Chateau Durfort Vivens

Acquired in 1937 by the owners of Château Margaux, of which one of the main shareholders was the Lurton family at the time, this Second Grand Cru Classé became the property of Lucien Lurton in 1961 and then passed to his son, Gonzague Lurton, in 1992.

Aged partly in amphorae, the wines of Château Durfort-Vivens are recognised for their precision and elegance. The property now owns the largest amphorae cellar in the world.

In 2016, Château Durfort-Vivens was the first of the Margaux Classified Growths to obtain both organic farming and biodynamic certifications. While the wines have been labeled “zero residue” since 2014, the property has also been HVE and SME certified since 2019.

The wine is aged for 18 months in new barrels (70%) and in TAVA amphorae (30%).

The 2021 vintage shows bright red berries on the nose - strawberry and raspberry, softly fragrant with rose petal, violets and dark chocolate scents. Succulent and really delicately juicy with the perfume surrounding the berries on the palate with a soft chalky, minerality coming through from the acidity. Lovely balance, this is fresh and so alive but also deeply flavoured, with the Cabernet (97% of the blend) mint markers in abundance. Delicious and vibrant, still with a youthful energy and a precise tannic structure giving the frame. You can tell they got maturity, but have also achieved perfect extraction giving just the right weight without bitterness or any harsh tannins - and an exceptional length giving an abundance of freshness. Total Margaux glamour on show in a vintage where it was harder to find than usual. A surefire must buy! 30th vintage by Gonzague Lurton.

True that 2021 was not a stellar year, but Gonzague Lurton nailed this vintage perfectly. This is absolutely Delicious if we may say so!

International Critics:

93/100 Robert Parker

94/100 James Suckling

94/100 Decanter Magazine

97/100 Wine Enthusiast

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Cellaring potential

2028 - 2045

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Decanting Suggestions:

3 hours in a wide-bottomed decanter