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Château Margaux is a large 90 hectare property which produces over 30,000 cases per year and is located in the centre of the Margaux appellation. The vineyards (Cabernet Sauvignon 75%, Merlot 20%, Cabernet Franc 2%, Petit Verdot 3%) lie on a sandy-stone topsoil, beneath which is to be found gravel and then clay. The wine is fermented in a mixture of stainless steel vats and oak casks and is matured for 18 months in 100% new oak barriques.
Château Margaux produces sublime and immaculately crafted red wines that are opulent and rich with a multidimensional bouquet with a fragrance of ripe black currants, spicy vanilla oakiness and violets... representing today the perfect balance between finesse and power.
Over the centuries, the property changed ownership several times. In 1802, the Marquis of la Colonilla acquired the property, razed the old Gothic manor-house and built in its place the château, which still stands today.
In 1977 the property was purchased by Laura and Andre Mentzelopoulos (who later took in Gianni Agnelli and family from Italy as partners). Lavish amounts of money were immediately spent on the vineyards and the winemaking facilities. Emile Peynaud was retained as a consultant to oversee the vinification of the wine. Apprehensive observers expected it would take several vintages before all the improvements would show up in the wine. It took just one vintage, 1978, for the world to see just how great Margaux could be. Unfortunately, Andre Mentzelopoulos died before he could see the fruits of his labor. His wife Laura and daughter Corinne run the show now with the expertise of the winemaking team of director Paul Pontallier, cellar master Jean Grangerou and the now late consulting oenologist Emile Peynaud.
Following the death of patriarch Gianni Agnelli in January 2003, Corinne Mentzelopoulos gained total ownership of Chateau Margaux, saying in a comment to Wine Spectator; "I am happy and proud for my family and myself. I don't think I could have coped with losing it. Professionally speaking, this is the happiest day of my life."
Looking at the quality of wine this beautiful Estate has produced over the last 25 years (topped by the 2000 vintage scored 100 points by Robert Parker) Chateau Margaux, under the dynamic leadership of Corinne Mentzelopoulos and Paul Pontallier, has gone from strength to strength - clearly positioning themselves not only as “one of the top wine estates of the world” – but probably The Greatest Wine Estate of the World!
  
Facts & Figures
Area under vine
90 hectares
Production
Chateau Margaux; 150,000 bottles
Pavillon Rouge du Chateau Margaux; 200,000 bottles
Pavillon Blanc du Chateau Margaux; 33,000 bottles
Soil
The vineyards lie on a sandy-stone topsoil, beneath which is to be found gravel and then clay.
Grape varieties red
75% Cabernet Sauvignon
20% Merlot
3% Petit Verdot
2% Cabernet Franc
Ageing
18 months in 100% new oak barriques.
Pavillon Rouge du Chateau Margaux
Appelation Margaux
Pavillion Blanc du Chateau Margaux
Appelation Bordeaux - 100% Sauvignon Blanc
  
Wines available
All wines sold by BDXV come direct from Bordeaux and have been stored at the Chateaux or in professional storage facilities since the time of bottling. BDXV’s wines have never ever been in the hands of private collectors. This gives you the customer the highest level of quality guarantee that the wines you buy have been stored in optimal conditions since the time they were bottled.
Chateau Margaux 2005, EUR POA*
Score: 98 points. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2050.
Robert Parker: 98 points
April 2008: Another celestial effort from Paul Pontallier and Corinne Mentzelopoulus, the 2005 Margaux, a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot, boasts a dense opaque blue/purple color as well as an extraordinary bouquet of spring flowers, blueberries, black raspberries, creme de cassis, licorice, and, despite its having spent two years in 100% new wood, only a subtle touch of toasty oak. Although full-bodied, the wine seems light on its feet because of the silky tannins as well as the great gravel terroir from which it comes. Beautiful purity, length, and nobility define this modern day classic. Is it better than the 2000, 1996, 1990, or some of the vintages from the decade of the eighties? Who knows, but it is unquestionably one of the all-time great wines made at Chateau Margaux. This estate has produced only exceptional wines over the last three decades. The seamlessness of the 2005 suggests it will perform well early, but it should last for a half century or more.
April 2007: A fabulous effort, the dense purple-tinged 2005 Margaux (85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot) possesses an ethereal lightness reminiscent of the 1996 Margaux and 2005 Lafite-Rothschild. Beautiful aromas of flowers as well as blue and black fruits, silky tannin, full-bodied power, laser-like precision, and superb purity and length are found in this wine of extraordinary integrity and class. While it is one of the few 2005 first-growths that will be approachable within a decade, it should prove to be uncommonly long-lived (even by Bordeaux standards), lasting 50-60+ years.
