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At Château Margaux, the 1985 vintage is one of the most pleasant to taste. Château Margaux 1985 is a cru classé at its peak, but can also surprise in the coming decades.
Vintage | Wine 1985 |
Classification | Médoc - 1er Cru Classé |
Region | Bordeaux |
Appellation | Margaux |
Colour | Red |
Volume | 0.75 l |
Country | France |
Château | Château Margaux |
Country | France |
A privilege to bear the name of its appellation Margaux, for Château Margaux there is no doubt ample justification.
For several centuries this Premier Cru Classé has expressed the highest degree of quality of exceptional terroir patiently assembled by several generations of owners. Maintained and harvested exclusively by hand with extreme care, the 78 hectares of vines (75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot) derive their wealth deep in the soil which is clayey gravelly and particularly dense and thick. The fermentation in oak vats, after which the wine is strictly selected, follows 18 to 24 months in new oak barrels. A masterpiece among Bordeaux, the best according to some, Château Margaux reveals the delicate taste and opulence, depth and complexity, and exudes a rare elegance of rose, violet, black fruit, suspended by tight tannins that require patient aging before the wine fully expresses itself. The château also produces a second wine, Pavillon Rouge de Château Margaux, and a dry white wine, Pavillon Blanc de Château Margaux.
Best vintages of Château Margaux are : 1900, 1928, 1953, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1989, 1990
>> Read our article "Grands Crus Classés from Bordeaux"
>> Discover all the crus classés of Médoc classification
CHÂTEAU MOUTON BARONNE PHILIPPE 1985
Pauillac
Champagne
Saint Julien
Pessac Leognan
CHÂTEAU HAUT BAGES LIBERAL 1985
Pauillac
CHÂTEAU MALARTIC LAGRAVIERE 1985
Pessac Leognan
Pessac Leognan
Haut Medoc
Pauillac
Saint Emilion
Tom Cannavan (01-2018) In Bordeaux, 1985 is my favourite vintage bar none. Yes, '61 may be more legendary, '49 more revered, but I have bought and drunk a lot of '85s over the past 30 years with unfailing success in the wines being both sumptuous and structured, in an immensely pleasurable vintage. This Margaux may be the pinnacle, a heavenly depth of graphite and cedar-touched ripe, but not overripe, black fruits, the lightest nuances of game and vanilla, and just a gorgeous, ethereal Margaux perfume. In the mouth the tannins are now resolved of course, but the fine-grained, supple nature is lovely and the fresh acidity gives this an alert, still energetic character at 33 years of age. Wonderful fruit, again just touched with cedar and game on the palate, but a depth of blackcurrant and edged by black plum and chocolate bittersweet notes. Long, not fading in the glass after an hour, and possibly with substantial time ahead for well-cellared bottles.
(12-2009) Tasted at the Claret Club -85 Dinner at -The Square-. Chateau Margaux remains one of the most compelling, indeed most delicious First Growths. Deeper in colour than its peers, there bouquet is vibrant and vivacious with succulent red fruits, date, a touch of iodine and violets and as before, further aeration reveals those classic pencil lead aromas. The palate is exquisitely balanced, focused and powerful and yet brilliant defined with a sublime talcum finish, a hint of exotic fruit on the finish. Divine.
(01-2002)
(06-2015)
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