WHY ON EARTH IS CHATEAU MARGAUX SO PRESTIGIOUS?
There are estates and estates, but above all there are wines that leave their mark on the world's enography. And Château Margaux is certainly one of them. A distinctive, prestigious wine that expresses its prestige not only by its premium price but also by its presence on the wine lists of the world's most prestigious restaurants and in the cellars of the most avid collectors. But how did this global success come about?
In the 12th century, the property was known as La Mothe or Lamothe, which refers to a small hill and comes from the word "motte". At that time, wine was not yet produced here and the estate did not yet own any vineyards. It was a small manor house used by the nobility of the time for protocol and holiday purposes.
The estate was only converted to viticulture in the 16th century, when it became the property of the Lestonnac family. Between 1572 and 1582, Pierre de Lestonnac completely restructured the estate and converted it to viticulture. The estate remained in the family throughout this period. An important milestone was reached in 1654, when the Pontac family married into the family that owned Château Haut-Brion. In 1680, the estate comprised 265 hectares, of which 75 were planted with vineyards, and it is very interesting to note that the area has not changed significantly over the years, with 80 hectares now under cultivation.
In the 18th century, the philosophy of cultivation changed significantly. From what was known as clairet, a transparent wine intended for quick consumption, the arrival of Mr Berlon transformed it into a complex, extract-rich and dense drink that develops its charms over many years of ageing. In 1771, Château Margaux wines began to be sold in the English chain of Christie's stores. In 1787, Thomas Jefferson named the estate one of the four best quality vineyards.
With the French Revolution, the fate of the property fell into disfavour until 1802, when it became the property of the Marquis of Colonille - Bertrand Douat. Douat completely renovated the château into the mansion we know today.
The estate achieved worldwide fame in 1855, when it was awarded the title of First Liege, along with 3 other estates. This was a classification of wines drawn up by wine merchants on the orders of Napoleon III. It was divided into 5 classes, with only 4 estates in the highest class (Premiere cru): Château Margaux, Château Haut-Brion, Château Lafite and Château Latour. The ranking is still in force today, but the only change took place in 1973 when Château Mouton (now known as Mouton Rotschild) was upgraded to Premiere cru.
In 1976, for 72 million francs, the property passed into the hands of the Félix Potin merchant group, headed by the Greek André Mentzelopoulos. The latter revitalised the vineyards and renovated the wine maturation facilities. In the 1990s, the winery passed briefly to the Agnelli family, but at the beginning of the 2000s ownership passed to André's daughter, Corinne Mantzelopoulos.
ONLY THE HIGHEST QUALITY
The property is located in the commune of Margaux, on the left side of the Garonne estuary. It is located on one of the best red wine producing leys, based on Cabernet Sauvignon. The majority of the wine consists of Cabernet Sauvignon, with a minority of Merlot and a few Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.
The grapes are harvested only when fully ripe. Each parcel is harvested and made into wine separately. Production also includes long maturation in new French oak barrels. After one year, the wine is transferred into new barrels and then left to mature for varying lengths of time until the final wine is bottled. All these factors have a decisive influence on the final price of a bottle of this marquee wine.
The average annual wine production also shows that no compromises are made in wine production. The first wine, Château Margaux, produces 150 000 bottles, while the second wine, Pavillon Rouge du Château Margaux, produces 200 000 bottles. The second wine is made up of those wines that have not reached the highest quality standards pursued by the winery owners. They also produce 35 000 bottles a year of white wine, Pavillon Blanc de Château Margaux, which consists exclusively of sauvignon blanc. The wine is appreciated by many critics around the world and consistently receives only the highest marks. The 2021 vintage has also been awarded the highest marks from this region for the so-called 'One Case'.
THE MOST EXPENSIVE BROKEN BOTTLE
Did you know that Château Margaux also holds the infamous record? In 1989, William Sokolin, a well-known wine merchant from New York, brought a bottle of 1787 Château Margaux to the Four Seasons Hotel. This bottle is even said to have once belonged to Thomas Jefferson. Apparently, he had wanted to use it as a bargaining chip, but as fate would have it, the affair did not end on the best of terms, as the bottle slipped from his hands and shattered on the floor. Sokolin estimated the value of the bottle at USD 500 000, but the insurance company reimbursed him "only" USD 225 000.
WHAT TO EXPECT?
With such a prestigious bottle, it is difficult to describe what to expect when tasting it. But the fact is that wine develops its true potential only after many years of ageing in the bottle. It is therefore not surprising that wines only appreciate in value over the years and are bought by collectors to enhance their investments.
The base of the wine is Cabernet Sauvignon, so one would expect a deep, ruby red colour that is oily and opaque. The intense aromas would remind us of forest fruits, blueberries, blackberries and ripe plum intermingled with black cherry and pepper leaves. Behind this we would detect aromas of pepper, forest undergrowth and tobacco, which are associated with sweet spice sensations. The wine would taste intense and bold, with a perceptible softness, but particularly tannic and lively fresh, with a very long finish that would pass in the perception of the aromas listed above. Definitely a gentile wine, worth every drop. We would definitely recommend decanting and aerating it before enjoying.
Above all, we recommend that you consult the vintage itself before buying wine. The wines of Bordeaux are strongly influenced by the climate and, thanks to the variety of vintages, also vary in their expression and longevity. The 2009 vintage on offer is considered one of the exceptional vintages, which is slowly gaining and evolving. The wine has not yet reached its potential, but will already be a treat for curious drinkers.
Cheers!
