Château Margaux, 1er Grand Cru Classé

Vintage 2003

A.O.C. Margaux, Bordeaux, France

Château Margaux is one of Bordeaux’s most strikingly elegant châteaux. Yet, despite its status, Margaux has a wonderful family feel, lacking the pretension and snobbery that enshrouds other elite Bordeaux châteaux. And Margaux’s engaging personality is reflected in its wines – renowned for being rich and opulent. The key behind Margaux’s approach is owner Corinne Mentzelopoulos and long-standing winemaker Paul Pontallier who have led Margaux out of Bordeaux’s doldrums both spiritually and in terms of quality, and there seems to be a remarkable team ethic and bond from the vineyard workers right through to the management.

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“The Chateau Margaux 2003 has closed down since I last encountered it. Much more tertiary on the nose with dried herbs, sous-bois and a touch of leather; it finds it difficult to attain the femininity it showed its youth. Nonetheless, the palate is very harmonious with supple tannins, lovely expressive red-berried fruit with blackberry, boysenberry and scorched earth. Harmonious and wily on the finish. Lovely…and improving in the glass.” eRobertParker.com (Mar 2011)

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Code: 101903

Optimum Drinking Period: 2011-2035

Robert Parker: 99

Wine Spectator: 98

Stephen Tanzer: 96