Château Margaux 2025 - 1er Grand Cru Classé (Primeurs)

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

This wine has never disappointed since its acquisition by the Mentzelopoulos family in 1977, and easily stands out among all the Margaux appellation wines. Of particular note is the rare combination of finesse within density and freshness within opulence, achieved without any hint of overripe grapes, thanks to 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.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the estate:

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. Particularly admirable is 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.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

A blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot, the 2025 Château Margaux is a deep and imposing wine that accounts for approximately 37% of the estate’s production this year. It opens up in the glass with notes of black berries, violets, lilacs, and pencil shavings, framed by a subtle hint of new oak. It is medium-bodied to full-bodied, dense, and complex, with a concentrated, fruity core framed by soft, powdery tannins and lively acidity. It will certainly require a bit of patience, but this is a prodigious Château Margaux in the making. It has an alcohol content of 13.8% and a pH of 3.72.

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 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 all 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 ripening of the Sauvignon grapes—has become one of Bordeaux’s finest white wines.

Jeb Dunnuck

About the wine:

A divine and magical wine, the very embodiment of perfection, the 2025 Château Margaux is composed of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot, and was aged entirely in new oak barrels. With its sumptuous aromas, it resembles the Pavillon Rouge, revealing notes of blackcurrant, blueberries, and spices, but with an added touch of freshness and a floral character. It is absolutely harmonious on the palate, with a full body, a deep, complex, pure, and graceful texture, velvety and refined tannins, impeccable balance, and a sensational finish. With an alcohol content of 13.8% and a pH of 3.72, they took the risk of harvesting very late in September, finishing on the 29th, and this has undoubtedly paid off. While many wines from this vintage are magnificent in their richness and elegance, this one reaches another level of opulence and depth. It reminds me of the 2009 on the palate and is well on its way to becoming a legendary Margaux.

Terre de Vins

About the wine:

This great Margaux wine checks all the boxes in this sun-drenched vintage, which the finest terroirs have mastered. Yet another truly great 5 right from the nose, where velvety notes give way to licorice, violet, and strawberry. What breadth on the palate—restrained yet perfectly balanced power: a powerful punch with pinpoint accuracy!

Falstaff