Winery: Chateau Margaux

Country / Region: France / Bordeaux - Margaux

Date Winery was established: 1500's

Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot & Cabernet Franc

First Vintage Released: 1771 (officially)

Alcohol Level / Volume: 13% / 750ml

Ratings: 99 pts. Wine Cellar Insider

Good To Know: Already occupied and cultivated as early as the 12th century, the vineyards of Chateau Margaux were once originally planted with grains and cereals. It was only in the 1570's when the crops were exchanged for vines and the property was setup as a wine estate. In 1705, under the name "Margose," 230 barrels of wine from the chateau were auctioned in London. In 1771 it became the first "claret" sold in Christie's, a famous auction house based in the UK. Thomas Jefferson visited Chateau Margaux in 1787 and named it as one of the "four vineyards of first quality," alongside another renowned Bordeaux estate, Chateau Haut Brion.

Ownership of the chateau has changed hands quite a few times since the 16th century. In 1977 amidst the financial crisis, the estate was bought by grocery chain owner, André Mentzepoulos. Under his care, Chateau Margaux began a major program of investment. Upon his death, his daughter, Corinne, together with winemaker Paul Pontallier continued the chateau's overhaul, ushering in a sort of "golden age" for the estate, producing highly sought after vintages every year since. More recent developments include the 2009 introduction of a third wine, Margaux du Château Margaux, to complement the grand vin and the second wine, Pavillon Rouge.

Château Margaux 2003 is a magnificent, famously seductive First Growth expression crafted under the visionary direction of the late Paul Pontallier, standing as one of the definitive triumphs of Bordeaux's historic heatwave vintage. Sourced from the estate's revered Günzian gravel ridges over moisture-retaining clay-limestone subsoils in the Margaux appellation, it is built around a blend dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon (approximately 86%) alongside Merlot (around 10%), Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc, matured for roughly 18 to 20 months in 100% new French oak barrels. The nose is extraordinarily opulent, perfumed, and multifaceted, unfurling with aromas of crème de cassis, wild black cherries, and blackberry liqueur layered over the estate's hallmark crushed violets, dried rose petals, sandalwood, cigar box cedar, black tea, and warm baking spices. On the palate, it harnesses the lavish warmth and profound phenolic ripeness of 2003 while preserving the château's signature aristocratic grace, enveloping the mouth in a voluptuous, velvety core of dark fruit supported by seamlessly melted, cashmere-textured tannins and remarkable underlying freshness, before gliding into an expansive, savory, and delicately floral mineral finish of extraordinary persistence.