Château d'Armailhac

Château d'Armailhac traces its origins to the 14th century, though it was formally established as an estate in 1660 when the d'Armailhacq family took ownership. For seven generations, the family developed the property, leading to its inclusion as a Fifth Growth in the 1855 Classification of the Médoc. In 1933, Baron Philippe de Rothschild purchased the estate, the same year his daughter Philippine was born. The property underwent several name changes over the following decades, known variously as Mouton Baron Philippe and Mouton Baronne Philippe before returning to its historic name in 1989. Today, the estate remains under the ownership of the third generation of the Rothschild family, including Camille Sereys de Rothschild, Philippe Sereys de Rothschild, and Julien de Beaumarchais de Rothschild.

The vineyard encompasses approximately 80 hectares in the northern part of Pauillac, situated on deep gravel banks with clay and limestone subsoils. The plantings are dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, complemented by Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and a small amount of Petit Verdot. Winemaking is overseen by estate director Lucie Lauilhe and group technical director Jean-Emmanuel Danjoy. In 2021, the estate completed a new gravity-fed winery and barrel hall, which allows for parcel-by-parcel vinification and more precise extraction. The viticultural approach follows traditional Médoc practices, including manual harvesting and the training of vines on wires to ensure fruit quality and order.

The estate is recognized for producing a wine that exhibits the characteristic power of Pauillac while maintaining a high degree of accessibility. A distinguishing feature of its blend is the relatively high proportion of Cabernet Franc compared to its neighbors, which contributes to aromatic complexity. Unlike many of its classified counterparts, the château does not currently produce a second wine, focusing its entire production on the Grand Vin. It is managed alongside its siblings, Château Mouton Rothschild and Château Clerc Milon, as part of the Baron Philippe de Rothschild SA portfolio. The wines are noted for their longevity and a style described by the estate as elegant classicism.