Château Margaux 2023

An enchanting bouquet, the archetype of a Château Margaux, layers of aromas—playful, floral, mint, red berries—immensely deep with a balance on the palate that is second to none; perfectly interwoven tannins support the crisp fruit, a fresh, long‑lasting finish—this is a delicacy like no other. Stunning!

Quite a herbal nose, full of blackcurrant leaf and bramble fruit, dark chocolate, violets – subtle, not shouting, but interesting. Round and ripe, a nice weight on the palate, silky, but also like crushed velvet, mouthwatering acidity, so juicy and clean, a lovely texture in the mouth. Not chewy at all, but there’s depth here, a cushioning to the palate with incredible juiciness. Charming, gentle yet lively. It’s just so appealing, but this will also benefit from oak ageing. Carefully made, the tannins are wonderful and the acidity doesn’t stick out. You don’t sense the heat, but the fruit is ripe, with freshness all the way through. A wonderful wine in 2023. 2% Petit Verdot completes the blend with 4% Cabernet Franc, the highest percentage ever in the blend. 41% grand vin production. 3.6 pH, 15% press wine. Officially certified organic as of 2023. Ageing 100% new oak, 18 months.

Deep dark ruby, opaque core, purple reflections, delicate edge brightening. Fine oak savoriness, delicate hints of nougat and clove, dark forest berries, cassis, liquorice, floral touch, delicate tangerine zest, seductive bouquet. Juicy, highly elegant, ripe heart cherry, silky, supporting tannins, lively, finely structured, a hint of chocolate and blackberry on the finish, harmonious, balanced, mineral-salty, lingers for a very long time. A perfect reflection of this unique terroir.

The colour has retained its vibrant ruby red of En Primeur, and this is exceptional, totally delivers on promise. The silky, velvety quality of the tannins is immediately apparent, as is the length and breadth of the palate. Waves of cassis, lavender, sage, blackberry, real concentration and intensity, with squid ink that combines umami depth and salinity. 41hl/h yield (compared to 25hl/h last year), 41% of the production in this 1st wine. First year organic conversion, with certification expected in 2026. Superb winemaking from Philippe Bascaules.

A lovely, elegant nose—aromatic, complex, indulgent—offering a charming silky grain, fine intensity, and a beautiful multi-layered profile. It shows notes of boysenberry, crushed raspberry and, more subtly, bright small plum, with touches of fresh blond tobacco, infusion, and a hint of smoke, plus fine hints of fresh toast, a discreet floral touch (an almost imperceptible hint of wisteria), and nutmeg. The palate is beautifully mineral, fresh, elegant, and balanced, with a zesty backbone, precision, tension, minerality, and good definition. It reveals notes of juicy/fresh blackberry, fresh/crunchy plum and, more lightly, violet, joined by touches of fresh/crunchy red berries, as well as fine floral nuances and delicate hints of violet and lilac, with a subtle note of fresh small red plum, a subtle hint of toast, infusion, and smoke. The tannins are supple and sapid, delightfully gourmand, fresh, elegant, and complex. Beautifully classic in freshness—charming, delicate, and unfolding with accuracy and melodious grace. There is also a hint of toasted/roasted almond on the finish, with a fine chew and a touch of salinity.

Stylistically, 2023 focuses on its purity, refinement, length, concentration and vivacity. On the palate, the wine is sweet, ripe, pure, and elegant. The finish is seamless, and even better, sensuous, coating your palate with pleasure. Refined, and pure, this is a gorgeous vintage of Chateau Margaux. The style, and character makes this already quite a treat to drink. Though, it can age for 40-50 or more years. The wine blends 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot. Drink from 2030-2065.

97-99. Barrel Sample. This is a smoky wine, full of bright black fruits, acidity and a dense structure. Dominated by 89% Cabernet Sauvignon with almost equal amounts of Cabernet Franc and Merlot, it is impressively rich with powerful tannins and perfumed fruit in fine harmony.

Margaux 2023 stands out with stunning clarity, precision and class. It carries no coded message, no intellectual barrier—only a nature deeply shaped by Cabernet Sauvignon, with freshness amplified compared to Pavillon. The bouquet is masterful: precise, delicate, deep, and simply above all else. It holds its line like a submarine gyroscope scanning the far horizon, perhaps in search of an equal. Hints of sweet spices mingle with almost candied notes—though in truth they are simply very ripe—while the cabernet expresses itself through freshness. Nuances of strawberry and raspberry intertwine with mint. On the palate, the wine is creamy, silky, linear, and of rare finesse. Its fine-grained tannins carry it into spheres of excellence where everything is devoted to perfection—where tannins convey power with refinement, showing just how much subtlety can prevail over sheer force. The wine’s depth opens up perspectives because, let’s be clear, it is not yet inclined to reveal everything; but it already lets you glimpse behind the scenes, the details that shape it and inevitably lead to the greatness within. For me, it is certainly one of Margaux’s most dazzling successes of recent years, ranking at the very top of Bordeaux and among the estate’s Hall of Fame. A truly great achievement, forging an exceptional link between softness, depth, vibrancy and persistence. Everything is coherent—and this is only the beginning.

Deep, intense colour with vivid purple highlights. A highly aromatic nose—fine, pure, fruity and subtle. A creamy touch and a hint of oak appear when the glass is swirled. Ultra-refined on the attack, with incredible grace on the mid-palate and an elegant, airy density, this wine with a magical carriage melts across the palate, at once powerful and very flavoursome. Impossible to spit, it finishes on an extremely fine tannic grain that lingers for a long time.

The 2023 Château Margaux unwinds in the glass with notes of sweet red and black fruits mingled with hints of violets, orange zest and petals, lavishly framed by spicy, toasty oak that is quite prominent out of the gates. Medium- to full-bodied, with a deep core of primary fruit built around bright acids and chalky structuring tannins, it's youthful and vibrant and will require a bit of patience. It's a blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot that attained 13% alcohol, with the Cabernet Sauvignon seeing somewhat shorter than usual macerations and the inverse for Merlot.