History
In 1680 there was records for two brothers
Dominique and Guilhem Armailhacq who owned parcels of land in Pauillac. In 1750
there was another register for Dominique who planted vines in his family
estate, covering 15-16 hectares.
In late 18th century the
vineyard was generally called Mouton d’Armailhacq, spanning 52 hectares between
Brane-Mouton in the north and Pibran in the south. Because of using techniques
like topping-up, running-off, barrel disinfection and fining, the wines from
Mouton d’Armailhacq were selling twice as much as neighboring estates.
In 1844 Madame Darmailhacq had to sell the
estate because of debt. The estate was classified a fifth growth in the 1855
ranking, and Armand d’Armailhac published a learned treatise on vinegrowing and
winemaking in the Medoc.
In 1878 Comte Adrien de Ferrand, son-in-law
of Armailhacq, acquired the estate. By 1930 the estate was weakened because of
a series of mildew, phylloxera, over-production, wars. Comte de Ferrand decided
to create a company in 1931 and young Baron Philippe de Rothschild became a
minor shareholder, who in 1933 acquired all the shares to become the effective
owner.
In 1956 the estate was renamed Mouton Baron
Philippe, and then Mouton Baronne Philippe until vintage 1988. In 1989 Baroness
Philippine decided to restore its original identity and rename it d’Armailhac.
Vineyards
The estate covers 70 hectares in the
northern part of Pauillac, on the extension of the plateau of Carruades de
Mouton, with light and very deep gravelly soil resting on a clay-limestone
sub-soil. The vineyard is planted with 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 10%
Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot, with average vine age of 46 years.
Planting density is high at 10,000 vines
per hectare, with each vinegrower responsible for a particular parcel, plus
regular earthing up, ploughing back and screefing to aerate the soils. Key
decision of when to harvest is prepared by analytical and research laboratory,
which also monitors Chateau Mouton Rothschild, with daily verification on grape
ripeness parcel by parcel.
Picking is carried out entirely by hand,
with each variety of grape taken from each parcel to the vat room separately. The
grapes are entirely destemmed. Vinification methods are adjusted to suit each
vintage according to the characteristics of each vatting, with 23 stainless
steel vats for fermentation.
The wines are matured in 25% new barrels
for 18 months, with the rest coming from the grand chai of Chateau Mouton
Rothschild. The wines are run off every three months until fining with
egg-white in the traditional manner.
I have recently tasted the 2000 vintage and
below is my tasting note:
Appearance
Bright
and clear, it has medium ruby color, with garnet rims and legs.
Nose
Clean, with
medium (+) intensity aromas of black fruit of cassis and plum, oak notes of cedar,
kernel notes of dark chocolate and coffee, herbaceous notes of yellow bell
pepper, maturity notes of cigar box, animal notes of meaty. The wine is
developing.
Palate
Dry with
medium acidity, the wine has medium tannin of ripe and silky in texture, medium
alcohol and medium (+) body, demonstrating medium (+) intensity of flavors
including black fruit of blackberry and plum, herbal notes of five spices, oak
notes of cedar, kernel notes of coffee. The wine has a medium finish.
Conclusion
Good quality Pauillac with an intense nose of good complexity, the
wine has elegance and structure, a good representation of the commune, with the
tannin already mellow to the degree it is well-integrated. With also good
concentration, it has reasonable length on the finish. A nice wine which is
ready to drink now, it can still maintain for another 2-3 years.
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