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Despite the strikingly high proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon (96%) this year, this almost has a Chambolle Musigny like character on the nose with its bright pure red cherry fruits. A beautifully balanced style, with excellent harmony, there is a real seam of finesse supported by lovely freshness. Not a powerful wine but wonderfully refined purity.
Despite the strikingly high proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon (96%) this year, this almost has a Chambolle Musigny like character on the nose with its bright pure red cherry fruits. A beautifully balanced style, with excellent harmony, there is a real seam of finesse supported by lovely freshness. Not a powerful wine but wonderfully refined purity.
The 2013 Château Margaux has an attractive bouquet that compared to fellow recent vintages appears earthy in style (as it appeared in barrel), offering a mixture of black and red fruit, bay leaf and cedar. The Cabernet Sauvignon comes through strongly - no surprise given that there is 97% of the final blend! The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin and a pleasing seam of acidity. It is not the greatest Château Margaux that the late Paul Pontallier ever made, but it is commendable for the vintage and there is a sense of harmony and composure towards the finish with hints of black pepper and mint lingering on the aftertaste. Enjoy this over the next 15 years, though I am not sure it has the substance to warrant maturation for a longer period. 2018-2032
The Château Margaux is a blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot with no Merlot this year due to coulure and was picked between 30 September and 11 October. It represents 38% of the total harvest. It has a very masculine slightly earthy bouquet, a little more introverted than previous vintages, opening with time to reveal its trademark dried violet aromas. The palate is medium-bodied, silky smooth on the entry. There is not a huge weight in the mouth but it glides or rather flows nicely. It is a seductive Margaux, not a long-term wine for the estate but a success considering the vintage.
A Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated wine that reflects the vintage, the 2013 Chateau Margaux is a blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. For the first time, there is no Merlot in the blend. Moreover, only 38% of the crop made it into Margaux, a finesse-styled, classic effort offering notes of spring flowers, blue and red fruits, decent acidity, sweet tannin, and a lovely, round, medium-bodied mouthfeel. The 2013 is not as concentrated as a great vintage, nor does it have the power and length of a top year, but it is a well-made, charming red to enjoy during its first 10-12 years of life.
Lovely fragrant nose – floral-sweet, the perfume of Margaux. A textbook Margaux with a hint of Musigny, all delicacy and purity with an undeniable sense of place. Drink: 2018-2035
Floral and lovely graphite notes. All of the best plots were used and no Merlot made the grade. Super-fresh, superbly clean and tangy tannins. Nice rose petal and rosehip notes and much lighter and spicier than usual. Tight but not aggressive finish with a cool, calming Zen like feel. 22hl/ha for the reds compared to 39hl/ha in 2012. Supple and perhaps too subtle for a big score. This is a pretty easy wine to understand and it lacks the majesty of a more traditional Margaux offering. Thibault Pontallier indicated that there would be a ‘goodwill gesture’ regarding the pricing of their wines. Let’s hope so
94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot. Succulent, juicy, indulgent, sweet fruit. Extremely finely balanced – technically flawless, especially from a structural perspective. But inevitably weaker in intensity and complexity than the headline vintages. (RH)
Paul Pontallier omitted Merlot from his grand vin in 2013 because it was “very disappointing”. But the quality of his Cabernet made up for it. The result is deliciously drinkable, with fine tannins, chalky minerality, aromatic cassis notes and good underlying structure. 2018-28
Plump, silky and seductive are the words often used to describe wines from Margaux. Because of their style, they tend to be user friendly and more approachable when young. This is in part due to its terroir which is comprised of the thinnest soil as well as the highest proportion of chunky gravel in all of the Médoc. It drains well but also is it more susceptible to vintage variation. Margaux wines tend to have the highest proportions of Merlot within the core of the Médoc further adding to their ample roundness and openness. Margaux is home to the largest number of classified growths including its namesake first growth, Château Margaux, as well as third growths, Palmer and d'Issan.
