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| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 91.9 pts. and median of 92 pts. in 115 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by Alfaro on 3/13/2024 & rated 96 points: What a treat!! Love perfectly aged wines!!! (414 views) | | | Tasted by floribo on 12/26/2023 & rated 97 points: Decanted 2 hours before drinking. Strong nose with dark berries. Dark red color. Intense taste and concentrated fruit. Nice acidity, well integrated. Little tannins, well aged, no signs of age. A classic and very nice Margaux, a great surprise for this off-vintage 1981. Will still age well. (624 views) | | | Tasted by kevinpatrick on 11/2/2023: "Off" Vintages from Elite Producers: (Petrus, Lafite, Margaux, etc) (Charlotte, NC): Decanted at 5:30pm and back in the bottle/corked at 6:00pm. Cork pulled upon arrival for dinner at 6:30pm and served at ~7:30pm. Complex aromatic nose – dark raspberries and dried brown leaves – a Bordeaux’s Bordeaux. Smooth on the palette. Elegant mouthfeel with a deftness that glides over your palate. More lightweight than expected but lacking nowhere in depth of flavor – dark fruits, forest floor, and bramble; with a mature secondary and tertiary balance. Lengthy finish rounding out this first-rate wine. Six 2nd place votes for WOTN and clear 2nd place overall. (1124 views) | | | Tasted by Mark Burnett on 8/19/2023: Medium garnet in the glass and out of the decanter, with a 1/8” rim of orange.
Aromas of dried strawberry and red plum, with dried violet petals. A layer of tomato leaf follows and remains underneath.
Mouthfeel is dry, with medium body, medium plus acidity, and slowly attacking, delicate, yet medium plus tannins.
Flavors highlight the pyrazine, with that tomato leaf element in the nose making its way to the front and throughout the finish. Of the 5 first growths of the 1981 vintage, this one has the most pyrazine-forward structure. Underneath the lovely, bitter stemminess are the dried red fruits from the nose, that help to round out the experience. Delightful. (831 views) | | | Tasted by Trickyone on 8/19/2023: Les Premiers Crus (aka Schrödinger's Tasting) (The Ridge): More details later. (1407 views) | | | Tasted by sdr on 6/21/2022 & rated 90 points: Château Margaux Mini-Vertical (Eddy V’s, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida): Hugh’s bottle. He wisely decided to select it as our introduction to the Margaux mini-vertical. It performs exactly as you would expect, a softer, gentler, less concentrated Margaux. Perhaps surprisingly, there is absolutely no sign of fatigue on the palate and no brown or amber in the color. Soft tannins, good acidity, modest length. A mini-Margaux indeed and nothing out of place. (3738 views) | | | Tasted by cos65 on 2/25/2022 & rated 91 points: Clear ruby with distinctly garnet rim and moderate fine sediment
Captivating leathery nose
Plush feel, totally resolved and lovely drinking, though this thins out quite a bit in the finish.
A wine to enjoy by itself; it’s delicacy could easily be overshadowed in a crowd (3464 views) | | | Tasted by Nutty08 on 2/25/2022 & rated 94 points: Just a wonderful mature Margaux explosive aromatics with hints of herbaciousness mixed with flint and cedar notes. Palate is more subtle, lean, but a wonderful expression of mature bdx lengthy finish. Doesn’t have the “power” and concentration of the “big” vintages — but this is a classic year probably at peak maturity. (3482 views) | | | Tasted by mariow on 12/24/2021 & rated 92 points: better than the last bottle; broad on the palate, well integrated; hold well over two hours (3616 views) | | | Tasted by CamWheeler on 12/11/2021 & rated 93 points: Mini Grapemates Christmas Party 2021: Smoky, tobacco, tea leaves and plum on the nose - excellent and classic profile here. Lovely balance on the palate, mix of red cherry and savoury meaty flavours with great texture and length. Simply excellent. (2199 views) | | | Tasted by jkuanl on 10/2/2021: Ex chateau, good condition (base neck fill). Nose mix of black currant, tobacco, licorice. Medium bodied, persistent flavor, smooth tannins, hint of acidity. Drinking very well over 1 hour (2764 views) | | | Tasted by cubswinws on 7/16/2021 & rated 92 points: Classic old bordeaux with good fruit and soft mouthfeel. Really a delight to drink and still holding up quite well. (2812 views) | | | Tasted by jnewman77 on 7/11/2021: Saturated cork, but the wine was still sound. The nose was classic old claret; still some ripe dark fruits, definite pyrazine notes of herbs and bell pepper, tobacco and worn leather, some forest floor. The nose improved with air and the pyrazines became less prominent and the fruit and savory notes increased. The palate had good balance, still some tannin, but not a lot. Finish was all in balance. Very good effort and still drinking well though I can't see any upside. (2397 views) | | | Tasted by ljl on 6/5/2021 & rated 94 points: Browsing around the edges. Otherwise light in color. Lilac nose. Strawberry and cherry. Less fruit aft
