Winemaker Notes
He rides a Harley, but deep down, his heart (of clay) is tender, his trajectory perfectly defined and his loyalty unwavering. Right from the berry tastings, Duhart astonished us with its ability to absorb the ups and downs of 2023, and particularly at the end of the vintage, our grapes perfectly resisting two successive heatwaves at the end of August and beginning of September. This is proof that our vineyards are now reaching maturity, and that the replanting undertaken since 2016 on our finest terroirs is finally bearing fruit. The grapes from these younger plots are already making their way into the grand vin. In the cellar, extractions go smoothly and quickly to reveal an unexpected density, without any effort. Their biker hits the road: on the horizon, a long straight line, and freedom.
Blend: 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot
Professional Ratings
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Decanter
Some herbal bramble notes on the nose, soft dark chocolate, blackcurrant, flowers, liquorice and dark chocolate. Not huge aromatics, quite quiet. Round and smooth, a lovely juiciness but with weight and balance, gorgeous texture - a little salty and stony, a tiny bit grippy but gorgeous overall expansion in the mouth giving flavour without any overt heaviness. Lovely softness but this still has power and energy. Lifted and intense but so finessed. It has broad shoulders with graphite and wet stone touches alongside bramble fruit and great, almost piercing acidity. Lovely. 60% grand vin production. 3.8pH. 15% press. New cellar as of 2020.
Barrel Sample: 95 -
James Suckling
Good depth, with a fresh herbal touch to the black currants and a hint of graphite, cocoa powder and spices. Layered and integrated, with fine, chiseled tannins, a fleshy core of fruit and a long, ample finish. A blend of 80% cabernet sauvignon and 20% merlot.
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Vinous
The 2023 Duhart-Milon was picked September 7 to October 3 and contains 15% pressed wine, matured in 50% new oak. It has a much more backward bouquet than the Moulin, displaying well-defined yet tightly coiled graphite-infused black fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with saturated tannins that belie the backbone of this Pauillac. That graphite element is accentuated in the mouth and controls the classic finish that could only come from this appellation. This is excellent, but patience is required. –Neal Martin
Barrel Sample: 93-95 -
Jeb Dunnuck
Deep purple-hued, the 2023 Château Duhart-Milon offers up undeniably classic Pauillac notes of cassis, graphite, smoky tobacco, scorched earth, and darker currants. Based on 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot, it's medium to full-bodied and has a wonderfully balanced, layered mouthfeel, ripe, supple tannins, and outstanding length. It's another terrific effort from this estate that will benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and cruise over the following two decades.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2023 Duhart-Milon is showing very well from bottle, wafting from the glass with notes of cassis, violets, orange zest and exotic spices. Medium- to full-bodied, layered and velvety, it's supple and charming, with sweet tannins and a seamless profile that reflects the restructuring and viticultural efforts that have been underway at this estate for some time now. Long and sapid, it's a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot.
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.
The leader on the Left Bank in number of first growth classified producers within its boundaries, Pauillac has more than any of the other appellations, at three of the five. Chateau Lafite Rothschild and Mouton Rothschild border St. Estephe on its northern end and Chateau Latour is at Pauillac’s southern end, bordering St. Julien.
While the first growths are certainly some of the better producers of the Left Bank, today they often compete with some of the “lower ranked” producers (second, third, fourth, fifth growth) in quality and value. The Left Bank of Bordeaux subscribes to an arguably outdated method of classification that goes back to 1855. The finest chateaux in that year were judged on the basis of reputation and trading price; changes in rank since then have been miniscule at best. Today producers such as Chateau Pontet-Canet, Chateau Grand Puy-Lacoste, Chateau Lynch-Bages, among others (all fifth growth) offer some of the most outstanding wines in all of Bordeaux.
Defining characteristics of fine wines from Pauillac (i.e. Cabernet-based Bordeaux Blends) include inky and juicy blackcurrant, cedar or cigar box and plush or chalky tannins.
Layers of gravel in the Pauillac region are key to its wines’ character and quality. The layers offer excellent drainage in the relatively flat topography of the region allowing water to run off into “jalles” or streams, which subsequently flow off into the Gironde.