Château d’Armailhac
Around the corner from Château Mouton-Rothschild lies another property which, since 1933, has been in the hands of this particular branch of the Rothschild family. And it is an estate worth making a detour to view, as the château here is unlike any other that you will see anywhere along the length and breadth of the Médoc. Construction started in 1820, and came to a halt in 1830, with half the château – the left-hand half, as you view it from the road – completed (as pictured below). I am sure that, once times were less hard, the d’Armailhacq family thought that they would finish their grand residence, adding a right-hand half to match. Sadly, this time never came, and what stands today is half a château.
Perhaps sadly is not quite the most appropriate word to describe the failure to complete this building. I personally find great delight in the presence of this half-château nestled in among some of the grandest addresses of the Médoc. And as the estate has been under the direction of the Rothschild family for more than eight decades now, the investment and drive here is second to none, and that means the wines more than hold my interest as well. This is an estate well worth knowing especially as, like Château Clerc-Milon, it is often more affordable than the wines made at some neighbouring estates.
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