Château Margaux 2020 - 1er Grand Cru Classé

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.

Fresh and confident, this effortless Margaux is sure to be a hit in 2020. It has a vibrant color in the glass and a delicately fragrant nose. On the palate, it is soft and graceful, silky and rich at the same time. It unfolds in several layers, much more vertical than broad at this stage, yet with obvious concentration. It develops slowly but surely, taking its time before revealing juicy, chewy, and succulent notes of blackcurrant, licorice, clove, sweet spices, and refreshing menthol. Nuanced and detailed, with precision and clarity in both flavor and overall mouthfeel. A Margaux for the years to come. 2028–2049

2018, 2019, 2020: a trilogy that will go down in history. Philippe Bascaules and his teams have once again crafted a wine of the highest refinement and have perfectly adapted to this vintage, marked by successive waves of heat and an exceptionally dry summer; yet it is a remarkable freshness that stands out during tasting. The blend, very similar to those of recent vintages, consists of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot, and 1% Cabernet Franc. In the glass, it displays a magnificent, deep, and dense color, from which aromas of rare complexity gradually emerge: ripe black fruits, morello cherry, sweet spices, floral nuances (violet, rose), and notes of graphite and menthol. Then, a full-bodied attack gives way to a rich, dense, and powerful palate that is also very tender, delicate, and velvety, with a sensation of freshness that never wanes and culminates in a long finish of Zan and violet. A Margaux of admirable purity and balance. 2028–2045

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 great wine will undoubtedly go down in history. The great Cabernets of Margaux express themselves with a balance and vibrancy on the palate that mark one of the appellation’s greatest achievements. The texture is fabulous—creamy and sensual—with an endless finish that intensifies with each passing second in a symphony of fruity notes.

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.

Magnificent aromas of black plums and violets. Hints of orange zest as well. A touch of crushed stone, bark, stems, and iron shavings. Full-bodied, yet very tight and compact. The tannins are very pronounced, giving it great structure, but they are polished and seamlessly integrated. It will need years to reveal its full grandeur. Incredibly polished and structured. More structured than the 2019. Best enjoyed after 2030 and beyond.

Château Margaux 2020 is very deliberate in the way it reveals itself and takes shape. Thus, one must envision a series of elements that come together in a coordinated manner, taking care not to overpower or overshadow one another. The finesse on the nose is perfectly reflected on the palate, right from the first sip, where the wine’s brilliance—its roundness, fullness, and tenderness—is embodied by supple, velvety tannins. This is just the beginning, for one senses that it won’t stop there… and this becomes evident as the wine unfolds on the palate. The tannins assert themselves on the finish and are ideally supported—or complemented—by a structuring, well-defined acidity that works behind the scenes. It is somewhat underestimated, as are the tannins, for that matter, but ultimately the whole supports the finish in a convincing and imposing manner. A truly great Château Margaux that will require patient aging. And since we’ll also have to wait for the Pavillon Rouge, the Pavillon Blanc will remain to provide plenty of enjoyment—and quench a little thirst! 2027–2047

The nose is elegant, refined, and fruity, offering power (in both finesse and fullness), a beautiful finesse in its richness and texture, an ethereal power, freshness, and control, as well as a lovely depth and breadth to the aromatic profile. It features notes of vibrant Boysenberry, pulpy blackcurrant, and, more subtly, blueberry, violet, and strawberry, combined with hints of bourbon vanilla, lilac, saffron, and star anise, as well as discreet hints of black tea and a subtle hint of hazelnut. On the palate, it is fruity, elegant, delicate, powerful, and beautifully defined, offering depth, fine finesse, delicate tension, richness with subtlety and finesse, mastery, fullness, harmony, savory notes, energy, as well as a silky texture and an airy character in its balance. A lovely mid-palate with a multi-layered quality. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of pulpy, juicy blackberry, vibrant raspberry, and, to a lesser extent, vibrant blackcurrant, combined with hints of bright red berries, touches of pulpy, juicy blueberry, cornflower, star anise, as well as subtle hints of tonka bean, chocolate, toasted hazelnut, and a subtle hint of black tea. The tannins are elegant, velvety, and polished. There is an imperceptible hint of Bourbon vanilla bean, white flowers, and toast on the finish and in the aftertaste. A very beautiful finish. A wine brimming with classicism in its noblest sense. Congratulations!

It is the wine’s elegance, the silkiness of its tannins, and the purity of its fruit that define its character. On the palate, you’ll find layers of sweet, refined cherries, red plums, and black raspberries—as if they had been picked at the perfect moment and eaten right in the vineyard. Texturally, the wine is incredible. The fruit is velvety, creamy, fresh, long-lasting, and rich. Everything is in balance and harmony. The finish is smooth, making this a wine that’s easy to enjoy. Best enjoyed from 2030 to 2060.