Château d'Armailhac - Pauillac 2012

Wine Advocate

91 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/30/2015

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

Jamessuckling.com

92 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe2/15/2015

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

Wine Spectator

89 / 100

byJames Molesworththe2/10/2015

There's a lightly dusty, singed sandalwood feel to this red, with plum and blackberry fruit laced with toasted vanilla and loam hints. Features a light twinge of plum skin on the finish but remains approachable overall, presenting a lingering tobacco whiff. Drink now through 2021. –JM

Jancis Robinson

17 / 20

byJulia Harding MWthe10/23/2014

Cedary and deep-fruited with a savoury meaty note. Lots going on. Firm yet juicy. Full of life and with fresh cedary finish. The structure is delicate and well managed. (JH)
Drink 2020-2032

timatkin.com

92 / 100

byTim Atkin MWthe6/30/2013

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

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

88-91 / 100

byIan D'Agatathe6/30/2013

(54% cabernet sauvignon, 29% merlot, 14% cabernet franc and 3% petit verdot): Good medium ruby-red. Enticing, pure aromas of blackcurrant, raspberry, red licorice, violet and crushed stone on the knockout nose. Fresh, dense and suave; a step up in intensity from most Pauillacs in this vintage, with brisk acidity framing the perfumed flavors of dark berries, sweet spices and minerals. Finishes very long and smooth, with sneaky aromatic persistence. As usual, Armailhac is heavily dominated on the nose by its cabernet franc component, giving it amazingly refined violet and cocoa aromas. If you are surprised by the 3% petit verdot in a vintage characterized by a very wet late season (which is normally when the late-ripening petit verdot needs sunlight and warmth), the 18-year-old petit verdot vines at Armailhac are of particularly high quality, according to general director Philippe Dhalluin. "Petit verdot likes to have its head in the sun and its feet in the water," said Dhalluin. "The best vines we own are located in the Behère area at the southwestern tip of our estate near the river, so these vines have lots of heat and water, which allowed them to weather the difficult conditions of 2012." Superb wine in the making.

Le Point

15 / 100

byJacques Dupontthe5/16/2013

Fruits noirs, bouche biscuit, fruits noirs, mûre, orangette, assez marquée bois, finale mentholée et gelée de fruits rouges. Tanins plus souples qu'autrefois. O= 2017 G = 12 ans

Wine Advocate

86-88 / 100

byNeal Martinthe5/2/2013

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.

Wine Spectator

90-93 / 100

byJames Molesworththe4/30/2013

Features a solid core of anise and plum, with a briary frame and light tobacco shading that should emerge with time. Shows good substance and weight. Tasted non-blind. —J.M.

matthewjukes.com

18 / 20

byMatthew Jukesthe4/30/2013

With masses of juicy fruit stuffed into this elegant wine this is a delicious creation from the top drawer.

Wine Advocate

89-91 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/26/2013

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.

The Wine Cellar Insider

89-91 / 100

byJeff Levethe4/26/2013

From a blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot, the wine reached 13.4% alcohol. Tobacco, stone, pepper and black cherry notes open to a soft, forward, medium-bodied Pauillac that ends with fresh black plums. 89-91 Pts

Jean-Marc QUARIN

15,75 / 20

byJean-Marc Quarinthe4/25/2013

Couleur sombre, intense et belle. Nez fin, fruité, frais et floral. Suave en entrée de bouche, le vin se développe parfumé avec une bonne présence au milieu, du goût et une évolution tannique savoureuse et noble. C’est délicieux et plus gras que de coutume. Bonne longueur.

My Bettane + Desseauve

16,5-17 / 20

the4/25/2013

Fraise des bois et suie au nez, maturité plus prune-pruneau, léger assèchement de tannin sur cet échantillon, infirmé par d’autres d’une délicatesse de tannin rare !

Jancis Robinson

17 / 20

byJancis Robinsonthe4/24/2013

Drink 2022-2037
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.

Decanter.com

17 / 20

bySteven Spurrierthe4/22/2013

Elegant, slightly spicy fruit with good vineyard ripeness and grip, good future. 17/20pts ( 90/100pts)
Drink: 2016 - 2030

Jamessuckling.com

90-91 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/4/2013

This is a very attractive young wine. Medium-to-full body, with creamy tannins and a fresh finish. Refined for the vintage. 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot.