Château d’Armailhac 2022 Pauillac 5e Grand Cru Classé

James Suckling
(96-97)/100 punten
This is like a baby Mouton this year with blackcurrant, flower, and orange aromas. Medium- to full-bodied with a tight and racy palate that shows persistence and verve. One to watch.

Decanter
95/100 punten
Strongly scented and perfumed on the nose, dark fruits, lively and lithe, supple and smooth on the palate, richly concentrated in terms of fruit density but sleek and stylish on the palate with a burst of bright and fresh blackcurrants and black cherries. Has a tang to it, the acidity and liveliness fills the mid palate before the stony tannins come in towards the end and give this bite and focus. More tense and streamlined than Clerc Milon, but so poised and finessed. This has bite and tension, the Cabernet speaks with liquorice, tobacco and clove subtly giving the spice at the end, but also a fresh mintiness. You can taste the gravel and the clay, putting the terroir in the glass. Really quite profound with concentrated fruit, juiciness and mouthwatering acidity. Fresh and lifted on the finish, you want more of this, but it will take some time to be more charming given its serious nature right now. One to wait for and be glad you did. 3.83pH. 11.3% press wine - usually at 7-8% maximum. 2% Petit Verdot completes the blend. HVE3 certified. Tasted twice. 50% new barrels.

Jeb Dunnuck
(94-96)/100 punten
Another wine that showed beautifully on multiple occasions, the 2022 Château D'Armailhac checks in as 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot. This deep purple-hued beauty offers up a full-bodied, ripe, sexy profile that carries lots of blueberry, cherry, and cassis fruit, notes of spice, leafy herbs, and chocolate, velvety tannins, good acidity, and a great finish. It should have a broad, lengthy drink window.

Falstaff
95/100 punten
Deep ruby colour, opaque core, purple reflections. Inviting black wild berries, cherries, somewhat shy bouquet, subtle touch of fine oak. Juicy, black cherries, mineral texture, fine acidity, delicately spiced thanks to the Cabernet Franc component, some nougat. Nice length, good ageing potential.

The Wine Independent (Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW)
(93-95)/100 punten
The 2022 d'Armailhac is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple in color, it slowly emerges from the glass with evocative blueberry pie, black raspberries, and warm cassis scents, giving way to hints of pencil lead, lilacs, and underbrush. The full-bodied palate delivers taut, muscular black fruit with beautifully rounded tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing long and spicy. This year represents a real step up. pH 3.83, TPI 75.

Jeff Leve (The Wine Cellar Insider)
(93-95)/100 punten
Black fruits, flowers, smoke Asian spice and tobacco leaf nuances mark the perfume, while the palate is awash in luxurious, plums, currants, licorice, black cherries and cocoa. Lush, plush and polished, with a long, creamy, mint-stained finish, this is going to age quite nicely. The wine blends 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot. 14.5% ABV, 3.83 pH. 

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
(92-94)/100 punten
Deep aromas of raspberries, cherries, crushed mint and spices preface the 2022 d'Armailhac, a medium to full-bodied, layered and concentrated wine that's deep, lively and seamless, framed by powdery tannins and concluding with a penetrating finish.

Jancis Robinson
17/20 punten
Expressive Cabernet nose. Juicy fruit on the palate. A little more power than in some years, the tannins ripe but firm. Plenty of lift and length on the finish. Gourmand as well.

Neal Martin (Vinous)
(93-95)/100 punten
This has a very pure and sensual bouquet with precocious black plum, cassis violet and espresso scents. The palate is medium-bodied with muscular tannins on the entry, though I find just a little more complexity compared to the Clerc Milon this year. There's a gentle and discrete crescendo toward its delineated and minerally finish. Excellent. It will surely be irresistible once it reaches its peak. You've been warned.