Château DURFORT-VIVENS - Les Plantes de Durfort-Vivens - Magnum 2020
In Margaux, Château Durfort-Vivens occupies a historic terroir of deep gravel soils that earned the estate its classification as a Second Grand Cru in 1855. The estate belongs to the Lurton family and is managed by Gonzague Lurton, who has for several years been undertaking a profound transformation of the vineyard around biodynamics and an ever more precise search for the expression of the soils. Les Plantes de Durfort-Vivens offers a more accessible interpretation of this universe while benefiting from the same demanding work in the vineyard. The plots rest on the gravelly ridges characteristic of Margaux, particularly favorable to Cabernet Sauvignon, to which Merlot adds more flesh and suppleness. The estate places central importance on the biological life of the soils, vine rooting, and reducing interventions that might mask the identity of the terroir. The 2020 vintage, warm and relatively early, produced concentrated grapes while maintaining beautiful freshness on the great gravel terroirs. Presented in magnum, this wine benefits from a format particularly favorable to slow and harmonious maturation.
Les Plantes de Durfort-Vivens 2020 is made mainly from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The Cabernet brings to the wine a straight structure, a range of black fruits, and a tension that immediately recalls the identity of Margaux, while the Merlot softens the mid-palate and enhances the sensation of velvety texture. The estate's winemaking philosophy favors measured extractions to preserve the finesse of the tannic grain and the brightness of the fruit. The use of different aging vessels, notably wood and amphorae, is part of an approach aimed at limiting the aromatic imprint of aging and preserving the reading of the terroir. This approach gives the 2020 a mature but not heavy matter, with a structure precise enough to evolve over several years. The sunny character of the vintage is balanced by persistent freshness and fine tannins. In magnum, this architecture should develop more slowly and retain the aromatic brightness of the wine longer.
The color shows a deep garnet with still strong ruby and purple reflections. The nose opens on blackcurrant, blackberry, and black cherry, accompanied by violet, graphite, and fine spices. With aeration, nuances of licorice, light cedar, and cocoa appear, without the aging dominating the fruit. The palate is supple from the attack, then gradually gains structure around fine and precise tannins. The Cabernet Sauvignon brings length and a mineral dimension, while the Merlot gives more roundness and flesh to the mid-palate. The finish remains fresh and persistent, on black fruits, flowers, and delicate spicy nuances. This magnum of Les Plantes de Durfort-Vivens 2020 will accompany a roasted rack of lamb, duck breast, veal chop with mushrooms, beef fillet, or roasted pigeon.
Grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
