Château Margaux 2020 - 1er Grand Cru Classé

Bettane & Desseauve

About the domain :

This cru has never disappointed since it was bought by the Mentzelopoulos family in 1977. and easily dominates the entire Margaux appellation. Particularly noteworthy are the rare marriage of finesse in density and freshness in opulence, without any over-ripening of the grapes, obtained with a very strong majority of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend. A dozen hectares planted with white grapes produce Pavillon Blanc, which in just a few years has become one of three or four of Bordeaux's finest dry whites, for its richness of constitution aromatic nobility of ideally ripe Sauvignon. The red red wine needs long bottle ageing.

Decanter

About the wine:

Fresh and confident, an effortless Margaux that will be a hit in 2020. A bright color in the glass and a delicately perfumed nose. The palate is soft and graceful, silky and rich at the same time. It is layered, much more vertical than broad at this stage, but with obvious concentration. It develops slowly but surely, really taking its time before the juicy, chewy, succulent notes of blackcurrant, licorice, clove, sweet spice and refreshing menthol emerge. Nuanced and detailed, with precision and clarity in taste and overall feel. A Margaux for the years to come. 2028-2049

Guide Hachette des vins

About the wine:

2018, 2019, 2020: a trilogy that will go down in history. Philippe Bascaules and his teams have once again produced a wine of the highest refinement, perfectly adapted to a vintage marked by successive waves of heat and an exceptionally dry summer; yet it's great freshness that emerges from the tasting. The blend, very similar to those of recent vintages, is made up of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc. In the glass, a magnificent, deep, dense color gradually releases aromas of rare complexity: ripe black fruit, Morello cherry, sweet spices, floral nuances (violet, rose), notes of graphite and menthol. Then a full attack opens onto a mouth that's full, dense and powerful, but also very tender, delicate and velvety, with a sensation of freshness that never falters, culminating in a long finish of zan and violet. A margaux of admirable purity and balance. 2028-2045

About the domain :

A myth at the end of a long avenue of plane trees. The majesty of the neo-Palladian mansion (built in 1810), which succeeded a former stronghold belonging to some of the region's leading families, has contributed to its renown. The estate was created at the end of the 16th century, and the vineyard at the end of the following century, by a relative of the Pontac family. Passing through several hands over the centuries, it was acquired in 1977 by André Mentzelopoulos (Felix Potin). Drainage, replanting, integrated cooperage... a vast renovation of the estate was undertaken, in the vineyard, the cellar and the château, bringing the cru into the modern era. The new winery, designed by Norman Foster, was inaugurated in 2015. The 99-hectare vineyard also owes its quality to its exceptional terroir, a vast, superb limestone slab covered with fine gravel. It has been run since 1980 by Corinne Mentzelopoulos, André's daughter, who for over thirty years was able to count on Paul Pontallier, who joined the château in 1983 and became director in 1990: a career that sadly came to a premature end in March 2016. Replacing him in 2017 is Philippe Bascaules, an agricultural engineer who worked at the château for twenty years before heading up a major Californian estate. This cru has never disappointed since it was bought by the Mentzelopoulos family in 1977, and easily dominates the whole Margaux appellation. In particular, we admire the rare marriage of finesse in density and freshness in opulence, without any over-ripening of the grapes, achieved with a very high majority of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend. A dozen hectares planted with white grapes produce Pavillon-Blanc, which in just a few years has become one of the three or four greatest dry whites in Bordeaux, thanks to its rich constitution and the aromatic nobility of ideally ripe Sauvignon. The red wine needs long bottle ageing to assert its noble character.

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the wine:

This great wine is sure to become a legend. The great Cabernets of Margaux express themselves with a balance and vibrancy on the palate that make this one of the vintage's greatest successes. The texture is fabulous, creamy and sensual, with endless length that intensifies with each passing second in a festival of fruity notes.

About the domain :

Paul Pontalier, an emblematic figure and director of Château Margaux since 1983, passed away the day after the 2015 harvest, and Philippe Bascaules is now at the helm of this vintage of unrivalled consistency. Tasting a great Château Margaux at its peak remains a unique experience, so distinctive within its appellation is its characteristic floral bouquet, the depth of its flavors and the silkiness of its tannins. All of these characteristics are due to the superb terroir, composed mainly of gravel, which works so well for the Cabernets that make up the heart of Margaux, and which has remained virtually unchanged since its classification. Thanks to improved equipment and an even more rigorous selection process, the latest vintages appear to be the most complete yet. Under the name Pavillon Blanc, the estate also produces a wine which, thanks to a more exacting approach to Sauvignon ripeness, has become one of Bordeaux's finest whites.

James Suckling

About the wine:

Magnificent aromas of black plums and violets. Orange zest too. Some crushed stone, bark, stems, iron shavings. Full-bodied, but very tight and compact. The tannins are very present, making it very structured, but they are polished and melted together. Needs years to show all its greatness. Incredibly polished and structured. More structured than the 2019. To be tried after 2030 and beyond.

Yves Beck

About the wine:

Château Margaux 2020 is very diligent in the way it reveals and profiles itself. This means imagining a series of present elements that display themselves in a coordinated way, taking care not to overtake or erase others. This olfactory finesse is perfectly reflected on the palate, right from the attack, where the wine shines with its roundness, fullness and tenderness embodied by supple, velvety tannins. That's the start of the story, because you can tell it's not going to stop there... and it becomes obvious as the palate progresses. The tannins assert themselves at the end of the palate and are ideally supported, or complemented, by a structuring, well-honed acidity that acts behind the scenes. It is somewhat underestimated, as are the tannins, but in the end, the whole supports the finish in a convincing and imposing manner. A great Château Margaux that will have to wait. And just as we'll have to wait for Pavillon Rouge, we'll have to wait for Pavillon Blanc for lots of pleasure and a little thirst! 2027-2047

Vert de Vin

About the wine:

The nose is racy, fine, fruity and offers power (in finesse and fullness), very fine richness and grain, airy power, freshness, mastery and a lovely depth and breadth of the aromatic palette. There are notes of bright boysenberry, pulpy blackcurrant and, more lightly, blueberry, violet and strawberry, combined with hints of bourbon vanilla, lilac, saffron, star anise, as well as discreet black tea and a subtle hint of hazelnut. The palate is fruity, elegant, delicate, powerful, nicely defined and offers depth, finesse, tension in delicacy, richness in subtlety/finesse, mastery, fullness, harmony, sapidity, energy as well as silkiness and airiness in balance. Lovely mid-palate with a multi-layered feel. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of pulpy/juicy blackberry, bright raspberry and, more slightly, bright blackcurrant, combined with touches of bright red berries, hints of pulpy/juicy blueberry, blueberry/lys, star anise, as well as discreet hints of tonka bean, chocolate, toasted hazelnut and a subtle touch of black tea. The tannins are elegant, soft and polished. Imperceptible hint of Bourbon vanilla bean, white flowers and toastiness on the finish/persistence. Beautiful persistence. A wine full of classicism in its noblest sense. Congratulations!

The Wine Cellar Insider - Jeff Leve

About the wine:

It's the elegance of the wine, the silkiness of the tannins and the purity of the fruit that give this wine its character. On the palate, you find layers of sweet, refined cherries, red plums and black raspberries, as if picked at the perfect moment and eaten in the vineyard. Texturally, the wine is incredible. The fruit is velvety, creamy, fresh, long and rich. Everything is in balance and harmony. The finish is fluid, giving you a wine that's easy to enjoy. Drink from 2030 to 2060.