Château Margaux

Château Margaux, one of Bordeaux's most famous estates, is located in the village of Margaux, part of the Médoc vineyards on the left bank of the Gironde estuary.
 
Château Margaux wine has been recognized as one of the world's finest and most expensive for centuries. It is one of only five prestigious estates to have been distinguished as a Premier Cru Classé in the 1855 Bordeaux wine classification.

 
>> Read our blog article "Grands Crus Classés de Bordeaux, official classification of 1855"
   

The history of Château Margaux

 
The estate, known since the 12th century, was once called "La Mothe de Margaux", and was not yet producing wine.
 
It was turned into a wine estate in the 1570s by the de Lestonnac family, who decided to restructure the property and vineyards into the estate we know today.
 
By the end of the 17th century, the estate had reached its final size of 265 hectares, of which only a third was devoted to vines. Château Margaux was born!
 
Château Margaux has undergone several changes of ownership over the centuries: it was owned by Count Elie du Barry before the Revolution, by the Marquis de la Colonilla (1801) - who built the present residence in place of the existing manor house - by Alexandre Aguado (1830), the first banker to acquire a major Bordeaux château, then by Count Pillet-Will (1879), and finally by the Ginestet family (1950), major wine merchants. Since 1977, Château Margaux has been owned by the Mentzelopoulos family.
  

What are the characteristics of Château Margaux?

Château Margaux benefits from a temperate oceanic climate and a unique terroir made up of a variety of soils and situated on a hillock of gravel. The slope of the land ensures good drainage for exceptional grape quality.
 
The Château Margaux vineyard covers 99ha, of which just under 90% is planted with red vines. The estate produces the most delicate of Médoc wines, from a blend of several grape varieties, including a majority of Cabernet Sauvignon, with varying proportions of Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc.
 
Château Margaux is considered the most elegant of the Premiers Crus, combining finesse and delicacy with a rich aromatic palette of red fruits and sweet spices. The concentration of the tannins balances perfectly with the freshness provided by a light acidity. The wine is complex and refined, with a long finish. It has exceptional ageing potential.
 
Château Margaux produces a second red wine, Pavillon Rouge du Château Margaux, and a white wine, Pavillon Blanc du Château Margaux. The latter represents barely 4% of production. And a third red wine, Margaux du Château Margaux.

The best vintages of Château Margaux

Château Margaux is world-renowned for producing exceptional wine. The following years are undoubtedly the Château's best vintages, and the price of the bottles is very high: Château Margaux 1900, 1928, 1937, 1945, 1961, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1989, 1990, 1996, 2000, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019.
 
Some years have been more exceptional than others, producing legendary vintages that have enhanced the reputation of Château Margaux wines, such as 1900, 1928, 1937, 1945  or the exceptional "Château Margaux 1961, a wine built for eternity".