Château d'Armailhac

The estate traces its origins to 1680, when brothers Dominique and Guilhem Armailhacq purchased land in Pauillac. It entered the 1855 Classification as Mouton d'Armailhacq, securing Fifth Growth status. Baron Philippe de Rothschild acquired the property in 1933, adding it to his growing Pauillac portfolio alongside the adjacent Mouton Rothschild. Over the following decades the estate cycled through several names: Château Mouton Baron Philippe from 1956 to 1973, then Château Mouton Baronne Philippe from 1975 to 1988, honoring the Baron and later his late wife Pauline. Baroness Philippine de Rothschild restored the original name, Château d'Armailhac, in 1989. Philippe Sereys de Rothschild assumed leadership in 2014 and oversaw the completion of new winery facilities in 2021.

• Founded 1680 by the Armailhacq brothers in Pauillac
• Classified Fifth Growth in 1855 under the name Mouton d'Armailhacq
• Rothschild family ownership continuous since 1933
• Current name restored in 1989 after four decades of name changes

Château d'Armailhac covers 70 to 80 hectares in Pauillac, sitting directly adjacent to Château Mouton Rothschild. The vineyards are south-facing, a significant advantage in Bordeaux's temperate maritime climate, and the soils are composed of gravel with a clay-limestone subsoil. This combination drains well, warms efficiently, and provides the mineral backbone characteristic of quality Pauillac. The south-facing aspect promotes consistent ripening of Cabernet Sauvignon, the dominant variety in the blend.

• South-facing vineyard orientation in temperate maritime Bordeaux
• Gravel topsoil over clay-limestone subsoil
• Directly adjacent to Mouton Rothschild on the Pauillac plateau
• 70 to 80 hectares under vine

The blend at Château d'Armailhac is anchored by Cabernet Sauvignon at 52 to 56%, supported by Merlot at 32 to 36%, Cabernet Franc at 8 to 11%, and a small contribution of Petit Verdot at approximately 2%. This composition is typical for a structured Pauillac, with Cabernet Sauvignon providing the backbone of tannin and longevity while Merlot rounds out the mid-palate. The relatively high Merlot proportion compared to some Pauillac peers gives the wine an approachable quality without sacrificing its classical structure. The 2021 winery upgrade reflects the family's continued investment in precision winemaking.

• Cabernet Sauvignon 52 to 56%
• Merlot 32 to 36%
• Cabernet Franc 8 to 11%
• Petit Verdot approximately 2%

As a Fifth Growth in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification, Château d'Armailhac occupies a well-regarded position in the Médoc hierarchy. Its classification status, combined with its ownership by the Rothschild family and proximity to the iconic Mouton Rothschild, gives it strong name recognition among wine professionals. The estate is part of the same stable as Château Mouton Rothschild (First Growth) and Château Clerc Milon (Fifth Growth), reflecting the family's deep roots in Pauillac. For students of the 1855 Classification, this estate is notable for appearing under multiple names in historical records, all linked to the same classified growth.