Margaux | Château Margaux
GRAPE VARIETY:
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc.
TASTING NOTES:
Margaux du Château Margaux 2009 was produced from a great vintage, and possesses all those attributes: a deep, dark color, a rich nose, it is voluptuous, already complex where flowery and spicy hints mingle with those of cocoa. The impression on the mouth reflects the intensity of the aromas; it is full-flavored, rich and impressive, structured by well-softened tannins. The finish is soft, both warm and fresh. This wine is very powerful and concentrated - even more so than the first and second wines, and is quite remarkably open and easy to drink, which is probably owing to the personality of the vintage as much as to the Château Margaux terroir.
MARGAUX 2009 Climate
After a cold, dry winter, the weather turned rainy and cool in April, causing a rather late bud-break and a somewhat slow growth of the vine shoots. As from May 1st however, temperatures rose quite sharply and settled above the seasonal norms, without ever reaching excessive highs. This allowed a quick and successful flowering that promised a very even ripening of the berries. By then a drought had begun to set in, though in these early days we had no idea of how severe and long it would actually be. Very few vintages (apart from the 2005) have been so dry. It hardly rained from July 10th until the end of the harvest on October 14th!
Such dry weather is particularly beneficial to the great terroirs which can regulate the water supply to the vines, and to Cabernet Sauvignon because it is less affected by drought than Merlot. Still, some of the vines planted in lighter and less clayey soils struggled to get their grapes perfectly ripe. While these very dry months had some very hot days, the nights remained rather cool. This contrast helped the tannins and anthocyanins to concentrate in the skins of the red. All the pieces were gradually falling into place to make 2009 a really outstanding vintage. (The picking began September 24th).
THE WINERY:
Château Margaux is one of Bordeaux's most famous wine estates, located just east of Margaux itself in the Médoc. Along with Lafite, Latour and Haut-Brion, it was rated as a first growth in the original 1855 Bordeaux Classification of the Médoc.
Generally, Margaux is considered as the most elegant of the first growths, and is consistently one of the most expensive wines in the world. The Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant blend is complimented with small portions of Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc.
Château Margaux's vineyards have a complex combination of soils that are unique to the area. These consist of chalky clay under a top layer of coarse and fine gravels, which is well-suited to Cabernet Sauvignon, which accounts for around 75 percent of plantings. Merlot makes up a further 20 percent, with the rest planted to Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.
As is typical for top Bordeaux estates, the vineyard is densely planted at 10,000 vines per hectare. There are also 12 hectares (30 acres) of Sauvignon Blanc to make Margaux's white offering, Pavillon Blanc, which must be sold as Bordeaux AOP, not Margaux. This compliments the Pavillon Rouge the second wine of which production dates back to the beginning of the 16th Century.
La Mothe de Margaux existed as a distinct property in the 12th Century, and was set up as a wine estate in the 1570s, as farmers in the Médoc began to abandon cereal crops in favor of vines. In 1705, the London Gazette advertised the first auction of 230 barrels of "Margose", and in 1787, Thomas Jefferson made his famous visit to Bordeaux and identified Margaux as one of the "four vineyards of first quality".
By 1800, the estate occupied 265 hectares (655 acres) with a third planted to vines, which remains the situation today. The iconic neo-palladian château, nicknamed "The Versailles of the Médoc", was built in the early 1800s to match the reputation of the vineyard.
In 1977, Château Margaux was bought by the Greek-born cereals trader and grocery chain owner André Mentzepoulos. In a time of economic crisis he began a major program of investment, which was continued upon his death in 1980 by his daughter Corinne and winemaker Paul Pontallier (who joined in 1983). This overhaul allowed Margaux to fully benefit from global economic upturns and the excellent 1982 vintage.
THE VINEYARD
215 acres of appellation contrôlée of which 202 acres planted.
AVERAGE ANNUAL PRODUCTION: Château Margaux: 120 000 bottles (average production).
VINIFICATION: Fermentation in oak barrels. Ageing: 18 to 24 months in new oak barrels.
AVERAGE ANNUAL PRODUCTION:
Château Margaux: 120 000 bottles (average production).
Wine Enthusiast: 2009 Vintage Tasted Jan 2012
98/100
A massive wine for Margaux, packed with tannins and ripe fruit. It has more Cabernet Sauvignon than usual, giving intense black currant flavors with enticing acidity balanced by the sweetness of the fruit. Ripe swathes of this opulent fruit are also elegant and structured.
