Château Margaux 2009

Bettane & Desseauve

About wine:

Still with its sublime texture, unrivalled noble aroma, and magical tannins, this is the most harmonious and richest Château Margaux of the last thirty years.

About the estate:

This vintage has never disappointed since it was bought by the Mentzelopoulos family in 1977, and easily dominates the entire Margaux appellation. We particularly admire the rare combination of finesse in density and freshness in opulence, without any over-ripeness of the grapes, achieved with a very high proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend. A dozen hectares planted with white grape varieties produce the Pavillon-Blanc, which in just a few years has become one of the three most sought-after wines in the Margaux appellation. majority of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend. Around 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 whites in Bordeaux, thanks to its rich structure and the aromatic nobility of ideally ripe Sauvignon. The red wine requires long aging in the bottle.

Guide Hachette des vins

About wine:

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 enhance 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, with absolute elegance from start to finish. In fact, all the delicacy of Margaux is expressed in the deep, dense, complex and very fresh bouquet, a refined combination of spices (pepper), fresh fruit (blackcurrant, black cherry), floral (violet) and menthol notes. Smooth, round, generous and sensual on the attack, the palate gradually builds in power without ever losing its elegance. Caressing tannins, aromatic purity, exceptional length, unexpected freshness: the combination of a great vintage and perfectly mastered winemaking has produced a great, a very great Bordeaux. Needless to say, waiting for it is an absolute must..

About the estate:

A myth standing at the end of a long avenue lined with plane trees. The majesty of the neo-Palladian style residence (built in 1810), which replaced an old fortified house belonging to prominent families in the region, contributed to its renown. The estate was established at the end of the 16th century, and the vineyard was created at the end of the following century by a relative of the Pontac family. After passing through several hands over the centuries, it was acquired in 1977 by André Mentzelopoulos (Felix Potin). Drainage, replanting, integrated cooperage... a major renovation of the estate was undertaken, including the vineyard, the winery, and the château, bringing 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 run by Corinne Mentzelopoulos, André's daughter, who for more than thirty years was able to count 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 managing a large Californian estate, replaced him in 2017. This wine has never disappointed since its purchase by the Mentzelopoulos family in 1977, and easily dominates the entire Margaux appellation. Particularly admirable is the rare combination of finesse in density and freshness in opulence, without any over-ripeness of the grapes, achieved with a very high proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend. 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 whites in Bordeaux, thanks to its rich composition and the aromatic nobility of perfectly ripe Sauvignon. The red wine requires long aging in the bottle to fully express its noble character.

Guide des Vins Gault & Millau

About wine:

This wine borders on the sublime. The nose is beautifully fresh with notes of candied blackcurrant, aniseed, sloe, and menthol. The palate is salty, concentrated, and taut, making you want to drink every last drop.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About wine:

A magnificent gift from the Mentzelopoulos family, who once again, thanks to their talented managing director Paul Pontallier, have produced an exceptionally concentrated and powerful Château Margaux 2009, with 87% Cabernet Sauvignon complemented by Merlot and a small amount of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. As with most Médoc wines, the alcohol content is rather low (13.3%) compared to its peers. Abundant aromas of blueberries, blackcurrants, and acacia flowers, as well as hints of charcoal and undergrowth, are similar to Burgundy aromas in their complexity, followed by wine displaying sweetness. The tannins are well integrated, yet there is a certain airy lightness, despite the wine's overall structure. Rich, round, generous, and unusually accessible for such a young Margaux, this 2009 vintage will be very enjoyable in 30-35 years and beyond. (Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, March 2012)

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the estate:

An iconic figure and director of Château Margaux since 1983, Paul Pontalier passed away shortly after the 2015 harvest. Philippe Bascaules now manages this estate, renowned for its exceptional 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, depth of flavor, and silky tannins. The wine owes these characteristics to its superb terroir, composed mainly of gravel, which is so well suited to the Cabernet grapes that form the heart of Margaux, and which has remained virtually unchanged since its classification. Thanks to improvements in working methods and even more rigorous selection, the latest vintages appear to be the most complete yet. The estate also produces a wine called Pavillon Blanc, which, thanks to more stringent requirements in terms of the ripeness of the Sauvignon grapes, has become one of the best white wines in Bordeaux.

Wine Enthusiast

About wine:

A huge wine for a Margaux built on tannins and ripe fruit. More Cabernet Sauvignon than usual, giving 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.