The 2001 d’Armailhac is immediately more impressive on the nose compared to the 2000, offering darker and more vibrant, blacker fruit compared to the previous vintage. There is more fruit concentration and much more intensity. The medium-bodied palate features sappy black fruit laced with seaweed and orange peel. A lovely underlying saline edge lends tension toward the finish. This d’Armailhac is maturing beautifully and clearly has the upper hand over its millennial counterpart.

Medium deep ruby/purple-colored with a sweet perfume of cedar wood, chocolate, oak, and black currants, this medium-bodied, attractive, soft Pauillac is ideal for drinking now and over the next 12-13 years.

Ruby-red. Musky aromas of red- and blackcurrant, tobacco, lead pencil and exotic oak. Leanish, pure and firm, with a fruity merlot quality and an element of fresh herbs. Rather closed today, even a bit rigid, with the wine's acid spine more noticeable than its firm but ripe tannins.

Very, very deep purple. Something very warm and brûlée on the nose. Big, smooth impact concentrated on the front of the palate, but tannins are not quite ripe. Quite chunky at the end. Relatively low acidity. (JR)