Château Margaux
Château Margaux
#PROPERTY: History & Terroir
The history of Château Margaux
The estate of Château Margauxknown as "La Mothe de Margaux" since the 12th century, had no vines. This name, though insignificant, had a certain importance in the flat Médoc region, as even the smallest elevation of land, called a "motte", was easily distinguishable, and it was well known that the best wines were produced on land with a slope ensuring good drainage.
The previous owners of "la Mothe de Margaux" were undoubtedly lords of prestige, but it was not until the arrival of the de Lestonnac family that the transformation of the estate as we know it today began. At the end of the 17th century, Château Margaux covered an area of 265 hectares, a size it would not exceed thereafter. A third of this area was dedicated to viticulture, a tradition that continues to this day.
It was under Berlon's direction that red and white grapes were vinified separately for the first time, as at the time, vines were planted in a mixture. Berlon had strict requirements, including that the grapes should not be harvested at dawn, as the morning dew could dilute their color. This meticulous approach contributed to Château Margaux's reputation for quality wine.
Later, Bertrand Douat, Marquis de la Colonilla, acquired the estate and felt that the existing manor house did not match the reputation of his vineyards. He therefore built the magnificent residence we can admire today. However, La Colonilla's descendants showed little interest in the estate and decided to sell it to Alexandre Aguado.
As a result of the difficult years following the French Revolution, Laure de Fumel had to put the property up for auction in 1801.
In the 19th century, banker Alexandre Aguado became famous for acquiring Château Margaux, a prestigious Bordeaux wine estate, in 1802. He was particularly motivated by the estate's beauty and his desire to live there. Under his ownership, Château Margaux continued to produce top-quality wines, contributing to its international renown.
In 1855, Napoleon III organized the Universal Exhibition in Paris to promote French products, including Médoc wines. He established an official classification of Médoc wines based on blind tasting. This resulted in the status of "Premier Grand Cru Classé" for four crus, alongside Château Haut-Brion, Château Latour, Château Mouton-Rothschild, and Château Margaux rated 20/20. This classification, still valid today, gives it this rare distinction compared to the rest of the above-mentioned châteaux. It also reflects the hierarchy of wines already established by price differences on the market. Bordeaux prospered under the Second Empire thanks to trade facilitated by free-trade agreements, largely under the impetus of Napoleon III, who contributed to the growth of Bordeaux viticulture.
Who is the owner of Château Margaux?
Corinne Mentzelopoulos is the daughter of André Mentzelopoulos, a Greek businessman. He innovated with new barrel ageing, built a large underground cellar, reintroduced Pavillon Rouge with stricter selection and redefined Pavillon Blanc under the supervision of Émile Peynaud. In 1977, he bought the Margaux estate for 77 million French francs, but died in 1980. At the age of 27, Corinne took over from her father and became owner of Château Margaux, assisted by Paul Pontalier and, more recently, Philippe Bascaules.
She began her career as a product manager at the Havas agency, then became a management controller at Primistères, the company that ran the Félix Potin stores. As owner of Château Margaux, she continued the investments initiated by her father and succeeded in coping with the strong demand for fine Bordeaux wines from 1982 onwards.
In 1991, the Agnelli family bought out part of the Exor group, which owned 35% of Château Margaux, reducing Corinne Mentzelopoulos' stake to 25%. However, as owner of Château Margaux, she became a shareholder in the Exor group and acquired a 6.6% stake in Ifint, the Agnelli family's holding company, in exchange for a 15% stake in Exor.
In 2003, the Agnelli family sold its shares (75%) to Corinne Mentzelopoulos, who thus became the estate's sole shareholder as owner of Château Margaux. In exchange, she sold her 9.6% stake in the Exor group to the Agnelli family. Her daughter Alexandra and son Alexis assisted her as owner of Château Margaux in the management and development of the prestigious vineyard. She also organized bridge parties for business relations as owner of Château Margaux.
Château Margaux terroir
Château Margaux's soils are a crucial element of its exceptional terroir. They are mainly composed of medium and fine Günzian gravel, which has an ancient origin linked to the Garonne River. These gravelly soil layers range in thickness from 4 to 11 meters. It is these gravelly soils that largely contribute to the quality of the wines produced here.
These gravelly soils are sometimes combined with clay, which adds an interesting dimension to the soil composition. Local legend even has it that the density of the gravel soils is such that it is possible to dig a well without having to remove the stones, testifying to the mineral richness of the soil.
In the lower parts of the vineyard, limestone and Plassac molasse can also be found, enriching the diversity of Château Margaux's soils. These variations in soil composition add further complexity to the terroir of Château Margaux, contributing to the diversity and depth of the wines produced on this prestigious estate thanks to these unique soils.
#WINES OF THE ESTATE: Appellations and Cuvées
Margaux appellation
The Margaux appellation is a wine-growing region in the Médoc region of Bordeaux, France. It is famous for the production of high-quality red wines, including the prestigious Château Margaux.
Margaux is the southernmost commune of the Médoc, and also the closest to the city of Bordeaux. This proximity to the city has played an important role in its viticultural success.