Er opened for a while. The leathery and chocolate. I would drink up the rest of my bottles within a year. (2573 views) | | | Tasted by mariow on 12/25/2020 & rated 91 points: perfect bottle; nice claret, drinks well; initially good fruit but fades quite fast; pnp sooner than later (3200 views) | | | Tasted by apm1023 on 5/2/2020 & rated 90 points: - Brick color - Surprisingly alive and well after 39 years. While still enjoyable this wine should not be held longer. Popped and poured tannins were mild but still present. Drink now and enjoy (4176 views) | | | Tasted by TXW213 on 8/24/2019 & rated 90 points: Rood-bruin
Neus aardbei, braam, eucalyptus, zwarte bes, kers
Krachtige wijn, vrij harde tanine, zwarte bes, kers, middels afdronk
(Klein jaar) (4976 views) | | | Tasted by rashecellar on 12/22/2018 & rated 92 points: Still going, although no reason to hold any further. Tobacco and beef blood, with some mid-palate thinness that our red meat dinner helped smooth over. Mild menthol notes too. (6035 views) | | | Tasted by Border Boss on 11/14/2018 & rated 90 points: Popped and poured, which was the right thing for this wine. Beefy nose. The palate has lots of red fruit, tobacco, with good acidity and moderate tannins. Definitely fully mature, and one to not buy to hold. Drink up. (6078 views) | | | Tasted by qtsam11 on 5/16/2018: Not rating because it is past. Still drinkable but definitely past. (6768 views) | | | Tasted by NewFrenchClaret on 1/1/2018 & rated 92 points: Delicious. Quite meaty/gamey for a Margaux, but with some nice pleasing menthol notes as well. Lacking the floral component of a really great Margaux. Good structure, needs food. Finish is a bit abrupt.
This is clearly the wine of the vintage in 1981. A well stored bottle needs about 90 minutes decanting to show at its best. Drink now. (6078 views) | | | Tasted by hotmarius on 7/20/2017 & rated 91 points: Decanted for 30 minutes then drank over the next one and a half hours. Colour was deep ruby. Bricking evident with an almost brown tinge. Lacking clarity-thick and dull. Nose of lead pencil shavings, faint cassis, dried fruit, potpourri, mushroom and beef blood. Medium body. Refined palate with soft, integrated tannins. Savoury with hints of plum, cassis and earth. Medium length finish.
Balanced and enjoyable but faded. Drink up. (7133 views) | | | Tasted by Don Grant on 7/8/2017 & rated 90 points: It tasted wonderful. You could smell pressed rose leaves, leather and fruit. The smells and flavors continued to change once the bottle was opened. We decanted it and drank it right away. It did not need to open. I recommend drinking this now. (5881 views) | | | Tasted by paul195 on 5/21/2017 & rated 92 points: First Growth Bordeaux 1978, 1979, 1981 (The Lot): Ruby core with lightening edge. Nice nose displaying red fruits, floral notes some tar and earth. Elegant and feminine texture, tannins resolved, mature red fruit, perfectly balanced, medium finish. Drinking very well and a step up in fruit and class from the Mouton in this flight
This bottle was ranked 6th of the 8 first growths tonight (6637 views) | | | Tasted by MC2 Wines on 12/14/2016: Acker Holiday Auction (A Voce Madison): Birth year wine! Unfortunately it has seen better days. Just a bit faded and with a very quick finish. Potpourri, leather, dried fruit. (7095 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| Château Margaux Producer website - Read more about Chateau Margaux
Their second wine is Pavillon Rouge du Château MargauxRed Bordeaux BlendRed Bordeaux is generally made from a blend of grapes. Permitted grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec and rarely Carménère.Today Carménère is rarely used, with Château Clerc Milon, a fifth growth Bordeaux, being one of the few to still retain Carménère vines. As of July 2019, Bordeaux wineries authorized the use of four new red grapes to combat temperature increases in Bordeaux. These newly approved grapes are Marselan, Touriga Nacional, Castets, and Arinarnoa.
Wineries all over the world aspire to making wines in a Bordeaux style. In 1988, a group of American vintners formed The Meritage Association to identify wines made in this way. Although most Meritage wines come from California, there are members of the Meritage Association in 18 states and five other countries, including Argentina, Australia, Canada, Israel, and Mexico.France Vins de France (Office National Interprofessionnel des Vins ) | Pages Vins, Directory of French Winegrowers | French Wine (Wikipedia)
Wine Scholar Guild vintage ratings
2018 vintage: "marked by a wet spring, a superb summer and a good harvest"
2019 vintage reports
2021: "From a general standpoint, whether for white, rosé or red wines, 2021 is a year marked by quality in the Rhône Valley Vineyards. Structured, elegant, fresh and fruity will be the main keywords for this new vintage."
