Margaux appellation wine
Margaux appellation wine

Margaux Appellation

The Margaux appellation is the largest of the six communal AOCs, it is also the southernmost and closest to Bordeaux. The Margaux appellation area is home to 21 of the 61 Grands Crus Classés from the 1855 classification, making it the leader among all communal appellations in the Médoc. It is also the only one to bear the name of a Premier Grand Cru Classé, the legendary Château Margaux, whose quality is explained by its exceptional terroir and which produces one of the most elegant wines in the region.

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Margaux is an appellation located in the Médoc vineyard in France, between the Atlantic Ocean and the left bank of the Gironde estuary.

It is the largest of the six communal appellations in the Haut-Médoc and spans 1500 hectares covering the communes of Arsac, Labarde, Margaux-Cantenac and Soussans.

 

It also includes the largest number of Médoc Classified Growths (21), including the First Growth, Château Margaux.

 

The first vines were cultivated during the Gallo-Roman period and the Margaux controlled designation of origin was officially established on August 10, 1954.

 

The Margaux terroir, a beneficial soil and climate

 

The Margaux terroir benefits from a temperate oceanic climate, mild in winter, protected from heat waves in summer and with good rainfall distribution throughout the year. The proximity to the Gironde estuary helps moderate temperatures and protect the vineyard from spring frosts.

 

The Margaux vines are planted on gravel ridges, shaped by erosion, bordered to the east by estuary marshlands and to the west by the sandy plateau forests of the Landes.

 

These soils are composed of gravel and pebbles mixed with more or less clayey sand and contribute to the drainage of rainwater and the penetration of vine roots to draw water and necessary nutrients. The grapes are then of very high quality.

 

This Margaux appellation terroir, with its very gravelly soils and mild maritime climate, allows for slow grape maturation, hence the incomparable finesse of its wines.

 

The wines of the Margaux appellation: great finesse and Cabernet Sauvignon dominance

 

Margaux wines are known for their elegance, finesse and complexity, with fruity aromas of raspberries, cherry and currant but also floral notes, spices and roasted aromas. Their aromatic bouquet is complex, with an unctuous and velvety texture.

 

Historically, Carmenere and Malbec (or Cot) grapes were planted and made up the wines of the Margaux appellation. They were gradually abandoned to give way to the four grape varieties that now dominate the appellation: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot.

 

The great Châteaux of the Margaux appellation

The Margaux appellation is known for producing some of the world's finest red wines and is highly sought after by collectors and connoisseurs. Among the Classified Growths are:

 

Château Margaux - 1st Classified Growth

Château Brane Cantenac - 2nd Classified Growth

Château Lascombes - 2nd Classified Growth

Château Palmer - 3rd Classified Growth

Château Boyd-Cantenac - 3rd Classified Growth

Château Cantenac Brown - 3rd Classified Growth

Château Prieuré-Lichine - 4th Classified Growth

Château du Tertre - 5th Classified Growth

 

 

Food & wine pairings of Margaux

Margaux wines are elegant and complex red wines that pair well with many dishes. They go well with grilled, braised or roasted red meats, game meat and perfectly complement roasted chicken and dishes prepared with truffle.

 

Here are some food and wine pairings for Margaux wines:

 

* Roasted meats: beef tenderloin, Pauillac milk-fed lamb or roasted duck with foie gras. Their finesse and structure balance with the tenderness of the meat.

 

* Mushroom-based dishes, such as wild mushroom risotto, blanquette of veal with morels or sweetbreads with porcini mushrooms. The mushrooms will echo the earthy aromas of the red wine.

 

* Margaux wines are among the rare wines that can also pair with fish provided it is cooked with a sauce, such as lamprey à la bordelaise.

 

* Finally, Margaux appellation wines pair perfectly with mature cheeses with bold character: such as Comté, farmhouse Saint-Nectaire, Brillat-savarin (with or without truffles) and aged cheddar. The complexity of the red wine's aromas will match the richness and flavors of the cheese.

 

The châteaux of the appellation are the following: Château Marquis d'Alesme, Château Labegorce, Château Lascombes, Château Giscours, Château Marquis de Terme, Château Boyd Cantenac, Château Cantenac Brown, Château Malescot Saint Exupery, Château d'Issan, Château Rauzan Segla, Château Siran, Château Dauzac, Château du Tertre, Château Prieure Lichine, Château Rauzan Gassies, Pavillon Rouge du Château Margaux, Château Palmer, Château Margaux,...

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