AOC Margaux is renowned for its success in the 1855 classification, where no fewer than twenty-one crus classés were distinguished. These include such prestigious estates as Château Margaux, Brane-Cantenac, Rauzan-Ségla, Giscours and many more
Château Margaux is the appellation's most famous Premier Cru Classé. It gave its name to the appellation and is considered one of the world's greatest wines.
The Margaux appellation covers 1,521 hectares, making it the largest of the Médoc's communal appellations. It encompasses five communes: Arsac, Cantenac, Labarde, Margaux and Soussans. The soils of Margaux are mainly composed of Günzian gravel, which plays an essential role in the quality of the wines. These soils are sometimes mixed with clay, which adds complexity to the terroir.
Margaux is a wine appellation renowned for its high-quality red wines, particularly Château Margaux. Its history, terroir and 1855 classification make it one of the most prestigious appellations in Bordeaux and the world.
Château Margaux vineyard: a great wine since the 17th century
Here's the range of Château Margaux fine wines:
- Pavillon Rouge du Château Margaux
- Pavillon Blanc by Château Margaux
- Margaux from Château Margaux
Château Margaux fine wines, what are their characteristics?
Pavillon Rouge du Château Margaux, formerly known as "Château Margaux 2ème vin", was renamed in 1908. Production declined until 1977, when it was resumed under the management of André Mentzelopoulos, with the initial aim of improving the quality of the first wine. From the 1990s, the introduction of a third wine enabled a more rigorous selection for Pavillon Rouge. Today, around a third of the harvest goes to the first wine, around 30% to Pavillon Rouge, while the rest is divided between other wines. Although less complex than the first wine, Pavillon Rouge shares similar aromas and a delicate balance between power and sweetness. It is generally ready to drink earlier, but has an ageing potential of over 30 to 40 years. The grape varieties for this red wine are Cabernet Sauvignon 75%, Merlot 20%, Petit Verdot 3% and Cabernet Franc 2%.
Pavillon Blanc du Château Margaux has a long history, dating back to the 17th century as a white wine. Since 1920, it has borne its present name, but the label has remained unchanged. This white wine is made exclusively from Sauvignon Blanc and comes from an eleven-hectare vineyard. Production of this white wine was modernized in 2009/2010, with only a third of the harvest bottled, the rest sold in bulk, reducing the quantity produced to less than a thousand cases. Château Margaux's Pavillon Blanc is renowned for its finesse, complexity and length on the palate. Recent vintages, such as 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014, have further enhanced the quality and ageing potential of this exceptional white wine. Part of it is bottled in magnums for optimal aging.
At Château Margaux, the pursuit of excellence has always been a priority for Château Margaux, leading to the creation of Pavillon Rouge du Château Margaux in 1908 as a second wine. This relentless quest for excellence led to the birth of a third wine with the 1997 vintage. Over the years, selection has become increasingly rigorous, enhancing the quality of both Pavillon Rouge and the third wine. The result is a remarkable wine with a combination of characteristics found nowhere else.
In 2009, the exceptional vintage inspired the production of a third wine of exceptional quality. Rather than selling it in bulk as before, we aged it in barrels with the same care as Pavillon Rouge, then bottled it after fifteen months for greater aromatic complexity. Thus was born Margaux du Château Margaux, the first red wine created since 1908.
As production of this wine is limited, Margaux du Château Margaux was initially available only in a selection of restaurants within Château Margaux's traditional markets, in France and the UK from September 2013, then in Japan and the USA in spring 2014.
What year for a Château Margaux?
Thanks to these quality vintages, Château Margaux has earned top tasting scores from the most influential critics.
The best vintages of Château Margaux : 2022, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2015, 2010, 2009, 2005, 2003, 2000, 1999, 1996, 1995, 1990, 1986, 1985, 1983, 1982, 1961, 1953
Which is the best Margaux?
The 1990 vintage, the third in a series of great vintages, is marked by its charm and finesse, contrasting with the 1989. The wines of the 1990 vintage were rich, tender, with a soft grain and bewitching fruitiness. They are already very harmonious and can be enjoyed now or decades from now. Château Margaux 1990 contains notes of red fruit, kirsch, sage and fig, followed by tobacco and clove.
What kind of meat goes with Château Margaux?
Château Margaux is a Bordeaux red wine renowned for its finesse, elegance and complexity. Château Margaux goes well with meats such as beef, game, lamb, veal and poultry.
How much does a bottle of Château Margaux cost?
The price of a bottle of Château Margaux can vary considerably, depending on the vintage, the year of production, the quality of the wine and where it is purchased. In general, bottles of Château Margaux are among the most expensive wines in the world. Prices can start at a few hundred euros for younger vintages and reach several thousand euros or more for older vintages and special cuvées.
#IN BRIEF: Figures
Region: Bordeaux
Appellation: Margaux
Surface area: 99 Hectares (87Ha red and 12Ha white)
Red grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon 75%, Merlot 20%, Petit Verdot 3% and Cabernet Franc 2%.
White grape varieties: Sauvignon Blanc 100%
Vine-growing methods: Sustainable viticulture