Chateau D'Armailhac is a good starting point for those just starting to enjoy classified growth ("grand cru classe")Bordeaux.  If you buy it upon release, the price is about the same as many mid-level California Cabs (20-something dollars).  Many of the Bordeaux at this price point are of much lower quality.  The winery is owned by Barronne Philippine de Rothschild, who, of course, is the owner of the famed Chateau Mouton Rothschild (which sells for roughly 5 times the price of the D'Armailhac that we are reviewing).

Both vintages are ready to drink now.  The 2000 is better, but higher priced due to the higher quality of the vintage, and all the hoopla that surrounded the turn of the century.  The 2000 will probably last longer for those who want to cellar it.  It will probably hold up for at least 10 more years if stored properly.

The wine, in effect, is a miniature version of the more famous classified Bordeaux.  You won't confuse it with a Mouton, but it is still a delightful wine.  Plenty of smoky, wild herb, wild game aromatics, followed by a generally fruit driven,  fleshy, jammy wine with a nice finish.  The tannin can be a little harsh in some years (such as 2001), but it softens after a year or two.  In the better years (2000), the tannins seemed sweet from the very beginning.  Even for those with a nice collection of the most prized Bordeax, a bottle of the 2000 D'Armailhac will be a pleasure.  I give the 2000 vintage 3.5 stars, and the 2001 vintage 3 stars.

 

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