Winemaker Notes
One of the Château Arnauld’s great vintages with a large percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. A deeply ruby red shot through with magnificent violet gleams. Aromas of dark fruit, notably blackberry, blueberry and black cherry, intermingle with intense notes of licorice, sign of the lengthy and complete maturity of the Cabernet Sauvignons. The floral, violet character of the Petit Verdots is also discernible. Superb density in the mouth, with good volume and remarkable smoothness. Powerful in expression, but with a suavity and a grain of tannins of rare precision. The perfect balance.
Blend: 44% Merlot, 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
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Decanter
Lying outside the village of Arcins, Château Arnauld counts Chasse-Spleen and Poujeaux as its neighbours. The 18ha property's 40 year-old vines are planted on deep gravelly soils, at a density of 10,000 per ha. Deep and inky hue, dark clerical purple. Intense and brooding nose but witha lift of violet and rose. Ripe and fruit forward on the palate. Acidity and tannic grip are evident but there is plenty to enjoy already. Will age very well, allowing the leafy Cabernet to evolve into more tertiary notes.
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James Suckling
Blackcurrants, blueberries, blackberries, undergrowth and baking spices on the nose. Medium body with creamy tannins. Round and silky with fruity and juicy character. Crunchy finish. Cabernet sauvignon, merlot and petit verdot.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
The 2019 Château Arnauld HAUT-MÉDOC unfolds in a deep ruby-purple color; generous boysenberries lead the aromas, accented by fine, delicate spices; medium-bodied, persistent, and gently lifted on the palate, with polished, well-controlled tannins; bright black fruit remains steady as the wine builds to a composed, lingering finish. Pair with steak frites with shallot butter. (Tasted: 3/31/26, San Francisco, CA)
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Vinous
The 2019 Arnauld has a lovely crushed violet scented nose with plenty of pure black fruit that seems very expressive and well defined, the oak is nicely integrated. The palate is well balanced with supple tannins, hints of brine towards the finish that is detailed and mineral driven, completing a really great Médoc from Château Arnauld. - Neal Martin
Barrel Sample: 90-92 -
Wine Enthusiast
Built on the site of an ancient priory, this chateau has produced a smooth, juicy wine. Ripe tannins are fully integrated with rich black fruits and lightened by acidity. Drink this wine from 2025.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
While it claims the same basic landscape as the Medoc—only every so slightly elevated above river level—the Haut Medoc is home to all of the magnificent chateaux of the Left Bank of Bordeaux, creating no lack of beautiful sites to see.
These chateaux, residing over the classed-growth cru in the villages of Margaux, Moulis, Listrac, St-Julien, Pauillac and St. Estephe are within the Haut Medoc appellation. Though within the confines of these villages, any classed-growth chateaux will most certainly claim village or cru status on their wine labels.
Interestingly, some classed-growth cru of the Haut Medoc fall outside of these more famous villages and can certainly be a source of some of the best values in Bordeaux. Deep in color, and concentrated in ripe fruit and tannins, these wines (typically Cabernet Sauvignon-based) often prove the same aging potential of the village classed-growths. Among these, the highest ranked chateaux are Chateau La Lagune and Chateau Cantemerle.