2017 Château Margaux

Spring rains challenged early vine development on Margaux's gravelly slopes, yet warm August days helped rescue ripening. The estate's strategic late harvest and rigorous selection process preserved quality despite difficult conditions. The final blend shows surprising grace with notes of red fruits and violets, though lighter in structure than great vintages.

Perfect flowering conditions and a sun-drenched summer created ideal ripening across Margaux's historic plateau, while September's warmth brought the fruit to sublime maturity. This flawless growing season culminated in perfectly balanced fruit that earned a rare 100-point score across the tasing experts. The wine displays profound depth with layers of black fruits and violets, underpinned by the estate's signature elegance and refinement.

The 2009 growing season at Chateau Margaux was characterized by near-perfect conditions, with a warm, dry summer and ideal weather during harvest. These factors led to optimal ripeness in both Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, resulting in grapes with exceptional concentration and balance. The 2009 Margaux captures the essence of this outstanding vintage, showcasing both power and elegance in perfect harmony.

At Château Margaux, the 2011 growing season was marked by unusual weather patterns, including an exceptionally hot and dry spring followed by a cool, wet July. The estate's well-draining gravel soils and careful canopy management helped mitigate these challenges, while an Indian summer in September allowed for steady ripening of the Cabernet Sauvignon. The resulting harvest yielded wines of classical proportions, though with lower alcohol levels than the preceding vintages.

The 2012 growing season at Chateau Margaux was marked by variable weather conditions, including a cool and wet spring followed by a hot and dry summer. Despite these challenges, careful vineyard management and selective harvesting resulted in grapes of good quality. The 2012 Margaux reflects the vintage's character, showcasing the estate's signature elegance and purity of fruit.

Late season rains challenged much of Bordeaux, though Margaux's deep gravel-clay soils provided crucial drainage during the difficult harvest. The château's strict selection focused on the best Cabernet Sauvignon parcels from the plateau. The wine shows remarkable elegance with violet and graphite notes that reflect both the challenging vintage and the First Growth's rigorous standards.

The estate's mix of gravel and clay soils managed water stress perfectly through late season temperature shifts. Margaux's strategic position captured crucial October warmth, achieving optimal Cabernet Sauvignon ripeness. The wine displays violet aromatics, precise dark fruits, and the silken texture characteristic of this First Growth's finest years.

The 2015 growing season at Chateau Margaux saw ideal conditions, with a warm, dry summer followed by perfect weather during harvest. These factors led to optimal ripeness in both Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, resulting in grapes of exceptional quality. The 2015 Margaux captures the essence of this stellar vintage, showcasing both power and elegance in perfect harmony.

The First Growth's deep gravel soils provided excellent drainage during June rains while maintaining essential moisture through the arid summer months. Maritime influences moderated the late season heat, allowing for precise harvest timing of each parcel on the plateau. The grand vin displays the vintage's solar intensity through concentrated dark fruits, while retaining Margaux's characteristic violet perfume and ethereal texture.

The 2017 growing season at Chateau Margaux was marked by severe spring frosts, which significantly reduced yields across Bordeaux. However, the estate's unique terroir and meticulous vineyard management helped mitigate the impact, resulting in a small but high-quality harvest. The 2017 Margaux reflects the vintage's freshness and purity, while maintaining the depth and complexity for which the chateau is renowned.

The 2018 season at Château Margaux began challenging with heavy rainfall through spring, but the estate's excellent drainage and biodynamic practices proved crucial. Perfect summer conditions followed by an ideal autumn created optimal ripening conditions, while the estate's skilled team carefully managed the abundant sunshine to prevent over-ripeness. The result was perfectly ripened grapes with exceptional concentration and freshness.

At Château Margaux, the 2019 growing season benefited from near-perfect conditions, with warm days and cool nights during the crucial ripening period. The estate's ancient vines showed remarkable resilience during the summer heat spikes, while September's ideal conditions allowed for unhurried harvest decisions. These conditions resulted in grapes with exceptional concentration while maintaining freshness and aromatic complexity.

The 2020 growing season at Chateau Margaux saw a mix of challenges and favorable conditions, with a warm, dry summer followed by ideal weather during harvest. Despite the year's global difficulties, the estate's careful management and ideal terroir produced grapes of exceptional quality. The 2020 Margaux showcases the vintage's hallmark freshness and concentration, with the chateau's signature elegance and complexity.

The 2021 season at Château Margaux required exceptional vigilance, facing spring frost challenges and maintaining careful disease pressure management throughout the growing season. The estate's experienced team implemented precise canopy management and adapted picking dates to each plot, while the moderate summer temperatures allowed for slow, steady ripening. These efforts resulted in wines of classical proportions with lower alcohol levels and excellent freshness.