Château d'Armailhac, 5ème Cru Classé, Pauillac, 2017

Jean-Emmanuel Danjoy, the supremely talented Technical Director responsible for Baron Philippe de Rothschild's three Bordeaux chateaux has crafted an exquisite range of wines, which marry generous, textural fruit with gloriously precise aromatics and velvety tannins. Procured from 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot and incorporating 13% press wines, the 2023 d'Armailhac is the most sophisticated and attractive example we can recall tasting from this Pauillac estate. Precise and finely detailed with a lovely floral bouquet and clear, bright cherry notes - this is packed with generous, pixilated fruit. There's a fleshiness to the bright and lacy mid-palate, garlanded by fine, smooth tannins and full of salty detail. Excellent!