Margaux Cru Classé en 1855 Red Bordeaux Blend

The 2019 Durfort-Vivens was matured in two-thirds new oak barrels and one-third in amphorae. Plush on the nose with blueberry and violet scents, this is Margaux in style though much tighter than I anticipated. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, fine delineation and poise. It's pretty delineated towards the finish that shows more mineralité than previous vintages. There is an appealing linearity here, a trait that Gonzague Lurton seeks in his wines. Excellent. Tasted at the château. (Neal Martin, Vinous, August 2023)

The 2015 Durfort-Vivens has a perfumed bouquet with more ripeness and perfume than the previous vintage. Buoyant red berry fruit, blueberry and a touch of violet, there is perhaps more Margaux-like than the 2014. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, fleshy with a fine acidity, a touch of white pepper and clove towards the finish and a hint of espresso on the aftertaste. This is a superb Durfort Vivens, arguably the finest up to that point. Tasted twice, both at the château and at Jascott's Bordeaux tasting in London. (Neal Martin, Vinous, August 2023)

The 2014 Durfort-Vivens was the first vintage with 50mg of SO2. It offers brambly red fruit on the nose with raspberry, wilted rose petals and light pencil-shaving aromas. The palate is medium-bodied, ripe and fleshy, pliant in the mouth and nicely balanced with a gentle grip. It's linear on the finish with a touch of sour cherry. This has fine precision on the finish, and it should drink well for the following ten years. Tasted at the château. (Neal Martin, Vinous, August 2023)

Good Margaux aroma off the bat. Some va, iron and bilberry, layered on heaps of cassis and violet. Palate has a nice sweet and sour quality but falls down by comparison to the nose; the arc is just a bit flat.

2018 vintage. Last tasted 3.7.22. Classic structure and fruit balance. Impressive finishing length. A Margaux fave, especially at the current going rate. Light-medium body. Carry that weight and same as it ever was.

2017 vintage. A little leaner than previous visit in September 2021. No less delicious tho.

2018 vintage. Back at it. Last tasted 2.25.22. This bottle a little heavier on the cocoa powder, herbaceousness and body along with a tad more punch. Bumping up the consistent 9.3 (3 btls in the last 8 months) to a 9.4. A fave bang for the buck/QPR Margaux producer.

2018 vintage. Needs time but still a 9.3.

2017 vintage. Previous tasting notes from 8.5.21 apply. Add in an additional light lavender flourish mid-palate and it's on-like Tempest.

2018 vintage. Opened it yesterday and it wasn’t playing. Came back to it today. Big. Rich and full in the mouthfeel. Medium-bodied. A bit more straightforwards than the 2017 vintage. Lux.