Château Margaux
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Château Margaux
Order Château Margaux »
Top Vintages Produced: |
1899, 1900, 1928, 1953, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1996, 2000, 2005, 2008, 2009
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Classification: |
Château Margaux – Premier Grand Cru Classé in 1855 and 1973.
Pavillon Rouge du Château Margaux – Appellation Margaux Contrôlée.
Pavillon Blanc du Château Margaux – Appellation Margaux Contrôlée.
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Varieties: |
Reds: Cabernet Sauvignon (75%), Merlot (20%), Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot (5%)
Whites: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
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Reserve your 2012 Château Margaux En Primeur »
History
Château Margaux is known for producing some of the silkiest, most aromatic wines in Bordeaux and
it has been famous for doing so for centuries. The origins of the estate may be traced back to the 15th century
when the Lestonnac family took over a grain growing property known as Lamothe (deriving from la motte – meaning a
small rise in the land, or hill). The agricultural change from cereal crops to vines was led by Pierre de
Lestonnac from 1572 to 1582. Further developments occurred when, over a century later, the estate manager,
Monsieur Berlon, saw the benefits of vinifying red and white grapes separately. This change was what set
Château Margaux firmly on the path to modern vinification practices and international renown.
This reputation spread over the next several hundred years. Sir Robert Walpole, the English Prime Minister in the
early 18th Century, declared himself an avid supporter of the estate and was known to purchase four casks every three
months! When the Marquis de la Colonilla purchased the estate in the early 19th century, the outstanding reputation of
Margaux’s wines demanded an impressive chateau to match. Built in 1810 by Louis Combes, the current chateau is a unique
example of the neo-classical style. With its structured façade, balanced by ionic columns, it exudes a refined elegance
not dissimilar to that of the wines produced within. The chateau was officially recognised as an historic monument in 1946. (read more)
Today the chateau is owned by Corinne Mentzelopoulos. Her father, André, purchased the estate in 1977 and invested
significantly in the regeneration of the vineyard and winery by installing new drainage systems, replanting vines,
creating a new underground cellar and investing in new oak barrels. The result of these improvements is evident in
the spectacular and consistent vintages produced since the 1978 vintage. This has allowed Château Margaux to remain
a dominant force in a highly competitive market and maintain its preeminent global reputation.
Viticulture and Vinification
The estate is spread over 262 hectares with 92 hectares under vine but, although large, it is not excessive in
its production. With only 12,500 cases of Château Margaux produced each vintage, one can appreciate that the yields
are strictly controlled and only the finest wines selected for the Grand Vin.
The soil surrounding the Château is gravelly with a clay subsoil and this is where many of the vines lie. The
manager, Paul Pontallier, ensures that excellence is maintained in the vineyards by tending the vines throughout
the year. Equal care is taken in the vinification process where Château Margaux is aged for 18 to 24 months in
new oak barrels. The second wine, Pavillon Rouge du Château Margaux, is bottled around 4 months earlier than this.
In recent years, larger quantities of this wine have been produced as the selection process for the Grand Vin
becomes increasingly more severe.
The Château’s white wine, Pavillon Blanc du Château Margaux, is regarded as the finest in the Médoc. After ageing
for 6 to 8 months in barrel, less than 2,000 cases of this dry and subtle wine are produced each vintage – making it
one of the most highly sought-after white wines in Bordeaux.
At Château Margaux, progression is considered crucial to success. In 1924, the introduction of compulsory bottling
at the Château gave the buyer a true guarantee of authenticity. In recent years, with forgeries becoming harder to
trace, the Château has introduced laser etching to act as a traceable marker for each bottle.
The wines are reknowned for their finesse, perfume, concentration and longevity even in lesser vintages.
Classification
- Château Margaux – Premier Grand Cru Classé in 1855 and 1973.
- Pavillon Rouge du Château Margaux – Appellation Margaux Contrôlée.
- Pavillon Blanc du Château Margaux – Appellation Margaux Contrôlée.
Varieties
- There are 80 hectares of red varieties under vine with 75% of plantings Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot
and 5% Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot jointly. The 12 hectares of white grapes are planted entirely with Sauvignon Blanc.
Wines Produced
Blends are generally as follows:
- Margaux – First Wine: 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot.
- Pavillon Rouge du Château Margaux – Second Wine: Cabernet Sauvignon is the dominant
grape, with the remainder consisting of Merlot and a small amount of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.
- Pavillon Blanc du Château Margaux – Second Wine: 100% Sauvignon Blanc.
Order top vintages of Château Margaux
- Château Margaux 2009: (98-100 RP)
"A wine such as this is like the quintessence of terroir..." – Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate
- Château Margaux 2000: (100 RP)
"Extraordinary seductiveness, complex aromatics, and purity..." – Robert Parker,
The Wine Advocate
- Château Margaux 1990: (100 RP)
"A sensational effort, it is one of the legendary wines made at Château Margaux..." – Robert Parker,
The Wine Advocate
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Not seeing the specific wine or vintage you’re looking for?
The wines displayed here only represent a small portion of our total inventory.
To check our complete stockholdings, please contact
us via email or call us on +44 (0) 20 3219 5588.
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