Château Margaux : 5 things to know

Located on the left bank of the Gironde, Château Margaux is a large Bordeaux château with an international reputation. The vineyard is one of the largest in the appellation and extends over more than 94 hectares of vines.

1: Château Margaux belongs to the Margaux appellation

The Margaux appellation covers 1,500 hectares of vines in more than five communes: Arsac, Cantenac, Labarde, Margaux and Soussans. 21 classified growths are produced by the appellation, including Château Margaux, Brane-Cantenac, Rauzan-Ségla, Rauzan-Gassies… In addition to its extraordinary terroir, the appellation owes its name to the classified growth Château Margaux.

2 : The Château Margaux is a premier cru classé

In 1855, the Second Universal Exhibition took place in Paris. During this event, Emperor Napoleon III aims to honor French products, including Médoc wines. The famous official classification of 1855 which divides some sixty Médoc crus and one property from the Graves into five quality levels is the result of a blind tasting carried out beforehand during this Universal Exhibition.

This is how Margaux figures among the four Premier Grand Cru Classé, with the exceptional score of twenty out of twenty. A premier cru classé position which still contributes today to building the reputation of this great Château.

3 : The Château produces a second wine

The Château produces a second wine. Created in 1908, the latter is called “Pavillon Rouge du Château Margaux”. It was formerly unlabeled and sold to the estate’s employees. Between 1970 and 1977, the production of the second wine “Pavillon Rouge du Château Margaux” was suspended.

Today, the second wine is tasted and it represents an interesting initiation to the Premier Cru. It represents the same work as the Grand Vin.

4: A building resembling the Palace of Versailles

It was Louis Combes who took care of the construction of the Château Margaux. This Bordeaux architect created a masterpiece. Today the building is often nicknamed “the Versailles of the Médoc”, with its neo-Palladian style property feel, it stands out from the other Châteaux of the Médoc and Bordeaux.

The large cellar is also majestic. Recognizable thanks to its large white columns, it evokes the spectacular image of a wine cathedral.

5: Château Margaux has great vintages

The Château is one of the jewels of the Médoc. With its premier cru classé status and its unique expertise, the Château can only produce great vintages. The exceptional vintages are: 1945, 1961, the wines of 1982, the 1985 and 1989 vintages, 1990 and 1995 and finally the 2005 and 2009 vintages. Even today, Château Margaux still receives the best scores from experts such as Jancis Robinson, Robert Parker and Jeannie Cho Lee.

Our selection

Château Margaux 1994

Rated 91+/100 by Robert Parker Wine Advocate in january 2003

“This largely forgotten vintage seems to have turned the corner a year or two ago. Due to the strict selections made at the best chateaux, the wines still had density, but the level of tannin was often too high and the type of tannin was more green and astringent.Château Margaux 1994 has always been one of the contenders for “wine of the vintage”.The wine still has a dense plum/purple color and a big, sweet nose of dark fruit interspersed with licorice, camphor, vanilla and a hint of flowers. The wine is dense and powerful, but the tannins have softened and don’t seem as harsh and intrusive as they did in the late 90s.”

Château Margaux 2002

Rated 95/100 by Robert Parker Wine Advocate in octobet 2009

“Tasted blind during the Farr tasting in Bordeaux in 2002. Very fine on the nose…definitely Premier Cru quality with a beautiful floral fragrance. Margaux? Black cherry, touch of cassis, violet and wild bocage. Superb clarity. Ripe, very pure and very harmonious succulent entry with filigree tannins and a natural and graceful finish that belies its power. Tasted in October 2009.”