Winemaker Notes
Intense deep purple robe. Racy, fruity, delicate nose reveals perfumes of ripe red fruits. Vanilla, and grilled toast. Unctuous, smooth, medium-bodied palate with good fruit concentration, lovely silky tannins and a nice long finish.
Varietal Composition: 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
This estate in the village of Arsac, at the western end of the Margaux appellation, has produced an elegant wine. Its wood aging and fruit are coming well into balance, giving potential richness to the black-currant flavors as well as attractive juicy acidity. The wine will age well. Drink from 2024.
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James Suckling
Attractive, ripe dark and red-berry aromas, dressed in cedary, fresh wood. The palate delivers a superb, succulent array of assertive, dense but ripe tannins. The finish has taut, appealing snap
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2016 Mongravey has a comparatively low-key bouquet compared to its peers, although that is not necessarily a bad thing, unfolding nicely with crushed violets blossoming after a couple of minutes. The palate is well balanced with quite firm tannin. The new oak here is well integrated with a gentle grip on the cedar and pencil box infused finish. This is a delightful Margaux that should give 10-12 years of drinking pleasure. This is the best wine that I have tasted from the estate.
Rating: 89-91
Château Mongravey is located in Arsac in the famous Margaux appellation, about 22 kilometers northwest of Bordeaux. Created in 1980 by Régis Bernaleau by combining several prime parcels in Margaux, the estate produces an exceptional wine due to its unique location between Château Giscours (3ème Grand Cru Classé) and Château du Tertre (5ème Grand Cru Classé). The charismatic Karin Bernaleau joined the estate in 1999 and directs marketing and distribution for Mongravey. Her son, Jérôme, has now joined the family five year ago and is involved in the viticulture and vinification.
It became a “Cru Bourgeois” in the 2003 Classification and was upgraded to “Cru Bourgeois Supérieur” in the 2020 Classification. Mongravey is one of the best Margaux wines available today, surpassing many of the prestigious Classified Growths in quality and over-delivering for the price.
The vineyard is 36 acres in size planted mostly on gravely soil with low yields. After harvest from mid-September to mid-October, the wine is vinified in separate vats and undergoes cold maceration for 5 days to maximize color and to soften the tannins . The alcoholic fermentation lasts for 10 days and 50% of the wine undergoes malolactic fermentation in barrels. Finally, the wine ages 12-14 months in 60% new French oak before being bottled.
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.