Chateau Duhart-Milon Pauillac Grand Cru Classe
(Domaines Barons de Rothschild Lafite) 2010
(Bordeaux, France) - [DM 95] [JD 94+] [VM 94] [WA 94]

About the Winery:
This classified fourth growth estate is owned by the Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) family and consists of a large vineyard in Pauillac. Planted to 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc, the average age of the vines is 30 years. The wine typically spends 14-16 months in barrels with 50% new oak and is bottled without filtration. Parker reports: 'Since 1982, the wines of Duhart-Milon have been very good to excellent. Close in style to their stablemates of Lafite, they represent fairly good values in today's marketplace. Duhart-Milon clearly merits its classification and could be upgraded to third growth status. The style veers toward the balanced elegance and finesse school of winemaking exemplified by this estate's big sister, Lafite Rothschild.'

Ratings & Reviews:

95 Points - Decanter:
"Gravel over limestone, similar to Château Lafite Rothschild and under the same ownership. Cooler northern exposure of the terroir requires more time to ripen, but that was no problem in 2010. This has ripe fruit with graphite and wet stone. It may not be as dense as Clerc Milon, but the expression of finesse and refinement is unmistakable. Long, subtle finish. Pleasing, high-toned fruit perfectly matches grilled lamb chops with roast potatoes. (Drink between 2021-2045)

94+ Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
Like a lot of 2010s, the 2010 Duhart-Milon-Rothschild is tight and backward, yet has serious potential. Sporting a deep ruby/purple color and classic notes of currants, lead pencil shavings, cedarwood and saddle leather, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a tight, firm focused texture and beautiful concentration. Its tannins are present, yet ripe and integrated, and it has the purity and freshness that’s the hallmark of this great, great vintage. Give bottles another 2-3 years and it should keep for two to three decades.

94 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate:
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. Drink 2020-2047. -LPB (3/5/20)

96 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate:
Dense purple, with classic notes of cedar and lead pencil shavings as well as gobs of back currants and licorice, the wine has a full-bodied mouthfeel with fabulous precision and density. It also possesses a long, silky finish with moderately high tannins, but they are ripe and well-integrated. The wood is clearly pushed to the background in this dense, full-bodied Pauillac, which should drink beautifully for 30+ years.

If you can’t afford Lafite-Rothschild (few can)or even their second wine, Carruades de Lafite, you still have Duhart Milon, which has become a profound wine over the last 5-7 years due to the extensive amount of attention and investment the Rothschilds have pumped into this estate. This blend of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot is fabulous, a dead ringer for Lafite in a great vintage. (It is probably better than many of the Lafites of the 1960s and 1970s, and even some of the vintages in the 1980s.) Drink 2013-2043. -Robert M. Parker J. (2/27/13)