GRAPE VARIETY:
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc.
TASTING NOTES:
Margaux du Château Margaux 2009 was produced from a great vintage, and possesses all those attributes: a deep, dark color, a rich nose, it is voluptuous, already complex where flowery and spicy hints mingle with those of cocoa. The impression on the mouth reflects the intensity of the aromas; it is full-flavored, rich and impressive, structured by well-softened tannins. The finish is soft, both warm and fresh. This wine is very powerful and concentrated - even more so than the first and second wines, and is quite remarkably open and easy to drink, which is probably owing to the personality of the vintage as much as to the Château Margaux terroir.
MARGAUX 2009 Climate
After a cold, dry winter, the weather turned rainy and cool in April, causing a rather late bud-break and a somewhat slow growth of the vine shoots. As from May 1st however, temperatures rose quite sharply and settled above the seasonal norms, without ever reaching excessive highs. This allowed a quick and successful flowering that promised a very even ripening of the berries. By then a drought had begun to set in, though in these early days we had no idea of how severe and long it would actually be. Very few vintages (apart from the 2005) have been so dry. It hardly rained from July 10th until the end of the harvest on October 14th!
Such dry weather is particularly beneficial to the great terroirs which can regulate the water supply to the vines, and to Cabernet Sauvignon because it is less affected by drought than Merlot. Still, some of the vines planted in lighter and less clayey soils struggled to get their grapes perfectly ripe. While these very dry months had some very hot days, the nights remained rather cool. This contrast helped the tannins and anthocyanins to concentrate in the skins of the red. All the pieces were gradually falling into place to make 2009 a really outstanding vintage. (The picking began September 24th).
THE WINERY:
Château Margaux is one of Bordeaux's most famous wine estates, located just east of Margaux itself in the Médoc. Along with Lafite, Latour and Haut-Brion, it was rated as a first growth in the original 1855 Bordeaux Classification of the Médoc.
Generally, Margaux is considered as the most elegant of the first growths, and is consistently one of the most expensive wines in the world. The Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant blend is complimented with small portions of Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc.
Château Margaux's vineyards have a complex combination of soils that are unique to the area. These consist of chalky clay under a top layer of coarse and fine gravels, which is well-suited to Cabernet Sauvignon, which accounts for around 75 percent of plantings. Merlot makes up a further 20 percent, with the rest planted to Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.
As is typical for top Bordeaux estates, the vineyard is densely planted at 10,000 vines per hectare. There are also 12 hectares (30 acres) of Sauvignon Blanc to make Margaux's white offering, Pavillon Blanc, which must be sold as Bordeaux AOP, not Margaux. This compliments the Pavillon Rouge the second wine of which production dates back to the beginning of the 16th Century.
La Mothe de Margaux existed as a distinct property in the 12th Century, and was set up as a wine estate in the 1570s, as farmers in the Médoc began to abandon cereal crops in favor of vines. In 1705, the London Gazette advertised the first auction of 230 barrels of "Margose", and in 1787, Thomas Jefferson made his famous visit to Bordeaux and identified Margaux as one of the "four vineyards of first quality".
By 1800, the estate occupied 265 hectares (655 acres) with a third planted to vines, which remains the situation today. The iconic neo-palladian château, nicknamed "The Versailles of the Médoc", was built in the early 1800s to match the reputation of the vineyard.
In 1977, Château Margaux was bought by the Greek-born cereals trader and grocery chain owner André Mentzepoulos. In a time of economic crisis he began a major program of investment, which was continued upon his death in 1980 by his daughter Corinne and winemaker Paul Pontallier (who joined in 1983). This overhaul allowed Margaux to fully benefit from global economic upturns and the excellent 1982 vintage.
THE VINEYARD
215 acres of appellation contrôlée of which 202 acres planted.
AVERAGE ANNUAL PRODUCTION: Château Margaux: 120 000 bottles (average production).
VINIFICATION: Fermentation in oak barrels. Ageing: 18 to 24 months in new oak barrels.
AVERAGE ANNUAL PRODUCTION:
Château Margaux: 120 000 bottles (average production).
Wine Enthusiast: 2009 Vintage Tasted Jan 2012
98/100
A massive wine for Margaux, packed with tannins and ripe fruit. It has more Cabernet Sauvignon than usual, giving intense black currant flavors with enticing acidity balanced by the sweetness of the fruit. Ripe swathes of this opulent fruit are also elegant and structured.
