Baron de Milon 2008

The Duhart vineyard is located in the heart of Pauillac’s fine terroirs and is comparable in quality to the incomparable Lafite, though its drainage is perhaps slightly less ideal. The blend relies more heavily on Merlot, which better rounds out the very austere tannins that the terroir imparts to the Cabernets. We did not fully find in the bottled wines the richness and, above all, the purity of the samples tasted en primeur, but the wines clearly possess a distinct Pauillac character. The remarkable 2018 vintage should mark a major milestone in the desired progress.

These former lands of the “Prince of the Vineyards,” Nicolas-Alexandre de Ségur (18th century), were long owned by the Castéja family, who gave the cru its name (that of a privateer under Louis XV who settled in Pauillac upon his retirement, whose house now adorns the label). Sold in 1937, fragmented, and in decline, the Duhart-Milon vineyard was purchased in 1962 by the Rothschilds, who restructured and expanded it, restoring its prestige as a 4th growth. The vineyard now covers 76 hectares adjacent to Château Lafite, on the Milon hillside that extends from the Carruades plateau.

Lafite Rothschild’s “little brother” receives the full attention of Éric Kohler and his team. Blessed with a beautiful gravel terroir located in the heart of Pauillac, it long suffered from the young age of its vines. As the years have passed, the estate has now firmly established itself. Producing serious, classic, and very dense wines that age beautifully, Duhart is a sure bet in Pauillac.