2022 Duhart Milon Pauillac En Primeur

Its Origins

Like much of Pauillac, the estate later known as Duhart-Milon was first put under vine in the early 18th century, at the behest of the ravenously successful Chateau Lafite. Directly adjoining the west edge of today’s Chateau Lafite Rothchild, Duhart-Milon’s vineyards were noted for quality. Early on it had early become effectively Lafite’s ‘second’ wine, and in the 1855 classification it was recognised as the only 4th Growth in Pauillac. By this time it was owned by the Casteja family, under the inherited Chateau name, Duhart-Milon. In 1937 inheritance and ownership issues saw the estate sold, leading to a period of instability and a drop in quality. It wasn’t until 1962 that the Rothschild family were able to buy their neighbour and institute an ambitious plan of vineyard overhaul and development, along with new winemaking facilities in addition to the benefits of Lafite’s knowledge and in-house cooperage. In the decades that followed the vineyard was consolidated from 42 to 71 hectares, and by the time of the great Bordeaux vintages late in the 20th century, Duhart-Milon had regained its rightful place as a great wine among Bordeaux and a model of the Pauillac style.