Château Duhart-Milon 2021

Why is this Wine so Yummy?

About Duhart-Milon

Located next to Château Lafite Rothschild, Château Duhart-Milon was acquired by Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) in 1962.

According to oral tradition, “Sieur Duhart” was the name of a corsair under Louis XV who settled in Pauillac when he retired. The corsair’s house in the port of Pauillac inspired the label for Duhart- Milon wines. Since the early 18th century, Duhart-Milon wines served as additional income for the “Lord of Lafite“ and were classified as Château Lafite’s “second wine“, confirming the high quality of the terroir. The 1855 classification elevated Duhart-Milon to Grand Cru Classé status in the commune of Pauillac.

The 75-hectare vineyard in the Pauillac appellation is planted with 67% Cabernet Sauvignon and 33% Merlot. It stretches out over the west side of Château Lafite Rothschild on the Milon hillside, which runs along the Carruades de Lafite plateau.

Each vintage is aged in oak barrels from the tonnellerie des Domaines. Barrel ageing varies from 10 to 18 months, depending on the vintage.

In the Vineyard

In the Winery

The 2017 Vintage at Duhart-Milon

From William:
Duhart-Milon’s vineyards are later-maturing than Lafite’s, and the soils are less inherently balanced: the clay-rich parts of the vineyard are richer in clay than at Lafite, and the gravel-rich parts of the vineyard are richer in gravel—whereas Lafite’s predominantly gravel soils sometimes contain more than 10% clay. That explains why Duhart-Milon historically often produced leaner wines than Lafite, with less mid-palate amplitude; but a warming climate and more attention to viticultural detail (sowing cover crops, for example, in clay-rich parts of the vineyard) are mitigating these disadvantages, and recent vintages have seen this estate attain new qualitative heights. As at all the Domaines Barons de Rothschild properties, winemaking and élevage are very classical, with regular rackings and the majority of the barriques derived from the in-house cooperage (emphasizing lightly toasted Allier and Nevers oak seasoned for 24 months), and as at Lafite, Cabernet is very much in the ascendant here, something that the 2021 vintage has only amplified.

Where in the World is Duhart-Milon?

Duhart-Milon is in the Left Bank of Bordeaux in Pauillac.