Château Margaux 2009

Still that sublime texture, that unparalleled, noble aroma, and magical tannins—the most harmonious and richest Château Margaux of the past thirty years.

This wine has never disappointed since its acquisition by the Mentzelopoulos family in 1977, and easily stands out among all the Margaux appellation wines. One will particularly admire the rare combination of finesse within density and freshness within opulence, without any hint of overripeness in the grapes, achieved with a very high proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend. About ten hectares planted with white grape varieties produce the Pavillon-Blanc, which in just a few years has become one of the three or four greatest dry white wines of Bordeaux, thanks to its rich body and the aromatic nobility of ideally ripe Sauvignon. The red wine requires extensive aging in the bottle.

The majesty of the Neo-Palladian architecture of its château makes this estate a truly extraordinary place. This is also—and above all—true of the wine, which the 2009 vintage could only elevate even further. And here we are in the presence of THE Margaux: a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 1.5% Cabernet Franc, and 1.5% Petit Verdot, displaying absolute elegance from start to finish. Indeed, all the delicacy of Margaux is expressed in the deep, dense, complex, and wonderfully fresh bouquet—a refined blend of spices (pepper), fresh fruit (blackcurrant, black cherry), floral notes (violet), and menthol. Smooth, round, generous, and sensual on the palate, the wine gradually builds in intensity without ever losing its elegance. Caressing tannins, aromatic purity, exceptional length, and unexpected freshness: the combination of a great vintage and perfectly mastered winemaking has produced a great—indeed, a truly great—Bordeaux. Needless to say, waiting for it is an absolute must...

A legendary estate at the end of a long avenue of plane trees. The majesty of the Neo-Palladian-style mansion (built in 1810)—which replaced an old fortified house once owned by prominent local families—has contributed to its fame. The estate was established in the late 16th century, and the vineyard was planted at the end of the following century by a relative of the Pontac family. Having passed through several owners over the centuries, it was acquired in 1977 by André Mentzelopoulos (Felix Potin). Drainage, replanting, an on-site cooperage… a major renovation of the estate was undertaken—in the vineyards, the winery, and the château—ushering the estate into the modern era. The new winery, designed by Norman Foster, was inaugurated in 2015. The 99-hectare vineyard also owes its quality to its exceptional terroir: a vast and superb limestone slab covered with fine gravel. Since 1980, it has been managed by Corinne Mentzelopoulos, André’s daughter, who was able to rely for more than thirty years on Paul Pontallier, who joined the château in 1983 and became director in 1990—a career that sadly came to a premature end in March 2016. Agricultural engineer Philippe Bascaules, who worked at the château for twenty years before heading a major California winery, succeeded him in 2017. This wine has never disappointed since its acquisition by the Mentzelopoulos family in 1977 and easily stands out as the finest in the entire Margaux appellation. One particularly admires the rare marriage of finesse within density and freshness within opulence—achieved without any hint of overripe grapes—resulting from a blend composed overwhelmingly of Cabernet Sauvignon. About ten hectares planted with white grape varieties produce the Pavillon-Blanc, which in just a few years has become one of the three or four greatest dry white wines of Bordeaux, thanks to its rich body and the aromatic nobility of perfectly ripe Sauvignon Blanc. The red wine requires extended bottle aging to fully express its noble character.

This wine borders on the sublime. The nose is beautifully fresh, with notes of candied blackcurrant, anise, blackthorn, and menthol. On the palate, it’s briny, concentrated, and taut, making you want to drink it right down to the last drop.

A magnificent gift from the Mentzelopoulos family, which—once again, thanks to its talented general manager, Paul Pontallier—has produced an exceptionally concentrated and powerful 2009 Château Margaux, composed of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, complemented by Merlot and a small percentage of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. As with most Médoc wines, the alcohol content here is rather low (13.3%) compared to its peers. Abundant aromas of blueberries, blackcurrants, and acacia blossoms, along with hints of charcoal and forest floor, are reminiscent of Burgundian aromas in their complexity and are followed by a wine displaying sweetness? . The tannins are well-integrated, yet there is a certain airy lightness, despite the wine’s overall full-bodied character. Rich, round, generous, and unusually approachable for such a young Margaux, this 2009 vintage will be very enjoyable in 30–35 years and beyond. (Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, March 2012)

An iconic figure and director of Château Margaux since 1983, Paul Pontalier passed away the day after the 2015 harvest, and Philippe Bascaules now leads this estate, renowned for its unparalleled consistency. Tasting a great Château Margaux at its peak remains a unique experience, as the wine stands out within its appellation for its characteristic floral bouquet, the depth of its flavors, and the silkiness of its tannins. The estate owes these distinctive qualities to its superb terroir, composed mainly of gravel, which is so well-suited to the Cabernet varieties that form the heart of Margaux and which has remained virtually unchanged since its classification. Thanks to improvements in winemaking techniques and an even more rigorous selection process, the most recent vintages appear to be the most well-rounded yet. The estate also produces, under the name Pavillon Blanc, a wine that—thanks to stricter standards in the pursuit of optimal ripeness for the Sauvignon grapes—has become one of Bordeaux’s finest white wines.

A powerful Margaux wine, built on tannins and ripe fruit. It contains more Cabernet Sauvignon than usual, resulting in intense blackcurrant aromas with lovely acidity, all balanced by the sweetness of the fruit. Ripe swathes of this opulent fruit are also elegant and structured.