Château Margaux

The Bordeaux region of France has been celebrated for the quality of its red wines since time immemorial. There is something about the mineral-rich gravelly soils, the reliable climatic conditions cooled by Atlantic breezes, and the tireless dedication of the vintners who make this part of France their home, that has seen Bordeaux consistently lead the world when it comes to blended red wine production. One of the undisputed leaders of Bordeaux wine is Chateau Margaux, an imposing and beautiful winery which today, regularly tops the lists of finest wines on earth, and which produces characterful, complex and age-worthy wines that attract oenophiles, investors and collectors alike.

Chateau Margaux has stood since the early 19th century – a busy and productive era for Bordeaux – but wines have been made in the location of the estate for centuries. The Chateau changed hands several times throughout the 19th and early twentieth century, and while the vintages during this period of chequered ownership were generally excellent, the winery had little in the way of consistency. This all changed in 1977, when Chateau Margaux was purchased by the Mentzelopoulos family – headed by Andre, a supermarket czar keen to bring the estate to its rightful position as a premier Bordeaux winery which he could have as his legacy. Huge investment followed, and it was passed on to his daughter, Corinne in 1980.

Since then, the winery has become recognized as one of the finest in the world. The blended red wines of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot have a depth and complexity which is unmatched by all but a very few, and the winery also produces some highly celebrated white wines made from Sauvignon Blanc and Pavillon Blanc varietal grapes. The structure and length of Margaux wines is, according to chief vintner Paul Pontallier, partly due to the quality of the Cabernet Sauvignon grapes in particular, and due to the traditional methods the winery employs. These include fermenting the juices in oak vats, and using a wide range of other time-honored techniques.