Chateau Margaux   Margaux

2017 Margaux

By Chateau Margaux

2017 Margaux from Chateau Margaux, Margaux, Bordeaux, France

The 2017 vintage from Bordeaux paints a complex tableau; a year that has often been overshadowed by its exuberant predecessors. Yet, amidst the mosaic of appellations, the 2017 Margaux from Chateau Margaux presents itself as a testament to resilience and prowess.

 

A Lucid Expression of an Enigmatic Year

Wrought with early challenges including frost, which had winemakers holding their breaths, Margaux emerged relatively unscathed with conditions that favoured a swift and homogenous flowering. This providence granted the 2017 Margaux a unique composition—a blend layered with the graceful balance one anticipates from this storied producer.

An articulate representation of its climatic idiosyncrasies, the 2017 harvest was guided by cooler nights and warm days as it neared completion, thus ensuring an array of vibrant aromatics coupled with a well-structured tannic spine. This equilibrium is captured within the bottle, furnishing investors with not only a wine of impressive stature but also the potential for significant maturation.

 

A Vintage Marrying Elegance and Tenacity

Upon decanting, the bouquet unfurls with an elegant restraint; notes of dark cherry and violet subtly intertwined with an earthy forest-floor undertone. Twinning finesse with fortitude, each sip reveals a cabernet sauvignon-led assemblage that grasps the palate with assured tannins and extends into a prolonged finish characterised by cassis and graphite whispers. This synergy is indicative of Chateau Margaux's command over their terroir—especially in a year that tested the resolve of so many.

In the dynamic sphere of fine wine investment, discerning collectors realise the uniqueness imbued within particular vintages. The 2017 Margaux stands as a compelling narrative of such a vintage—refined yet robust—it is poised to embellish cellars while offering a future delight when its narrative peaks in complexity.

 

An Ascent to Maturity Worthy of Consideration

With its notable poise, underlying vigour, and broad wingspan toward maturity, the 2017 Margaux from Chateau Margaux reflects facets well-suited to any fine wine portfolio's strategy. It is advisable for investors to turn their gaze towards this intricate iteration—one where nature's intricacies harmoniously coincide with human craft—an investment-grade wine indeed.

Current market price

$6,890.00

12x75cl

Highest score

98

POP score

230

Scores and tasting notes

97-98

This is a very dense Margaux, and especially for the vintage, with a full body, grainy tannins and a long and rich finish. Impressive depth of fruit and structure. Luscious and muscular at the same time.

James Suckling - jamessuckling.com

98

The 2017 Chateau Margaux is a blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple colored, it needs a little coaxing to reveal alluring notes of blackcurrant cordial, Black Forest cake and black raspberries with suggestions of candied violets, tilled soil, fallen leaves, licorice and espresso plus wafts of underbrush and rosehip tea. Medium-bodied, the elegance and finesse on the palate is simply bedazzling, exuding a quiet intensity of fresh black fruits layered with oh-so-subtle floral and earth nuances. It has a soft, velvety texture and seamless freshness to support the tightly wound flavors, finishing long and perfumed. Beautiful! This grand vin accounts for just 37% of the crop.

Lisa Perrotti-Brown - The Wine Advocate, 16 March 2020

96-98

A blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, the deep garnet-purple colored 2017 Château Margaux charges from the gate with opulent kirsch, raspberry preserves, wild blueberries and cassis notions accented by roses, violets, Chinese five spice and fragrant earth with touches of underbrush and truffles. Medium-bodied, it fills the mouth with vibrant, ripe red and blue fruits, layering in perfume and spice nuances. It's framed by very finely grained and plush yet firm tannins and great tension, finishing with epic length.

Wine Advocate - Lisa Perrotti-Brown - robertparker.com

94-97

The 2017 Margaux is one of the highlights on the Left Bank. Surprisingly powerful and virile, the Grand Vin clearly reflects the influence of a high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend. Beams of tannin give the wine support through the mid-palate and into the finish. Estate Manager Sebastian Vergne told me the winemaking team opted to raise temperatures at the end of fermentation to gain a bit more color, depth and polymerization of tannins. The Grand Vin represents 37% of the estate's production.

Antonio Galloni - Antonio Galloni - vinous.com - May '18

93-95

The 2017 Margaux, matured in 100% new oak, was blended in the second half of February. It has a very pure, floral bouquet with scents of iris and violet infusing the black and subtle blue fruit. There are touches of crushed stone and with aeration, a little candied orange peel. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent ripe tannin, very harmonious in the mouth, caressing and sensual with black fruit, hints of graphite and a light marine influence. There is a fine build to this Château Margaux, commencing almost understated but finishing with an insistent grip and a long, quite spicy aftertaste. It's not the bewitching 2015 however, it purrs like a Rolls Royce and will age with panache.

Neal Martin - Neal Martin - vinous.com - May '18

Vintage performance