En Primeur Bordeaux 2011

A strong effort from this property situated between Pontet-Canet and Mouton Rothschild, d’Armailhac’s blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot and the rest mostly Cabernet Franc and a touch of Petit Verdot was harvested between September 14-24. Its deep ruby color is accompanied by abundant aromas of black fruits, white chocolate, licorice and flowers. Medium-bodied, expressive, savory, pure and long with sweet tannins, it should drink well for 15+ years.

Score: 90 - 92 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate Maturity: 2012-2027

57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot. Dark velvety crimson. Cedary cassis and oak spice. Marked freshness, lightish on the palate, delicate, elegant and finishes fresh and lively. Finesse on the tannin front. (JH)

Score: 17 Jancis Robinson MW, Jancisrobinson.com Maturity: 2017-2028

Bright and racy, with pronounced acidity giving nice cut to the red currant, plum and cherry notes. A singed wood hint slides in on the finish, adding length and definition. Not massive, but pure and precise.

Score: 90 - 93 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator

The 2011 Chateau d’Armailhac is a blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Tasted on three occasions, it is has fine purity with black cherries and raspberry leaf, a less flamboyant d’Armailhac that usual at this early juncture. The palate is medium-bodied with a sappy, succulent entry that has fine tension. I appreciate the balance and substance of this d’Armailhac that shows impressive cohesion and a fine, chalky tannic frame towards the finish. This should turn out to be a respectable 2011. Tasted April 2012.

Score: 90 - 92 Neal Martin, erobertparker.com

Lovely expression of spicy, slightly exotic black fruits, beautiful lift of freshness and briary charm - a lovely wine for the medium term.

Score: 17 Decanter, Decanter.com Maturity: 2015-2025

The wine has a lovely softness to it with a chocolate, currant and blueberry character. Full body, with velvety tannins and juicy finish. Savory wine. 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot.

Score: 91 - 92 James Suckling, Jamessuckling.com

This is a solid, muscular, dense plum-colored wine with earthy cassis aromas as well as flavors. Medium to full-bodied, tannic and fresh, with a crisp profile, this husky Pauillac will require time. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2030.

Score: 89 - 91 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate Maturity: 2014-2030

Darkest cherry crimson. Restrained spicy dark fruit. Sweeter and more chocolatey on the palate, both in flavour and texture. Supple savour from the tannins. Harmonious in a restrained style. Refined tannins. Moreish finish. (JH)

Score: 16 - 17 Jancis Robinson MW, Jancisrobinson.com Maturity: 2018-2030

Dark plum, black currant and fig notes are melded together at the core, with ample tobacco and roasted wood spice hints starting to fill in along the edges. There's lots of singed wood on the finish, but also plenty of flesh and drive. A little bit old-school.

Score: 90 - 93 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator

This year, the 2011 is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon (the highest ever), 11% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc cropped at 38hl/ha between 14th and 26th September. During the growing season they had to undertake two green harvests and also sorted the crop twice. The nose is reticent at first and demands coaxing from the glass. It eventually reveals blackberry, cedar, a touch of oyster shell and just a very faint hint of orange blossom. It is nicely composed, although it does not have the bravura penetration of the 2010 or 2009. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins on the entry. It demonstrates fine weight and cohesion, good substance and depth of fruit whilst the finish is a little sinewy with touches of spice inflecting the blackberry and briary fruit. Fine and unashamedly very classic, as one would expect for Batailley. Tasted April 2012.

Score: 90 - 92 Neal Martin, erobertparker.com

Robust, rather earthy fruit, then a touch of violets to lift it and a hint of leather, good wine, good future.

Score: 16 - 17 Decanter, Decanter.com Maturity: 2015-2025

This is very fresh currants, minerals and graphite on the nose. Full-bodied, with fine tannins and a minty, light wood finish with pretty fruit. 11% Merlot, 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot.

Score: 89 - 90 James Suckling, Jamessuckling.com

The 2011 Carruades de Lafite is composed of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Soft berry fruit, underbrush, fresh herb and bay leaf characteristics as well as soft tannins, a velvety texture, and a medium-bodied, slightly superficial, but satisfying style suggest this 2011 should be consumed over the next 10-15 years.

Score: 87 - 89 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate Maturity: 2012-2027

55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, 3.5% Cabernet Franc, 2.5% Petit Verdot. Colour of elderberries with inky core. Lovely dark fragrance, pure, lightly spiced black fruit. Savoury and ripe but no sweetness at all to the fruit (that's not negative). Dense, dry, structured and upright but not stern or hard, just very masculine and still smooth. (JH)

Score: 17 Jancis Robinson MW, Jancisrobinson.com Maturity: 2019-2030

This has a richness that stands out for 2011, delivering roasted fig and plum flavors, with good smoldering tobacco and black tea notes, before the tangy damson plum and iron elements more typical of the vintage finally start to emerge on the finish. Tasted non-blind.

