The Rothschild family acquired
Chateau Duhart-Milon, a "4th Cru" in the 1855 classification
from the Castejas of Pauillac, in 1962. The property was named
after the Sieur of Duhart, gun-runner to Louis XIV, who owned
this land, and from the name of the little hamlet of Milon which
stands on a knoll separating this vineyard from that of
Chateau Lafite. Since the acquisition,
a lot of work has been done to reestablish the name and the
reputation of this "cru classe": replanting and developing
the vineyard, building new modern chais and cuvier, paying strict
attention to the viticulture as to the vinification.
Vineyard:
The vineyard covers 50 hectares
and is planted with the classical grape varieties of the
Medoc:
Cabernet
Sauvignon (57%),
Cabernet Franc (20%),
Merlot (21%) with just a few
percent of "Petit
Verdot" (this cépage
has always been traditionally planted at Duhart-Milon and a
certain excess of it in the pre-war vintages might explain their
slightly flinty hardness).
Vinification:
The fermentation takes place in
stainless steel vats, but the wines are aged in oak barriques,
made by the cooper of Lafite,
33 to 40% are renewed each year.
After 18 to 20 months in barrels,
during which time the wines are racked seven times and fined,
the bottling takes place at the chateau.
A strict selection of the vats
which go into Duhart-Milon wines maintains a high quality. Average
production: 180 tonneaux/year.