Château Duhart Milon is a renowned winery located in the Pauillac appellation of Bordeaux, France. With a rich history dating back to the 18th century, the estate was classified as a fifth growth in the famous Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855. The vineyards of Château Duhart Milon cover 76 hectares and are planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. The terroir of the estate is characterized by gravelly soil, which is ideal for producing high-quality red wines.
The wines of Château Duhart Milon are known for their elegance, complexity, and aging potential. They are typically full-bodied with firm tannins and a long finish. The flagship wine of the estate is the Château Duhart Milon, which is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. It is aged in oak barrels for 18 months before being bottled. The estate also produces a second wine called Moulin de Duhart, which is made from younger vines and is aged for 12 months in oak barrels.
Château Duhart Milon is owned by the Rothschild family, who have invested heavily in the estate, including building a new winery and cellar in 2013. Their wines are highly sought after by collectors and wine enthusiasts around the world, and are a testament to the rich history and terroir of the Pauillac appellation.
The 2018 Duhart-Milon is composed of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Merlot. With 14% alcohol, it has a deep garnet-purple color and a seductively ripe, opulent nose of plum preserves, blackberry pie and chocolate-covered cherries with hints of spice cake, potpourri, sandalwood and eucalyptus oil. Medium-bodied, it is jam-packed with rich, spicy black fruit preserves, with floral accents and a velvety texture, finishing long and fragrant. So. Good.
This property has enjoyed the considerable investments from the Rothschild family and the quality of the wines over the last generation has been increasingly impressive. I’ve always written that if you can’t afford Lafite Rothschild, why not try Duhart Milon, which is not far off the quality of its much more famous neighbor. Spicy, deep ruby/purple with notes of cassis, cedar wood and spice box, the wine is soft, round, juicy, medium-bodied and ideal for drinking now and over the next 15 or so years. It is not one of their finest efforts, but it is certainly well-made, supple-textured and seductive.
Tart acids give this dark ruby/purple-tinged wine a crunchy, fresh, lively feel on the palate. Composed of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Merlot, this medium-bodied 2011 reveals loads of finesse and purity, but is slightly superficial compared to recent vintages such as 2009 and 2010. It should drink well for 10-15 years.
Deep garnet in color, the 2010 Duhart-Milon rocks up with upfront notions of baked plums, warm cassis and mulberries plus suggestions of cigar box, sandalwood, dried roses and forest floor. Full-bodied, rich and decadent in the mouth, the palate has a beautiful texture of velvety, fantastically ripe tannins and lovely freshness, finishing very long and very classy.
A blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon and 37% Merlot, it displays an inky/blue/purple colour as well as a big, sweet nose of creme de cassis, forest floor, licorice, lead pencil, cedar and subtle barrique smells. Viscous and full-bodied, it is the most concentrated and broadest example of this cuvee I have tasted in over three decades. It will be ready to drink in 5-7 years and should last for three decades or more. Consumers looking to maximize value should be checking out Duhart Milon, as this may be the single smartest purchase in this great and historic vintage!
A magnificent sleeper of the vintage, the 2008 Duhart Milon is the shrewd consumer’s wine to purchase by the case as prices do not yet reflect its qualitative resurgence. Composed of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon and 27% Merlot that came in at 13.09% alcohol, it is a surprisingly intense effort displaying a marvelous texture, plenty of black currant, licorice, unsmoked cigar tobacco and earthy characteristics, a full-bodied mouthfeel and stunning purity as well as density. Enjoy this top-notch 2008 over the next 20-25 years.
The 2006 Château Duhart-Milon displayed a comparatively muted nose that does not really escape from the glass, despite encouragement (somewhat typical of Duhart in its first ten years). The palate is gritty and hard with plenty of graphite infusing the broody black fruit at the moment, though the finish feels rather pinched. Give this another 2-3 years and plenty of decanting. Tasted April 2016.
A spectacular wine, and one that could have been bought for a song when it was released, this blend of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon and 27% Merlot was cropped at 33 hectoliters per hectare. Strutting all of its nobility, richness and majesty in 2014, it boasts abundant notes of cedarwood, creme de cassis, licorice and a hint of lead pencil shavings. Full-bodied, rich, dense and fully mature, it is capable of lasting another 7-10 years. This beauty is a big-time sleeper of the vintage.
This dense ruby/purple-colored blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon and 33% Merlot has filled out nicely during its upbringing in wood. It exhibits a fruitcake, cedar, spice box, plum, black raspberry, and currant-scented bouquet, excellent richness, moderate levels of sweet tannin, fine purity, and a complex style. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2020. Produced by the Rothschild's brilliant administrator, Charles Chevalier, Duhart Milon is a wine to watch.
The 1996 Duhart-Milon-Rothschild is aging in wonderful fashion, to wit, a straight down the fairway Pauilliac. Now at 20 years of age, it has developed a fresh and very brine-scented bouquet with plenty of undergrowth and bell pepper aromas. You could almost imagine a bit of Loire Cabernet Franc in here! The palate is medium-bodied with a gentle grip on the entry, impressive body and backbone, likewise more than enough freshness on the structured finish laced with white pepper and bell pepper. Very classic in style, this is a Duhart for traditionalists, but I for one appreciate its style. It is drinking perfectly now but will continue to offer pleasure for another 20 years.
The 1990 has turned out better than I expected. It offers a classic Lafite perfume of graphite/lead pencil shavings interwoven with red and black currants, fresh porcini mushrooms, smoke, and tobacco leaf. Medium to full-bodied, soft, and elegant, it is not as concentrated as the 1982, but is a luscious, round Pauillac to enjoy over the next 5-10 years.
