Château Margaux 1986

A powerful and concentrated Margaux wine

The estate

With origins dating back to the 12th century, Château Margaux is among those Grands Crus that have built the legend of the great wines of Bordeaux around the world. In 1855, the estate was elevated to the rank of Premier Grand Cru Classé and was the only one of the four châteaux presented to receive a perfect score of twenty out of twenty. With the acquisition of the estate in 1977 by André Mentzelopoulos, Château Margaux began a new chapter in its history. Raising the Grand Vin of Château Margaux to the highest level, he reintroduced the estate’s Second Wine, Pavillon Rouge du Château Margaux, first created in 1908. Following in her father’s footsteps after his untimely passing, Corinne Mentzelopoulos took up the family banner with energy and passion to preserve the standing of Château Margaux, which had become a Bordeaux masterpiece, instantly recognizable for its neo-Palladian style. Vintage after vintage, the estate’s wines rank among the greatest in the world.

The vineyard

The vineyard of Château Margaux owes its uniqueness to its rare and singular terroir, located on a gravelly rise. The estate’s plantings are dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, along with Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc. The clay-limestone soils give rise to legendary wines, with a racy and sensual character, so representative of the Margaux appellation.

The vintage

Particularly mild, the summer was marked around September 20 by a period of rain, followed by optimal conditions throughout the harvest.

Blend

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc.

Characteristics and tasting advice for Château Margaux 1986

Tasting

Nose
On the nose, the bouquet opens gradually. The wine is at once rich, full-bodied, and balanced, a trait shared with the 1961 vintage.

Palate
The palate reveals tight, dense tannins that soften very slowly over time, which explains the incredible aging potential of Château Margaux 1986.