December 10, 2023 - (at Elkridge Club - Baltimore). This was a good but slightly muted bottle that showed some swampy fruit to go along with a soft personality. It started to come together after 60 minutes but could not continue to follow the evolution. Could improve with time - would love to see the mid-palate flesh out and become more defined. (90+?)
November 21, 2023 - Nicely perfumed nose with floral notes, blackcurrant, cedar and vanilla. Starting to show some development via leather aromas. Medium bodied and structured with fresh acidity. Good length. Needs more time.
August 31, 2023 - Little vertical from Durfort-Vivens yesterday with my colleagues: 2022 in sample, 2021 untasted.
1) 2020 98.2/100
2) 2019 98/100
3) 2018 97.4/100
4) 2022 97.1/100
5) 2015 95.8/100
6) 2016 95.2/100
7) 2017 93.4/100
August 28, 2023 - Reading my note from two years ago, I have to believe that my palate is just "off." All I am getting tonight on PnP is vanilla in the nose and excessive oak in the mouth, to the exclusions of anything else. Since it is most likely me and not the wine, not rated.
Next day, after sitting open in the stoppered bottle for 18 hours, the vanilla has largely resolved and so has much of the oak--though this is still notably oaky. At this point, if you give it plenty of time to air, I'd say 5-12-16-8: 91/100.
August 19, 2023 - Typical Margaux. Nice aroma and easy to drink.
January 10, 2023 - One hour decant. Deep dark ruby color. Raspberry, peony, orange blossom, and cinnamon-infused tea on the nose. Very smooth, tongue drying palate. Firm, full tannins on the longish finish.
April 23, 2022 - Sweet and ripe blackberries, hints of floral nuance, plums with tobacco, clove and cocoa. This needs at least 2 hrs to open up. Rich and dense palate. The ripe fruity elements complemented by spice and leather. Medium-bodied structure, the tannins are velvety. Finish is delicious and elegant. Still very young, great potential for development. 92-93 pts
April 6, 2022 - Definitely not ready to drink yet. Popped this, decanted half a bottle for 3 hours but still found the tannins were too tight. Poured back to the bottle and left it overnite in the chiller for 14-16 hours. Much better!
Jetblack ruby with slight purplish tint. Nose is slightly oxidized by then, but can pick up blackberries, blackcurrant, cassis, deep oak and dry tobacco notes. Huge in the mouth with robust tannins, layered and complex. Elegant finish layered with baked fruits and dried herbs.
January 6, 2022 - Simple et léger, terre et champignons surtout.
Cuir et graphite avec le fruit en arrière-plan.
Tannins assèchants sur une finale amère.
November 20, 2021 - Significantly better than last time tasted, with notes of dark red and black fruit, pine, cedar, dried herbs finely grained dusty tannins, soft mid-palate yet I feel this is lacking a little structure/ substance but has that Margaux elegance. 92