2022 harvest: idealwine.info | wine-searcher.comBordeaux Bordeaux Wine Guide
Vins Bordeaux (Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux)
History of Bordeaux
History of 1855 Bordeaux Classification
"2009 is all about ripeness, with wines impressively packed with ripe fruit and high alcohol levels. They are showy, in-your-face, and full of pleasure. The 2010s have the fruit and alcohol levels of the 2009s, but with a compelling freshness on the finish that balances the fruit and provides a perfect sense of structure." - Ben Nelson
"2016 is a landmark vintage in certain spots of Bordeaux and it should be remembered as one of the most inspired campaigns of the last 40-50+ years." -Jon Rimmerman
"The quality of red Bordeaux in 2016 was universally lauded – although the response to the en primeur campaign was muted. Quantity was high too, with the equivalent of 770 million bottles of wine produced. An exceptionally dry summer with cool nights eventually, thanks to mid September rain, resulted in small, thick-skinned, ripe grapes, and the wines are marked by high tannin and acidity, with superb aromatic fragrance." - Jancis Robinson
"2017 was complicated, but there are some excellent wines. Expect plenty of freshness and drinkability from wines that will offer excellent value, and others that will rival 2016 in terms of ripeness and ageability. But they are likely to be the exception not the rule, making careful selection key." - Jane Anson
"In the past, a vintage such as 2022 may have been overripe, raisined and low in acidity but 2022 had a sneaky little reservoir in its back pocket - a near perfect marriage of cool/cold/rain the previous winter and the previous vintage that literally soaked the soils (a key to why 2022 is not 2003...or 1893)." - Jon RimmermanMédoc Vins du Médoc (Conseil des Vins du Médoc) - Read More about the Medoc
VdB
The eight precisely defined appellations of the whole of the Médoc (from Blanquefort Brook to the north of the Bordeaux built-up area, almost to the Pointe de Grave) may claim the Médoc appellation. But there is also a specific territory in the north of the peninsula which produces exclusively wines with this appellation. In the great majority, the Médocs come from the north of the peninsula. The great individuality of this region is that the number of vines has increased more recently here than elsewhere, apart from a few isolated spots where vines have grown for many years. Today, the size of the small estate has brought about the development of a powerful co-operative movement. Four co-operatives out of five belong to the group called Unimédoc which ensures aging, bottling and marketing a large proportion of their wines.Margaux Read more about Margaux and its wines As with a large part of the Bordeaux vineyards, vines first appeared in Margaux during the Gallo-Roman period.
In 1705 a text mentions Château Margaux . But we have to wait for the end of the eighteenth century and the coming of the earliest techniques in aging for the concept of wines of high quality to develop. The confirmation of this was the famous 1855 classification which recognized 21 Crus Classés in the Margaux appellation. One hundred years later, the Viticultural Federation and the Margaux appellation of controlled origin were born. The appellation, which stretches out over five communes, is actually unique in the Médoc in that it is the only one to contain all the range of wines, as rich as they are vast, from First Great Cru Classé to the Fifths, not forgetting its famous Crus Bourgeois and its Crus Artisans.
In Margaux there is a predominance of Garonne gravel on a central plateau of about 4 miles in length and one and a quarter wide. To the east-south-east, it overlooks the low lying land by the estuary. Its east side is marked by gentle, dry valleys and a succession of ridges.The layer of gravel in Margaux was spread out by a former Garonne in the early Quaternary. Rather large in size, it is mingled with shingle of average dimension and represents the finest ensemble of Günz gravel in the Haut-Médoc. It is on this ancient layer on a Tertiary terrace of limestone or clayey marl that the best Médoc crus lie. All the conditions for successful wine are present : a large amount of gravel and pebbles, poor soil which cannot retain water and deep rooted vines.
It is customary to say that Margaux wines are the "most feminine" in the Médoc, thus stressing their delicacy, suppleness and their fruity, elegant aromas. This does not affect their great propensity for aging; just the opposite, for the relatively thin terroir imparts tannins which give them long life. The other characteristic of these wines which combine an elegant vitality, subtlety and consistency, is their diversity and personality. Over and above the flavour which is their "common denominator", they present an exceptional palette of bouquets, fruity flavours which show up differently from one château to another.
Production conditions (Decree dated August 10 1954)
In order to have the right to the Margaux appellation of controlled origin, red wines must:
- come from the commune of Margaux, Cantenac, Soussans, Arsac and Labarde, "excluding the land which by the nature of its soil or because of its situation, is unfit to produce wine of this appellation".
- satisfy precise production conditions: grape-varieties (Cabernet-Sauvignon, Cabernet-Franc, Carmenère, Merlot Noir, Petit Verdot, Cot or Malbec), minimum of sugar (178 grammes - 6.27 oz. - per litre of must) degree (an acquired 10°5) base yield (45 hectolitres per hectare).
Vins de Bordeaux:
Grape Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Merlot
Soil: Gravel and silt plateau on a layer of limestone or silt on clay
Surface Area: 1,530 ha |
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