April 2006: This is another superb vintage from this grand dame estate. Administrator Paul Pontallier has overseen the production of so many great Margaux, it is senseless to say 2005 is better than all its predecessors, but it is an extraordinary effort. A blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot, it is a gorgeously pure, intense, deep purple/ruby-tinged effort offering exquisite, surprisingly nuanced and complex aromatics for such a young Chateau Margaux. The mouthfeel is one of opulence, silk, purity, full-bodied concentration, terrific intensity, unbelievable freshness and vibrancy, and sweet tannin. The tannin levels are the highest ever measured at this estate, but the alcohol is only around 13%, not particularly high by this vintage’s standards. Yields were 43 hectoliters per hectare. This powerful effort is built along the lines of the 1996, but is seemingly even more impressive, layered, and potentially grand. It is a candidate for 50+ years of evolution.
Jancis Robinson: 19.5/20 points
Very deep, polished purplish crimson right out to the rim. Wonderful lift on top of the amazing depth and richness of the fruit. Great, almost marine, freshness. Opulent is not quite the word because this is not rich and flashy – it’s more quintessential Margaux than that – so lifted and truly airborne. Great, great harmony. Truly LOVELY on the nose and then follows this up on the palate – just gorgeous. You really could swallow this with enormous pleasure already because the tannins are so ripe. Wonderfully neat finish. So fresh and refreshing. No heat on the finish. Paul Pontpallier, referring to the level of phenolics, describes this as ‘the densest Margaux ever – even more than 2003’. Thirteen per cent alcohol. Very very Cabernet and very fine. Just eight per cent Merlot. Plus six per cent Petit Verdot. Very clean and palate cleansing. Really lovely texture.
Chateau Margaux 2003, EUR POA*
Score: 99 points. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2035.
BDXV:
After the extreme weather conditions in the summer, we might well have expected a warm, alcohol-rich nose with very ripe fruit to the fore, black fruit, even baked fruit. However, what we actually have, literally jumping out of the glass, are red berry fruit aromas, freshness and purity. We can even find, as in 96 and 2000, a mingling of floral and slightly spicy notes, coming through delightfully in this very complex cocktail, in which the new oak has already been totally integrated, as if it had been “digested†by the body of the wine. And what body ! We knew, of course, that all the wines were extremely concentrated. It has to be said that when you add, so to speak, a very low yield to the hot weather conditions in the summer, plus the blending, in which there was an excellent press wine, the result is a wine which possesses a density which has been unparalleled in recent vintages. This density gives the wine not just power and strength, but depth and length too ; and above all, a tannic structure which is so tightly-knit that its texture has taken on a silky feel. A lot has been said, this year, about acidity and the mysteries of it. It is true that grapes have rarely been picked at such low levels of acidity as in 2003. And yet, through the combination of the acids being produced during the fermentation process, a lesser tartaric acid precipitation and a low malic acid content, we have ended up today with a total acidity which is exactly the average of the last 20 vintages. This vintage, with its extreme weather conditions (as we thought), has in fact given birth to a great classic claret ! (Château Margaux, June 2004)
Robert Parker: 99 points
Am I being too stingy with the 2003 Chateau Margaux? A wine of extraordinary complexity and intensity, it reveals a deep purple color, a style not unlike the 1990 Margaux (possibly even more concentrated), a velvety texture, and notes of spring flowers interwoven with camphor, melted licorice, creme de cassis, and pain grille. Not a blockbuster, it offers extraordinary intensity as well as a surreal delicacy/lightness. There is riveting freshness to this offering, which tips the scales at a lofty (for this estate) 13.5% alcohol, as well as an alluring sweetness and accessibility. It probably will tighten up over the next few years. Nevertheless, it is a profound Chateau Margaux that brings to mind a hypothetical blend of the 1982 and 1990.
Jancis Robinson: 18/20 points
Very deep crimson with some black tinge. Extremely deep and serious - indeed, like most first growths, so concentrated it's difficult to read at this stage and the nose is quite reticent. Definite freshness on the nose but very introvert. A baby. Great mass and concentration but not great alcohol. This is a blend of 83 per cent Cabernet Sauvignon (that was less than 13 per cent alcohol apparently and some lots were even chaptalised slightly - although the regular alcoholic strength is around 11.5) and 12 per cent Merlot with some Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Lowest ever acid levels.
