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The Château Margaux is an unmistakable name in Bordeaux winegrowing, whose prestige and reputation have long transcended borders. Known as "La Mothe de Margaux" as early as the 12th century, the high quality of its wines was recognized in the early 15th century thanks to the winemaking work of régisseur Berlon, who separated the red grapes from the white and succeeded in distinguishing the best parcels.
In 1784, this wine seduced Thomas Jefferson, future president of the United States and French ambassador at the time. In the early 19th century, Château was destroyed by its then owner, the Marquis de la Colonilla Bertrand Douat, who rebuilt it as we know it today, with its Ionic peristyle, monumental staircase and classical façade.
The consecration of Château Margaux comes when it attains the rank of Ier Grand Cru Classé in 1855, a distinction it shares with 4 other great Bordeaux names: Château Lafite Rothschild, Château Haut-Brion, Château Latour and Château Mouton Rothschild since the single revision of the classification in 1973. The Margaux appellation was not created until 1954, inspired by the irreproachable excellence of the eponymous Château.
Owned since 1977 by the Greek Mentzelopoulos Family, Château Margaux today oversees a vineyard of 82 hectares, 70 of which are dedicated to the production of red wines. The average age of the vines is 35 years, with 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc.
The wines of Château Margaux are the fruit of a drastic selection designed to keep only the best of the crop, aiming to be full-bodied and opulent, with great length and unrivalled refinement.
WEATHER CONDITIONS
The dates for bud-break, flowering and colour change in the grapes correspond exactly to the averages. What distinguishes this growing season is the exceptional heat and drought during the month of August : the grapes acquired an excellent level of concentration early on. The heavy rain at the end of September came too late to cause significant dilution. (The picking began on September 24th)
CHATEAU MARGAUX
We came very close to making a great vintage. It was a question of a few showers at the beginning of the harvest... From the beginning, the wines, whether Merlot or Cabernet, had astonishing concentration, recalling the 1995 and 1996 vintages. At first, they tended to be a little firm and austere, but with barrel ageing they gained a lot of roundness and harmony.
Today, Château Margaux 1998 displays aromas of great freshness, in which fruit, particularly red berry fruit, is to the fore, and in which lingering hints of vanilla and roasted coffee beans mingle slowly into the wine. The impression on the palate is of great power with fresh, firm but fat tannins, which give this wine a very classic dimension. 1998 is undeniably a long-ageing wine, which will only come out completely in fifteen years' time. However, it can be drunk now, out of curiosity, since it has nothing aggressive about it. (May 2006)