The vintage
The very wet and cold winter caused a big delay in all the viticultural work; budburst was late, and flowering also 3 weeks later than the average for the last 50 years, in a capricious climate, which led to coulure and millerandage, heralding a smaller-than-usual harvest. Then at the end of June, the climate changed Brutalement and we moved into full summer, without transition, but with a strong local thunderstorm trend (on July 27 and August 2, according to Secteurs).
The situation became "sporting" from September 15 onwards: rain, sunshine, ripening that took a long time to achieve, even though some of the delay had been made up, then more delicate and risky when the "explosive" development of botrytis was noted at the end of September! So it was a race without a trial gallop, and a hunt for pickers to get in as quickly as possible. Fortunately, the sorting teams were very efficient, despite the difficulty of the harvest. The usual picking schedule for the red plots has been modified somewhat, depending on the impact of botrytis and the potential to make first or Second wine.
Situation
The Pauillac appellation is located on the Rive gauche of the Gironde estuary, around 40 km north of Bordeaux. Benefiting from the influence of the estuary and a great diversity of soils originating from the Massif Central and the Pyrenees, Pauillac combines exceptional climatic and geological conditions to produce great wines.
Terroir
The vineyards of Château Duhart-Milon extend almost in a single block on the west side of Château Lafite Rothschild, on the Milon hillside which extends the Carruades de Lafite plateau. The estate comprises 76 ha of vines. The soils are fine gravel mixed with Aeolian sands on a tertiary limestone subsoil.
Vinification
Château Duhart-Milon is made using traditional Bordeaux winemaking methods. The grapes are meticulously sorted and then, depending on their parcel of origin, placed in wooden, cement or stainless steel vats for alcoholic fermentation. Light pumping-over is carried out during fermentation to optimize Extraction. Total maceration time is approximately 20 days before racking. Following malolactic fermentation, the wines are filled into French oak barrels made by Tonnellerie des Domaines to Pauillac. The barrels are individually tasted in December to ensure a strict selection of the finest wines. Following this selection, the wine is blended and then filled into oak barrels (50% new wood).
Tasting
After a good airing, the aromatic complexity reveals itself with notes of red fruit. The structure on the palate continues right through to the finish, revealing its round, silky character. A wine for laying down, with excellent density.
To take advantage of the biggest discount, we encourage you to get together with your family, colleagues or friends so that you can easily reach the 24 bottles and benefit from a 15% discount.