Château Margaux 2009

A Premier Grand Cru Classé from Margaux, seductive in delicacy and balance

The estate

With origins dating back to the 12th century, Château Margaux is one of those Grands Crus that have built the legend of the great wines of Bordeaux around the world. In 1855, the château was elevated to the rank of Premier Grand Cru Classé and was the only one among 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 wrote 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 premature passing, Corinne Mentzelopoulos took up the family standard with energy and passion to preserve the standing of Château Margaux, which has become a Bordeaux masterpiece, instantly recognizable by its neo-Palladian silhouette. Vintage after vintage, the estate’s wines rank among the greatest in the world.

The vineyard

The vineyard of Château Margaux owes its distinctiveness to its rare and unique terroir, located on a gravel mound. The estate’s varietal makeup is dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, complemented by Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc. The property’s clay-limestone soils give rise to legendary wines with a racy, sensual character, so representative of the Margaux appellation.

The wine

The Grand Vin represents 36% of the harvest.

The vintage

A cold, dry winter was followed by an April whose cool, wet conditions delayed budbreak and slowed vegetative growth. Milder, warmer weather from May 1 encouraged a rapid, even flowering. From July 10 through the end of harvest (October 14), a particularly dry spell affected the plots unevenly. Despite these extreme conditions, the alternation of warm days and cool nights fostered the development of tannins and aromatic complexity while preserving beautiful freshness. 2009 is counted among the estate’s great vintages.

Blend

Cabernet Sauvignon (87%)
Merlot (9%)
Cabernet Franc (2%)
Petit Verdot (2%).

Characteristics and tasting advice for Château Margaux 2009

Tasting

This 2009 vintage is crafted from a rigorous selection of the harvest. Barely 36% of the crop (31% at bottling) in fact makes up this Grand Vin of the estate. Throughout the tasting, this refined and balanced vintage seduces with its concentration paired with superb freshness. While the density and tannic framework of this wine echo the 2005 vintage, its soft, silky texture recalls 1990. Persistent, the finish harmoniously blends freshness with aromatic richness.