Château Margaux
Margaux du Château Margaux 2015
Margaux
Today’s Château Margaux and Pavillon Rouge as a percentage of the estate’s total production are often equivalent to the production of just Château Margaux from 30 years ago. Starting with the great vintage of 2009 it was clear that there were high quality vineyards producing high quality fruit that while not quite at the level of today’s Pavillon Rouge, were still of a level that would make Château Margaux proud to put their name on the label. Thus a selection of the top lots for a third wine was done, and a fourth wine was therefore produced (and sold off in bulk).
This wine was produced to allow consumers an entry to Château Margaux. The style of the wine and the timing of the release are intended so that the wine can drink when a vintage is launched. Because it is 100% estate, production will not grow, and is quite limited at 2-3,000 cases produced each vintage.
Vineyard
The estate has 200 acres under vine. Each plot and each variety are treated differently from pruning throughout the growing season. Chateau Margaux’ goal is to nurture and maintain vines for as long as possible, as they believe vines need to reach 20 years of age to produce great wine. The estate is constantly trying to understand through experimentation how to improve soil health and fruit quality. Today, no insecticides are used, there is an important balance of healthy insects to counter pests, and any number of experiments with ploughing, organic farming, and biodynamic applications are ongoing. A final key point to note, Margaux has for the last 30+ years had among the lowest yields in the Medoc.
Winemaking
The wine was aged for 15 months, in 10% new oak and 90% second use barrels. Because of the particularities of the vintage, Cabernet Sauvignon made up an extremely high 88% of the blend, with Merlot only 12% of the blend. Importantly, the wine is held in bottle until ready to drink, which may not mean that vintages are released sequentially.
Vintage
Winter, which was appreciably colder than those of the previous years, caused late, but perfectly regular blossoming. Dry and sunny weather in the spring made for optimal conditions, so flowering took place very quickly and homogenously. This hot, dry weather persisted throughout the months of June and July. Fortunately a little rain in August arrived just in time to ensure a quick and regular color-change. The drought, which arrived again in September, together with very warm days and cool nights, enabled the grapes to balance their richness in sugar with good acidity, to render their tannins more silky and to make their aromatic potential more complex.
The harvest of the reds took place from September 18th to October 6th. The small size of the grapes and their thicker skins indicated a very high concentration of tannins. The 2015 weather conditions are, in fact, the feature of very great vintages, like 2005, 2009 and 2010.
Tasting Note
It is just like all the best wines of the vintage, fresh, fragrant, very soft on the palate, and with no hint of harshness or aggression. It is a charming wine that appeals to delicate foods and although it does not have the same keeping capacity as the other vintages, will nevertheless offer immediate pleasure to the enthusiasts who taste it.
Color
Red
Grape Varieties
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot
Appellation
Margaux
Alcohol
14%
Suggested Retail Price
$93.00
Trade Materials
Other Wines by this Producer
