2015 Margaux
By Chateau Margaux
2015 Margaux from Chateau Margaux, Margaux, Bordeaux
From the fabled cellars of Chateau Margaux comes a vintage that speaks vividly to the discerning oenophile – the 2015 Margaux. This particular year in Bordeaux gave vintners an ideal coalition of sun-dappled days and cool, clear nights, culminating in a harvest where phenolic maturity was met with poised acidity, engendering wines that flirt with perfection.
The Hallmark of an Illustrious Terroir
I've had the privilege to observe the evolutions of myriad years through the lens of this storied Chateau. The 2015 vintage stands out with its exacting expression of the Margaux terroir. This year’s harmony between climate and soil has resulted in a chiaroscuro of complex flavours, illuminating the intrinsic elegance of Chateau Margaux's vineyards.
A Vintage to Cherish and Invest In
In alignment to providing comprehensive investment counsel, it is imperative to mention that the 2015 Margaux delineates a rare interplay between immediate sensorial delight and potential longevity. A judicious structure integrates seamlessly with a merlot-driven suppleness; while notes of crème de cassis, violet, and fine-spun tannins hint at an artwork not fully unveiled but brimming with promise.
The fermentation process in 2015 was embraced with a sensitivity towards the nuances offered by the vintage. The venerated winemaking techniques of Chateau Margaux have effortlessly honed these elements into what I anticipate will burgeon into one of Bordeaux's most lauded treasures.
In summation, when divining the profundity of this starkly superior creation, one grasps how the 2015 Margaux from Chateau Margaux captures a climatic serendipity that magnifies its investment allure. It is a paragon showcasing that when meteorological grace blesses Bordeaux’s revered terroirs, connoisseurs and investors are gifted with liquid alchemy capable of transcending generations.
Current market price
$16,430.00
12x75cl
Highest score
100
POP score
493.5
Scores and tasting notes
The greatest Margaux ever made. More than perfection. Full body, firm and ultra-silky tannins. Black currant, mineral and floral character. It starts slowly and seems almost endless on the palate. Seamless. I want to sing! This is the wine that Margaux never made in some of the classics vintages like 1961, 1959 and 1945. May be its the 1900 all over again? Breathtaking.
James Suckling - jamessuckling.com
The 2015 Château Margaux is a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, all together representing 35% of the total production at the estate. Raised entirely in new oak, it has a lucid garnet color. The bouquet is aimed directly at the senses - there is no dilly-dallying about, as it almost knocks you off your stool with its intense mineralité embroidered into this iridescent, graphite-tinged nose. The focus and penetration here ranks among the finest that I have tasted at this estate since first coming here in 1997. The palate is astonishingly well balanced, perfectly poised with super-fine tannins wrapped around pure blackberry, bilberry, graphite and cedar fruit. Like the Pavillon Rouge this year, there is a Pauillac-like sense of authority and aristocracy, leavened by Margaux-inspired femininity that completes that standout 2015 on the Left Bank. Beg for a bottle and worry about the cost later. Post script: I composed this tasting note five days before the passing of Paul Pontallier. It is a final gift from a gifted winemaker.
Neal Martin - eRobertParker.com, #224, April 2016
The 2015 Chateau Margaux is a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Medium garnet-purple colored, the nose features oh-so-seductive notes of warm blackberries, cassis and black forest cake with touches of forest floor, sandalwood, anise and cigar boxes plus a waft of lavender. Medium to full-bodied, it delivers taut, muscular, densely packed black fruits and exotic spice flavor layers supported by a very firm backbone of grainy tannins with oodles of freshness and a long, savory finish. It is tightly knit and a little reticent at this very youthful stage; afford it at least 15 years in the cellar, and it will open out into a classic Chateau Margaux of incredible proportions. Readers may be interested to know that this wine is beautifully packaged in a special commemorative bottle honoring winemaker Paul Pontellier, who passed away in 2016. The gold-etched black bottle bears the message, “Hommage à Paul Pontellier” at the bottom. This 2015 is an achingly beautiful swan song from an incredibly gifted winemaker, taken from us too soon. In my view, this alone makes this vintage more than worth the investment for the many lovers of history in a bottle.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown - The Wine Advocate, 21 February 2018
A great vintage at Château Margaux and a fitting tribute to the memory of the equally great Paul Pontallier. This is a poised, elegant, beautifully framed claret, with perfume, structure, acidity and a core of red and black fruits complemented by notes of graphite and green pepper. Au revoir, Paul. Et merci. Drink: 2022-35
Tim Atkin - timatkin.com
87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot. 13.5% - record alcohol for the grand vin. Great breadth and savour on the nose. Lovely freshness and sophistication. Lots of fine tannins. Very aérien. Really flies! Perfect Margaux. A great welcome for the new chai and memorial for Paul Pontallier. Still tight but nothing out of balance. Very Margaux. Very classic claret. Quite brave because there is nothing showy about this wine, but it could truly be described as beautiful.
Jancis Robinson - jancisrobinson.com