GRAPE VARIETY:
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc.
TASTING NOTES:
Margaux du Château Margaux 2009 was produced from a great vintage, and possesses all those attributes: a deep, dark color, a rich nose, it is voluptuous, already complex where flowery and spicy hints mingle with those of cocoa. The impression on the mouth reflects the intensity of the aromas; it is full-flavored, rich and impressive, structured by well-softened tannins. The finish is soft, both warm and fresh. This wine is very powerful and concentrated - even more so than the first and second wines, and is quite remarkably open and easy to drink, which is probably owing to the personality of the vintage as much as to the Château Margaux terroir.
MARGAUX 2009 Climate
After a cold, dry winter, the weather turned rainy and cool in April, causing a rather late bud-break and a somewhat slow growth of the vine shoots. As from May 1st however, temperatures rose quite sharply and settled above the seasonal norms, without ever reaching excessive highs. This allowed a quick and successful flowering that promised a very even ripening of the berries. By then a drought had begun to set in, though in these early days we had no idea of how severe and long it would actually be. Very few vintages (apart from the 2005) have been so dry. It hardly rained from July 10th until the end of the harvest on October 14th!
Such dry weather is particularly beneficial to the great terroirs which can regulate the water supply to the vines, and to Cabernet Sauvignon because it is less affected by drought than Merlot. Still, some of the vines planted in lighter and less clayey soils struggled to get their grapes perfectly ripe. While these very dry months had some very hot days, the nights remained rather cool. This contrast helped the tannins and anthocyanins to concentrate in the skins of the red. All the pieces were gradually falling into place to make 2009 a really outstanding vintage. (The picking began September 24th).
THE WINERY:
Château Margaux is one of Bordeaux's most famous wine estates, located just east of Margaux itself in the Médoc. Along with Lafite, Latour and Haut-Brion, it was rated as a first growth in the original 1855 Bordeaux Classification of the Médoc.
Generally, Margaux is considered as the most elegant of the first growths, and is consistently one of the most expensive wines in the world. The Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant blend is complimented with small portions of Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc.
Château Margaux's vineyards have a complex combination of soils that are unique to the area. These consist of chalky clay under a top layer of coarse and fine gravels, which is well-suited to Cabernet Sauvignon, which accounts for around 75 percent of plantings. Merlot makes up a further 20 percent, with the rest planted to Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.
As is typical for top Bordeaux estates, the vineyard is densely planted at 10,000 vines per hectare. There are also 12 hectares (30 acres) of Sauvignon Blanc to make Margaux's white offering, Pavillon Blanc, which must be sold as Bordeaux AOP, not Margaux. This compliments the Pavillon Rouge the second wine of which production dates back to the beginning of the 16th Century.
La Mothe de Margaux existed as a distinct property in the 12th Century, and was set up as a wine estate in the 1570s, as farmers in the Médoc began to abandon cereal crops in favor of vines. In 1705, the London Gazette advertised the first auction of 230 barrels of "Margose", and in 1787, Thomas Jefferson made his famous visit to Bordeaux and identified Margaux as one of the "four vineyards of first quality".
By 1800, the estate occupied 265 hectares (655 acres) with a third planted to vines, which remains the situation today. The iconic neo-palladian château, nicknamed "The Versailles of the Médoc", was built in the early 1800s to match the reputation of the vineyard.
In 1977, Château Margaux was bought by the Greek-born cereals trader and grocery chain owner André Mentzepoulos. In a time of economic crisis he began a major program of investment, which was continued upon his death in 1980 by his daughter Corinne and winemaker Paul Pontallier (who joined in 1983). This overhaul allowed Margaux to fully benefit from global economic upturns and the excellent 1982 vintage.
THE VINEYARD
215 acres of appellation contrôlée of which 202 acres planted.
AVERAGE ANNUAL PRODUCTION: Château Margaux: 120 000 bottles (average production).
VINIFICATION: Fermentation in oak barrels. Ageing: 18 to 24 months in new oak barrels.
AVERAGE ANNUAL PRODUCTION:
Château Margaux: 120 000 bottles (average production).
Wine Enthusiast: 2009 Vintage Tasted Jan 2012
98/100
A massive wine for Margaux, packed with tannins and ripe fruit. It has more Cabernet Sauvignon than usual, giving intense black currant flavors with enticing acidity balanced by the sweetness of the fruit. Ripe swathes of this opulent fruit are also elegant and structured.