Two d'Armailhacs and a revelation....

[JimHow]

I ordered two d'Armailhacs with meals over my vacation, a 1990 at La Tour d'Argent in Paris and a 2016 at a nice little French bistro in Bangkok. The 1990 d'Armailhac was a perfect match with le canard in Paris, stellar, still youthful, no signs of aging at all in the color, but complex, fresh, beautifully Pauillac. I've loved this wine the 3-4 times I've had it over the years, including, as I've mentioned here before, a poignantly beautiful bottle we had up in Eastport, Maine, overlooking Campobello Island, the night Princess Diana was killed.

The 2016 d'Armailhac with ribeye in Bangkok was quite brooding, pretty hard to coax open during dinner, still a baby. It is clearly going to be a great 2016 but is going to need at least 20 years under its belt to start revealing its stuff.

I've enjoyed a lot of my wines in the 10-15 year age range, but even before the experience with the 2016 d'Armailhac I have just not been having much interest in the 2021, 22, and 23 vintages. My revelation, with my 66th birthday approaching: the 2019-2020 vintages may FINALLY be my last vintages that I purchase in any quantity, a decision whose fate may have been sealed by the very young 2016 d'Armailhac.

[stefan]

While D'Armailhac is not the best 5th growth Pauillac, in my experience it is the most consistently good one.

[DavidG]

I hear ya Jim. At 68 now, I decided a couple of years ago that 2019 would be my last Bordeaux vintage. Even that may be aspirational. But it didn’t stop me from backfilling 2009s-2010s and 2014s-2016s.

[JimHow]

And I’ll tell you, David, these most recent vintages seem expensive. I stopped in at the New Hampshire Hampton North store on the way back from the airport yesterday to pick up my 2015 Barons and Lalandes and some 2021s were on the shelves, very pricey indeed. Helps me with my official decision: 2019/20 are my last vintages for purchase.

[Nicklasss]

Nice stories about the two Armailhac. The 2016 looks like a very serious one.

I’m younger than you, but I slowly pacing down on my Bordeaux purchase, but still buying stuff that will drink earlier. Bordeaux are best after 20 years and I never had great patience waiting for wine.

For the last 4 vintages, Only bought 12 bottles of 2020, 12 of 2021, 9 of 2022 and 9 of 2023…

[ericp]

Cmon Nicklass, I’m between the two of you and you’re buying looks like mine. P