CHATEAU MARGAUX 1er Grand Cru Classe, Margaux 2022 Bottle
Red Still Wine | France | Bordeaux | Margaux | 75cl
£645.00
ABV: 14.5%
Size: 75cl
Closure Type: Cork
Country: France
Region: Bordeaux
Sub-Region: Margaux
Wine Style: Medium Bodied
Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Description
Château Margaux, a prestigious First Growth estate owned by the Mentzelopoulos family since 1978, consistently produces some of the finest wines in the Médoc. Renowned for its grand architecture, the estate spans 82 hectares, dominated by 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, alongside Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. The acclaimed 2022 vintage has captivated critics, receiving a perfect 100 points from Vinous, which praises its breathtaking elegance and complexity. Decanter awarded it 98 points, highlighting its vibrant core, silky tannins, and intense black fruit. The Wine Advocate lauds its profound depth, while James Suckling noted its exceptional concentration. With a drinking window from 2030 to 2065, this iconic Margaux embodies sophistication and unrivalled quality, promising to impress for decades to come.
A Deeper Dive;
Château Margaux
Château Margaux, a First Growth property, has been owned by the Mentzelopoulos family since 1978. It has since consistently produced some of the finest wines in the Médoc.
One of the grandest, most imposing buildings amongst the Médoc châteaux, Ch. Margaux in its current form was built in the early 19th century, although viticulture had been practised on the estate for several centuries before. A chequered period of ownership in the 19th and early 20th century meant that the quality of some vintages was patchy. But the change which restored the property to its rightful status came in 1977 when it was bought by André Mentzenopoulos, Greek by birth but who had lived in France since 1958 and had made a fortune through supermarket retailing. André immediately instigated much-needed investment in vineyard and cellar. His untimely death in 1980 saw his daughter, Corinne, take up the reins. Corinne’s shrewdest move was the recruitment of talented young winemaker Paul Pontallier to oversee the production.
Paul would lead the estate for 33 vintages. He sadly passed away in 2016. Today, the estate is overseen by director Philippe Bascaules and technical director Sebastien Vergne, working with consultant Eric Boissenot.
The estate has 82 hectares under vine, with Cabernet Sauvignon inevitably dominant (75%) with 20% Merlot making up most of the rest, along with a smattering of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Unusually in Margaux, there is a white wine made here, Pavillon Blanc, from 100% Sauvignon Blanc, while the two red wines are, of course, Ch. Margaux itself and Pavillon Rouge. Typically, about 30,000 cases of red wine are made, with the Grand Vin usually accounting for just over 40% of the total. Production of the white wine amounts to less than 3,000 cases.
Margaux wines are renowned for their perfumed elegance, but this should not be construed as meaning that these are light-bodied. Far from it, as the best have an enviable structure, layers of complexity, and formidable length.
DECANTER - 98 Points
"A stunning Margaux in 2022 with a bright and vibrant core, deep and persistent, alive and bright with layers of silky but firm tannins that give a gentle grip, powerful and concentrated black fruit, with a clearly defined structure that supports and doesn't overwhelm. Despite the power this has a delicacy which I love, so pure and clearly charming. Opulent yet racy, really walking the line between heft and sleekness. The acidity really lifts the expression with spiced liquorice and wet stone nuances while staying cool and fresh. Generous, stylish, punchy and polished. An incredibly complex wine that really works. 3.6pH. 88IPT. 18% press wine. Ageing 18-20 months, 100% new oak. No Petit Verdot in the blend. Highest alcohol and tannin level for the grand vin." Reviewed by Georgina Hindle Apr 23
Drinking Window: 2030-2050
THE WINE ADVOCATE - 97+ Points
"The 2022 Château Margaux has come together brilliantly with élevage. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of blackcurrants, blackberries, cedary pencil shavings and pen ink that are deftly framed by new oak, it's full-bodied, dense and layered, with a concentrated core of intensely sweet fruit, broad structural shoulders and a long, resonant finish. With air, it only becomes more voluptuous, yet that's controlled by underlying tannic grip to deliver a more classical profile than was apparent during élevage."
Drinking Window: 2030-2065
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VINOUS - 100 Points!
"The 2022 Château Margaux obliged reams of superlatives from barrel. Now in bottle, it is a stone-cold breathtaking First Growth that belongs on the mantelpiece alongside the 1959 and 1983. That said, at first, the aromatics are bashful, yet it takes little to unfurl in jaw-dropping fashion, armed with heavenly pure black fruits laced with peony and iris flower and exuding mineralité (which is a mighty achievement given the season). The palate is imbued with stunning pixelation. There is a little more structure than I recall—an enthralling sense of architecture and thrilling tension, the pH of around 3.65 imparting acidic spine. Winemaker Philippe Bascaule remarked that he cannot compare the 2022 to another vintage. This is a profound Château Margaux that sets a contemporary benchmark." Reviewed by Neal Martin