Chateau Duhart Milon 2009 Pauillac Grand Cru Classe

Chateau Duhart Milon 2009 Pauillac Grand Cru Classe

This 2009 Pauillac Grand Cru Classe from Chateau Duhart Milon is made from 63% Cabernet Sauvignon and 37% Merlot. A wine that reflects both the vintage's balance and the castle's impressive quality improvement in recent years. Classic Pauillac character with dense cassis and blueberry fruit, herbs and cedar. Precise and elegant style with fully ripe tannins and nice length on the palate.

Serving temperature: 16-18°C

PARKS (97)
A blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon and 37% Merlot, it displays an inky/blue/purple color as well as a big, sweet nose of creme de cassis, forest floor, licorice, lead pencil, cedar and subtle barrique aromas. Viscous and full-bodied, it is the most concentrated and broadest example of this cuvee I have tasted in over three decades. It will be ready to drink in 5-7 years and should last for three decades or more.

Consumers looking to maximize value should check out Duhart Milon as this may be the smartest buy of this amazing and historic vintage! Since few consumers other than Chinese billionaires can afford wines like Lafite Rothschild, it might be time for readers to take a look at Duhart Milon, which sells for less than Lafite's other wine. The Rothschilds have invested heavily in reviving this estate to near-superstar status, and the 2009 appears to be the finest Duhart I have ever tasted.

WINE SPECTATOR / JAMES SUCKLING (92)
This takes a meaty, fairly toasty approach, showing roasted plum and blackcurrant fruit, with a smoky mesquite note on the mulberry finish. There is more width than depth, but this has the latent minerality to last long in the cellar.

The beginning of the growing period was a mischievous size due to a rather hot and very wet spring, when it was necessary to keep a watchful eye on the vines. The good and stable weather returned in June and continued for the rest of the summer. During July, August and September, however, there were periods of light rain. Plenty of sunshine, high temperatures that were not unbearable, and cool nights resulted in slow ripening that pushed the harvest to late September. Extremely favorable weather conditions and sun during the harvest have created an excellent vintage.

About the Vinhuset:

Château Duhart-Millon, in the Médoc classification in 1855, was placed in the 4th Cru. The Rothschild family bought the castle in 1962 from the well-known Casteja family in Pauillac, and since then the Rothschild family has invested heavily in fields and cellars. The result is that the vines have reached a good age and everything is optimized.
The grounds of the castle are located on the western side of Château Lafite Rothschild, on a slope facing the Carruades plateau. The 71 hectares of vineyards are planted with 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc. A classic composition that gives wines with structure and durability.

Domaines Barons de Rothschild today owns Château Lafite Rothschild, which in the Médoc classification in 1855 was placed in the 1st Cru. In 1868, the castle was bought by Baron James de Rothschild and a new era in the castle's history began. Château Lafite Rothschild is still owned by the Rothschild family. The property covers an area of 100 ha, which has an annual production of 210 tonnes.

Alongside Château Lafite, the family also runs a large trading company in Bordeaux. Where they own several different châteaux and produce different wines, all of which are typical of Bordeaux and Lafite. Over time, the castle has expanded its holdings in both Bordeaux, the South of France and on other continents. They have thus acquired properties or entered into partnerships with wineries in Chile and Argentina. In the foreign companies, locals work together with the winemakers from Château Lafite to produce wines that are both typical for the individual area and for Lafite. In Pauillac, Lafite also has their own winery, where the oak barrels used for their barrel-aged wines come from.