Winemaker Notes
Intense deep purple robe. Seductive and intense nose of cassis, raspberries, spices, vanilla and unctuous grilled and toasty aromas. Well-structured wine that is at the same time rich and lush in the mouth with smooth tannins and a very long finish.
Blend: 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
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Decanter
Alive and open on the nose, this has a lovely and rich aromatic profile. Supple and nicely structured, the dark bramble fruit has a soft chew giving a bounce to the expression with really cool, fresh acidity adding lift. Clean, crisp but still with plenty of flavor and push. Great stuff and likely to be good value. Big upscore from Primeurs.
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Wine Enthusiast
This estate in eastern Margaux offers a finely balanced, ripe wine, smoothly polished with wood aging. Its structure is still firm but showing fine potential. Drink from 2027.
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James Suckling
A juicy and vibrant Margaux that shows fine spices, subtle cream, hibiscus and lots of fresh currants. Lively and crunchy with medium body and vivid, fine-veined tannins. Succulent with a bright, medium-long finish.
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Wine Spectator
Juicy and open in feel, with a vibrant display of dark plum and boysenberry preserve flavors that are harnessed just right by streaks of alder and warm humus. A late hibiscus note and minimal toast add freshness.
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.