Score: 90 - 93 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator

A blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, 3.5% Cabernet Franc and 2.5% Petit Verdot, the Carruades has quite a voluminous bouquet, much more rounded thanks to that Merlot with blackberry, mulberry and sous-bois. The palate is much rounder and more forward that I was expected with soft, very supple tannins…this will be an approachable Carruades to drink for pleasure rather than intellectual return. Tasted April 2012.

Score: 87 - 89 Neal Martin, erobertparker.com

Fine ripe blackcurrant fruit that firms up on the palate. It is quite tannic but distinctive and elegant too.

Score: 17 Decanter, Decanter.com Maturity: 2016-2030

A wine with sweet tobacco and coffee character. Full body, with velvety tannins and a medium finish. The Petit Verdot comes out here with spices and hints of fresh herbs. Blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot 3.5% Cabernet Franc, and 2.5% Petit Verdot.

Score: 91 - 92 James Suckling, Jamessuckling.com

Administrator Philippe Dalhuin told me this property (100 acres) has 240 separate parcels, which must make the strategy of harvesting a nightmare. Composed of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and a dollop of Petit Verdot, the 2011 Clerc Milon is more tannic, tightly knit and structured than its sister chateau, d’Armailhac. With more acidity showing, it performed as if it had just come off malolactic fermentation. Possessing a dense color along with copious notes of new saddle leather, black currants, mocha and wood spice, it will require several years of bottle age, and should keep well for 15+ years.

Score: 89 - 91 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate Maturity: 2012-2027+

54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot, 1% Carmenère. Sweet, creamy, oaky, spicy nose, hint of coffee. Fresh and spicy on the palate too and a little cedary. Not the same freshness as the Armailhac, though it is fresh, but very silky tannins, seems you could almost drink it now. (JH)

Score: 16 - 17 Jancis Robinson MW, Jancisrobinson.com Maturity: 2016-2026

Displays a strong tobacco leaf edge from the start, along with smoke and singed balsam wood notes, all weaving around a core of dark plum and black cherry fruit. A touch firm in the end right now, but shows very good range.

Score: 90 - 93 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator

The 2011 Clerc-Milon, a blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 1% Carmenere and 1% Petit Verdot, has a lifted sorbet bouquet that usually seems more extravagant and precocious than d’Armailhac. The palate shows slightly higher acidity than the d’Armailhac (pH 3.65 compared to 3.75 for the d’Armailhac.). It is slightly pinched at the moment, very linear and strict with a little hardness on the finish that should soften with time. This will be more representative after bottling. Tasted April 2012.

Score: 88 - 90 Neal Martin, erobertparker.com

Firm deep colour and fine briary spice nose, very good depth, very Pauillac, full of character and potential complexity.

Score: 17 Decanter, Decanter.com Maturity: 2017-2030

This is a racy young wine with currants and blueberries on the nose and palate. Full and very silky with fine tannins and a balanced finish. A little muscular and lean. 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot, and 1% Carmenere.

Score: 91 - 92 James Suckling, Jamessuckling.com

Rich, deep crimson. Sweet black cherry and sweet char. Surprisingly dry on the palate after the richness of the nose. Powdery but dense tannins. Nice freshness. Lots of energy even with the rather dry tannins. (JH)

Score: 16 - 17 Jancis Robinson MW, Jancisrobinson.com Maturity: 2018-2030

Bold and spicy, with vivid anise, blackberry and linzer torte flavors and a hefty dose of roasted apple wood. Tarry finish is pretty solid. A surprise showing; have they cleaned things up here after the problematic 2008 and 2009?

Score: 89 - 92 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator

The Croizet-Bages has an introverted, rather gravelly bouquet that is clean but difficult to awaken. The palate is medium-bodied with pinched, rather dry chalky tannins and a slither of black fruit towards the finish. This just seems to lack substance more than anything although a second sample at the UGC offers up a chewy blackberry finish that might offer more after bottling. But it seems chunky and a little forced. Tasted April 2012.

Score: 83 - 85 Neal Martin, erobertparker.com

Good blackcurrant fruit and well-expressed Pauillac grip over the ripeness. Quite forward style.

Score: 16 Decanter, Decanter.com Maturity: 2014-2022