The pursuit of excellence has always led Chateau Margaux to produce a second wine, which took the name of Pavillon Rouge du Château Margaux in 1908. Over the years, the selection has become more and more rigorous, thus improving the quality of Pavillon Rouge and consequently, that of the third wine. The maiden 2009 release was aged in barrels with the same care as Pavillon Rouge and was bottled after fifteen months, thus giving birth to the first vintage of Margaux du Chateau Margaux.

After a relatively dry 2016, the first months of 2017 brought the necessary rain required to keep the water table balanced. Winter temperatures weren’t particularly cold. The vines budded around April 4th, but Chateau Margaux wasn’t wary enough of the spring-like temperatures and a frost on the nights of April 27th and 28th served as a reminder that, above all, winegrowers are dependent on nature. The choice location of their vineyard plots allowed them to limit frost damage and only 10% of their red vines were affected.

Summer 2017 more or less resembled summer 2016: warm and very dry through July and August. Light rainfall in early September was the only thing that disrupted a rare opportunity to produce a third great vintage after 2015 and 2016. The Chateau had just harvested their white grapes when heavy precipitation dashed their hopes of a truly standout year. Harvest for the reds finally commenced between September 12th and October 3rd in exceptionally fine weather conditions.

Margaux du Chateau Margaux, AOC Margaux, Bordeaux, 13.5% Abv. 

A delicately spicy, cedary, perfumed  aromatics with violets and rose petals and an ample plummy fruit complexity, joining notes of graphite, black chai tea, bay leaf, black currants and salty black cherry. The 2017 is a perfect melange of elegance, weightless concentration and mineral classism with a seductively creamy breadth and a beautifully elegant, textured depth. This wine delivers finesse with power like only the Margaux appellation can. Really beautiful and probably the bargain on-trade Bordeaux choice. Drink now to 2032+.

(Wine Safari Score: 94/100 Greg Sherwood MW)

Margaux du Chateau Margaux is distributed exclusively to the premium on-trade in the UK by Flint Wines.