Rothschild, this estate was once known as Mouton Baronne Philippe. This impressive, deep, opaque ruby/purple wine, with loads of charcoal, crème de cassis and a flowery-ness, this is rich, medium to full-bodied, beautifully textured, quite pure, and avoids any of the astringency or hollowness that some Médocs possess in this vintage. The wine is complete and finishes authoritatively. The tannins are there, but ripe, integrated and velvety. This is a very impressive d’Armailhac to drink over the next 20-25 years. Drink: 2015 - 2040.

91
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (218), April 2015

Tasted twice en primeur at Mouton-Rothschild. The Chateau d'Armailhac is a blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. The nose is rather muted at the moment - usually at this stage it is more flamboyant and vivacious. A second sample one week later (under low pressure) accentuated the aromatic leanness. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp tannins, controlled blackberry fruit infused with tobacco and graphite. It is harmonious and precise, although the fresh finish is missing just a little depth, with the Cabernet Franc imparting herbaceousness on the aftertaste. I hope this will muster more vigour and depth during élevage. Tasted April 2013.

86/88
Neal Martin, RobertParker.com, May 2013

This is very polished and refined with blackcurrant, raspberry and citrus-peel undertones. Full body, extremely fine texture and a long, long finish.

92
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, February 2015

Red cherry, raspberry puree, raspberry leaf and tobacco, more evolved than many of the 2012 classifieds. This is good quality, open and generous. These were the years when Armailhac was still being made to be the younger sibling of Mouton, reflecting its lighter soils but more importantly its winemaking choices. Extremely mouthwatering, with a skip in its step. Charming, and easy to recommend, in a sweet spot to open.

91
Jane Anson, JaneAnson.com, March 2022

Heady and fragrant. No trace of underripeness on the nose but a slight lack of generosity on the palate. Peppery! (Unusual.) Dry and neat but not scrawny. Lots of complexity and pleasure with the bracing signature of the vintage only on the very end. This has some St-Estèphe minerally notes on the finish. An attractive whole with a cool, confident finish.

17
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, April 2013

Even in a lighter vintage, this is still a crowd-pleasing wine, with sweet coffee bean and
mocha oak, abundant rose petal perfume and leafy, refreshing fruit flavours. We're in Loire
Cabernet Franc meets the Médoc territory here, with good minerality and appealing green
pepper and cut grass notes.
Drink: 2020-28

92
Tim Atkin MW, timatkin.com, April 2013
Read more tasting notes...

A stronger effort than its stablemate, Clerc-Milon, the 2012 d'Armailhac is an intriguing blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. Complex notes of menthol, coffee beans, black cherries and black currants are followed by a rich, medium-bodied wine with copious tannin as well as sufficient fat and flesh to cover the structure. The harvest took place during the first ten days of October, most of the grapes being brought in prior to the deluge that began on October 7 and lasted until October 9. This excellent Pauillac is a successful Medoc in this challenging vintage for this region.

89/91
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (206), April 2013
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.