Corvina Blend. Dark ruby. Even fresher nose(strawberries, violets and floral) with good ripeness(candies and cinnamon). There are also tones of coffee and vanilla. Not as developed as in 2017(in terms of liquorice and spices). It is elegant and refined, still dense and more refreshing. Like 2017, the body seems light by Amarone standard, but it is full-bodied as a glass of red wine and tastes severe too. With not so much depth for now and is undoubtedly to develop even more, this 2018 displays more but like 2017, this new vintage has some ageing potential and can broaden the appeal of this iconic wine in the red-wine-biased Hong Kong market—the wine aged in oak for 24 months. Tasting is based on 1-hour full-decanting. This new vintage 2018 has an excellent score-96 from Luca Maroni. It is as good as 2017 and 2016, albeit differently, if not better.
Deep ruby with a tight rim. Composed of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, d'Armailhac usually starts slowly with fresh and classic fruit with decent complexity, then gets into its stride, and this applies to this warm 2015. Because part of the Chateau is on sandy soil, Armailhac tannins are more accessible, acceptable and softened in the glass, and it often seems so refined even when young. James Suckling writes on the balance( in the good sense) of the intermix of primary dark berries), secondary (walnut and coffee) and tertiary(leather, wet earth) tones. The texture is nice(round, ample, but soft tannins). Antonio Galoni at Vinous echoed this 'seamless integration', contrasting red fruit(cherry, pomegranate, orange, though. Wine Spectator reflects on 'the core of plum and black currant fruit coiled up while tobacco and violet details fill in... pretty, fine-edged chalky spine holds the finish'.
RP drums on the different beats: dry flowers, blueberries, grainy tannins(he wrote the notes about the bottle in 2018, though) and freshness. Wine Enthusiast also discusses fresh, crisp, bright black fruit and texture. These two writers commend the potential mileage of the bottle.
Overall, scores, tastings and comments are consistent, hence a safe buy—Lightish for Cru standard, enjoyable and likeable. Updated scores are JS93, V93, RP92, WS92.
