2021, Château Margaux, MARGAUX 1er Grand Cru Classé

Bordeaux Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot

Margaux is said to be the most stylish, charming and sophisticated of the First Growths - and the origin of the phrase "Iron Fist in a Velvet Glove”. 2021 consists of 87% cabernet franc, 8% merlot, 3% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot.

The 2021 Château Margaux is clearly one of the finest wines of the vintage. Offering up a deep bouquet of raspberries, wild blueberries and plums mingled with sweet spices, violets, liquorice and hints of cigar box, it's full-bodied, layered and multidimensional, with terrific depth at the core and beautifully refined, powdery tannins, concluding with a long, floral finish. Combining the vibrant flavours and moderate alcohol of a vintage of the last century with all the precision of the present in extraction and élevage, it is a timeless classic. 95-97+ William Kelley, Wine Advocate.

The 2021 Château Margaux is clean and precise on the nose, much more discrete than the outgoing Pavillon Rouge and unfolds like a temptress in the glass. Intense dark cherries, hints of blueberry and trademark crushed violets then start to billow, all exquisitely defined. The palate is medium-bodied with a silky smooth veneer that does a good job disguising the structure underneath. Surprisingly plush given the growing season, the concentration is very impressive with no hard edges. It's a very Margaux-like Château Margaux in that it could not come from any other appéllation. 94-96 Neal Martin.

A Margaux with beautiful depth and grace and wonderfully well-placed, refined tannins, showing presence and a soft texture. They caress your palate. Full-bodied, yet tight and extremely long. Seamless. 97-98 James Suckling.

Vivid fruit, raspberries and bilberries, cassis bud, saffron and graphite, full of energy and classicism, showcasing what can be achieved in the vintage. 95 Jane Anson