Château d’Armailhac – 2003
Climatic conditionsAverage rainfall in January and February was followed by exceptionally mild weather in March. Temperatures 2.5° C higher than normal for the season enabled the vines to bud over a period entirely within the average for the last thirty years, and five days earlier than the average for the Cabernet Sauvignon (29 March).
The drought that began in February continued from April to June, with 37% less rainfall than the average for the last forty years. The conditions continued to favour the vegetation cycle and the first flowers were seen at the end of May, seven days early.
The August heatwave will long remain in the memory, with temperatures rising to as high as 40° C on 4 August. There was also much less rain than normal. Mid-veraison was noted on 29 July, 9 to 13 days earlier than the average.
Hot and dry weather in September as a whole allowed the phenolic compounds to mature slowly and gradually. Although there were some showers in the early part of the month, the crop was harvested in excellent condition.
Oenological sheet- Harvest
- 15 to 26 September
- Varietal mix
- Cabernet Sauvignon 65%
Merlot 20%
Cabernet Franc 12%
Petit Verdot 3%
The wine has an attractive, forthright red colour and a refined, fruity nose on which cherry aromas mingle with violet and tobacco.
Round on the palate, with plenty of body and heft, it wraps its already silky tannins around a host of succulent flavours (red fruit, caramel, liquorice, menthol, roast coffee) to make a richly aromatic whole.
The finish bursts with fruit, rounding off a complete, refined and well-structured wine that is both vigorous and seductive, embodying all the allure of a very fine d’Armailhac.
Descriptive sheet
