Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Showing vastly superior from bottle than it did from cask, Labegorce’s 2009 comes from a property that now includes the former estate Labegorce-Zede, which has been absorbed completely into this attractive vineyard just to the north of Chateau Margaux. They have excelled in this vintage. Dense ruby/purple, with notes of creosote, spring flowers, blueberry and blackberry fruit, this is a rich, medium to full-bodied wine with loads of character and depth. It is usually one of the better values of Bordeaux and it certainly stands out as a major sleeper of the vintage. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2025.
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Wine Spectator
This has dark fruit, but comes off as sleek, with cassis, plum eau de vie, blackberry paste and fig sauce notes all seamlessly held together by light toasty structure. Drink now through 2019. 14,000 cases made.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
Silky, seductive and polished are the words that characterize the best wines from Margaux, the most inland appellation of the Médoc on the Left Bank of Bordeaux.
Margaux’s gravel soils are the thinnest of the Médoc, making them most penetrable by vine roots—some reaching down over 23 feet for water. The best sites are said to be on gentle outcrops, or croupes, where more gravel facilitates good drainage.
The Left Bank of Bordeaux subscribes to an arguably outdated method of classification but it is nonetheless important in regards to history of the area. In 1855 the finest chateaux were deemed on the basis of reputation and trading price—at that time. In 1855, Chateau Margaux achieved first growth status, yet it has been Chateau Palmer (officially third growth from the 1855 classification) that has consistently outperformed others throughout the 20th century.
Chateau Margaux in top vintages is capable of producing red Cabernet Sauvignon based wines described as pure, intense, spell-binding, refined and profound with flavors and aromas of black currant, violets, roses, orange peel, black tea and incense.
Other top producers worthy of noting include Chateau Rauzan-Ségla, Lascombes, Brane-Cantenac, and d’Issan, among others.
The best wines of Margaux combine a deep ruby color with a polished structure, concentration and an unrivaled elegance.