For the cuvée Les Plantes , the youngest wines, from 24 different plots, up to fifteen years of age. It contains 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc. 80% in clay jars, 20% barrels.
2019 Durfort-Vivens Les Plantes
Ruby. Lighter nose, anise, red fruits, spices, blackberries nose, faint herbal touch. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, red fruits, lighter bodied, anise, good length. 88
For Le Plateau, the grapes are sourced from the Soussans parcels just north of Margaux, here the blend is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Merlot. Rich and fertile soil of sand and deep gravel, 2/3 stored in clay jars, 1/3 in barrique, 10% new. Stored for 16 months before bottling.
2019 Durfort-Vivens Le Plateau
Ruby. More depth and richness than Les Plantes, a definitive step up, cassis, dark fruits, spices, tobacco, detailed, some floral high notes, scented and nuanced nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, anise, spices, blackberries and spices, nuanced and intense, fine tuned body and texture, long finish. 92
Third one, Le Hameau is sourced from Cantenac, with 53% Cabernet Sauvignon and 47% Merlot. Vineyard of 10 hectares, east/ westexpositipn. Depp gravel. 16 months ageing before bottling, 2/3 in clay jars and 1/3 in barrels, 15% new.
2019 Durfort-Vivens Le Hameau
Ruby. Dark fruits and deep nose with scented high notes, blackberries and liquorice, layered, not as lifted as Le Plateau but more depth. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, dark fruits, liquorice and spices, intense, bit more texture to it, bit firmer, long finish. 92
And then the first wine itself in 2019:
2019 Château Durfort-Vivens
Ruby. Cassis, blackberries, spices, floral, detailed and nuanced nose, liquorice and vanilla. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blackberries, anise, spices, dark fruits, intense and detailed, long finish. 95
I have found Durfort-Vivens underrated in the market for quite some time, maybe this new range of a more terroir personality will open the eyes of collectors to what is going on here.
