The professorial Gonzague Lurton`s Durfort-Vivens made it into our selections for both must-buy on a tight budget and high quality-price ratio. Yesterday afternoon`s release price reinforces those positions. Increasing vine age and big investments in the cellar have seen steady progress since Gonzague took over from his father Lucien Lurton in 1992. A high level of Cabernet in the blend - 75% this year - makes this wine less showy than many of its peers in its youth, but with age it develops beautifully. Relations with Parker appear to be thawing, but, for the time being, this Margaux remains the cheapest second growth by a country mile. The 2009 is the finest young Durfort-Vivens we`ve tasted, and this is highly recommended.
- Producer
- Chateau Durfort-Vivens
- Origin
- Margaux, Medoc, Bordeaux FRANCE
- Colour
- red
- Wine Style
- dry
- Dominant Grape
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Closure Style
- cork
- Maturity
- drink or keep
- Bottle Size
- 75cl
- Case Quantity
- 12
- Alcohol
- 13.5%
- Wine Score
- 87-89+ points, Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, April 2010
88 points, Jean-Marc Quarin, quarin.com, April 2010 17.5 points, Steven Spurrier, Decanter, April 2010
88-91 points, Ian D`Agata, International Wine Cellar, May/June 2010
Stock in
Warehouse*Stock on Order Price ib Add to Basket Case 12x75cl - 1 £540.00
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Media Reviews
Robert Parker
Normally the proprietor at this estate refuses to let me taste, so I was surprised when he did so this year. The 2009 Durfort Vivens is an attractive, soft, velvety-textured wine revealing a hint of tapenade intermixed with black currant and blackberry fruit. Medium-bodied and elegant with the silkiness and precision that make this vintage so alluring, it should drink well for 15-20 years. Tasted once. 87-89+ points
Jean-Marc Quarin
Dark color, beautiful and sustained. Distinguished nose, ripe, fruity and fresh. Smooth and creamy on entry into mouth, developing aromatic with taste of fleshy tannins. In the finish, a somewhat green flavor reminiscent of tea reduces the quality of the whole despite a good, powerful length. 88 points
Steven Spurrier
Fine black red, beautifully expressed Margaux nose with fragrance and depth, a touch smoky and spicy, very good succulent fruit, lovely texture and depth, a charming, serious wine. Drink 2014-25. 17.5 points
Ian D`Agata
Inky ruby. Initially quite herbal and woodsy on the nose, but opened to offer blackcurrant and plum aromas with strong hints of tar and ground coffee. Suave, fine-grained and vibrant, but the inky black fruit, cola and herbal flavors currently lack generosity. Durfort-Vivens is never made in a particularly fat or full style, and though this finishes classy and long, with excellent energy and palate-coating persistence and perfume, this `09 will really need at least five or six years of aging to gain sweetness and flesh. This has the potential to make a very good bottle, but it`s as tough as nails now. 88-91 points
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