Chateau Margaux 2000, EUR POA*
Score: 100 points. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2050.
BDXV:
It was on the occasion of this symbolic vintage that we decided to inaugurate our Harvest Memories that can be found in the "Throughout the days" chapter of this website. We were unaware at that time that we were harvesting one of the greatest vintages of the late 20th century. The grapes had rarely, perhaps never -except in 2003-, been as concentrated, particularly the Cabernets. In certain cases we surpassed the already historic levels of the 1986 and 1995 vintages, with an elegance and softness on the palate, reminiscent also of the 1990 and 1996 vintages. It seemed in fact that 2000 was setting a new benchmark in quality, never before attained, at least in terms of style. Throughout the barrel ageing time, these first impressions were gradually confirmed. The wine has now acquired a slightly tighter texture and at the same time keeps such a soft and especially long finish that it seems to go on forever... The bottling took place in November 2002, after over 2 years of barrel ageing. Such a long ageing is unusual but not as rare as one might think: most of the greatest vintages are aged for that length of time. Over a year has passed now, and the wine is still there, of course, but it is hiding in the background, away from the light. Its presence, though, can be sensed rather than felt ... We should perhaps wait patiently for the 2000 to come out and not rush into drinking this wine, which is bound to become a legend one day. (Château Margaux, February 2004)
Robert Parker: 100 points
Bottled in late November, 2002, the 2000 has turned out to be a colossal example of Chateau Margaux that is tasting even better from bottle than it was from cask. Only 40% of the crop made it into this 2000 Margaux, a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot. Stylistically, it is somewhat of a hybrid between the succulent, opulent, fleshy 1990, and the more delineated, structured, cooler climate-tasting 1996. The 2000 possesses a saturated ruby/purple color to the rim as well as an extraordinarily promising nose of creme de cassis intermixed with white flowers, licorice, and hints of espresso and toasty oak. There is great intensity, compelling purity, a multi-layered, full-bodied palate, and a finish that goes on for nearly 70+ seconds. Bottled naturally, with no filtration, it is a monumental example of the elegance and power that symbolize this extraordinary vineyard. A tour de force in winemaking, many of my colleagues predicted, far earlier than me, that it would be the "wine of the vintage." It is certainly one of the wines of the vintage, but there is plenty of competition, even at this lofty level of quality. Absolutely awesome!
Jancis Robinson: 19/20 points
Deep, lively crimson. Great, explosive, intense layers of fireworks on the nose. Then great manners on the palate. Not too sweet; definitely Margaux. Lightness and surprising delicacy for this vintage. Pulling back a little at this moment in its life cycle. Wonderfully long and convincing.
Chateau Margaux 1996, EUR POA*
Score: 99 points. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2040.
BDXV:
This complicated year taught us many lessons, as it differed completely from the usual, very probably too simple, pattern of the great vintages. It may well be that the heavy rain which came at the end of September was, in fact, a help to the ripening of the Cabernet Sauvignon, as it very probably was the case in 1995, rather than the opposite as we feared. Whatever the explanation, this vintage ended up producing a wine which will go down in history for its classicism and purity. The Cabernet Sauvignon has seldom achieved such a perfection of style and such good balance. What is even rarer perhaps, is to find in a young wine, only just after its blending, the ability to impress and move us at once through the purity of its fruit, the density of its structure and the harmony of its shape. It is a dream of a Margaux. Today the Château Margaux 1996 has lost none of that grace. Of course, it should not be drunk now, but the temptation is great. We dare to recommend, all the same, keeping it for at least twelve to fifteen years in order to give it the time to transform this grace into real drinking pleasure. (Château Margaux, September 2002)
Robert Parker: 99 points
The 1996 Chateau Margaux, which was bottled in September, 1998, is undoubtedly one of the great classics produced under the Mentzelopoulos regime. In many respects, it is the quintessential Chateau Margaux, as well as the paradigm for this estate, combining measured power, extraordinary elegance, and admirable complexity. I tasted the wine on three separate occasions in January, and in short, it's a beauty! The color is opaque purple. The wine offers extraordinarily pure notes of blackberries, cassis, pain grille, and flowers, gorgeous sweetness, a seamless personality, and full body, with nothing out of place. The final blend (85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc) contains a high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon. It tastes complete and long, although backward. My instincts suggest this wine will shut down, but at present it is open-knit, tasting like a recently bottled wine. The fruit is exceptionally sweet and pure, and there are layers of flavor in the mouth. I do believe this wine will develop an extraordinary perfume, and possess a high level of richness.
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