Château Margaux
Château Margaux 2015
Château Margaux 2015
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Chateau Margaux 2015
1er Cru Classé
Margaux
75cl.
- Delivery in 3-4 weeks -
- Not subject to discounts and/or promotions -
Condition and provenance guaranteed
Original wooden case of 6 bottles
Notes on the vintage:
"2015 was quite literally a historic year for Château Margaux. We celebrated the bicentenary of the Estate's buildings, dating back to 1815, and the inauguration of the new structures, designed or redesigned by Norman Foster. It's easy to imagine how much we dreamed that 2015 would have been a great vintage!
Undoubtedly part of the result is due to decisions made at the time of blending; only 35% of the harvest went to the first wine, a record of severity for a vintage of this level. As usual, Cabernet Sauvignon was in first place with 87% of the blend; in addition to its concentration and finesse, it has an unusual vigor and strength this year. Merlot has nothing to be ashamed of, at least in large plots; it constitutes 8% of the first wine. Cabernet Franc (3%) and Petit Verdot (2%) also find their place in this selected blend, which confirms that great vintages allow all the different grape varieties to express their character.
How can we compare the 2015 with its predecessors? It is a thankless and somewhat futile task, especially for great vintages. There are, of course, similarities, affinities and even some differences where we don't expect to find them... But we can conjure up a combination of the strength of the 2005, the flesh of the 2009, the subtlety of the 2010 and the inimitable charm of Château Margaux.
A testimony of the last harvest by Paul Pontallier; a wine that contains all the most beautiful qualities of Château Margaux.
For all these reasons, Château Margaux wanted to create a special packaging for the 2015 Grand Vin.
A unique case has been designed, embellished with a magnificent screen printing, created specifically for this vintage, affixed to the glass instead of the traditional label. Vintage, like its unique bottle, seems to have been built for eternity. (October 2018)
Climate
The winter, noticeably colder than in previous years, caused a late but perfectly regular flowering. The dry and sunny weather in spring created optimal conditions, so the flowering took place very quickly and evenly. This hot and dry climate lasted throughout the months of June and July, to the point that it was feared there could be water stress, at least in the more sensitive plots. Luckily some rain in August arrived just in time to ensure a quick and smooth change of colour. The drought, which returned in September, combined with very hot days and cool nights, allowed the grapes to balance the sugary richness with good acidity, to make the tannins silkier and to make the aromatic potential more complex.
The harvest of the reds took place from 18 September to 6 October. The small size of the berries and their thicker skins indicated a very high concentration of tannins. The climatic conditions of 2015 are, in fact, the characteristic of very beautiful vintages, such as 2005, 2009 and 2010."
Jeb Dunnuck : 100
"A stunningly complex and complete nose of flowers, dark fruits, and minerals. Very perfumed and subtle at the same time. The palate is full, yet tight and powerful with perfect tannins and a long, long finish.” (6/2011)
Decanter : 99
"Outer quote mark Remarkably fresh and delicate nose yet classic and aromatic and full of spicy and graphite notes with liquorice, blackcurrant, cedar, tobacco, and cherry. Very fresh and elegant, the palate is formidable and shows the classic style of Ducru-Beaucaillou with its characteristic tension and upright structure and the powerful personality of a Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant wine from one of the great terroirs of the Médoc. Bravo! (YC) Inner quote mark (5/2021)"
Wine Advocate : 98
"The 2010 is a brilliant Chateau Margaux, as one might expect in this vintage. The percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon in the final blend hit 90%, the balance Merlot and Cabernet Franc, and only 38% of the crop made it into the Chateau Margaux Paul Pontallier, the administrator, told me that this wine has even higher levels of tannin than some other extraordinary vintages such as 2005, 2000, 1996, etc. Deep purple, pure and intense, with floral notes, tremendous opulence and palate presence, this is a wine of considerable nobility.With loads of blueberry, black currant and violet-infused fruit and a heady alcohol level above 13.5% (although that looks modest compared to several other first growths, particularly Chateau Latour and Chateau Haut-Brion), its beautifully sweet texture, ripe tannin, abundant depth and profound finish all make for another near-perfect wine that should age effortlessly for 30-40 years."
James Suckling : 100
"This is a haunting young wine that shows you a subtle and hidden strength on the nose with rose petals, currants, currant leaves, stones and plums. Wonderful ripeness yet brightness, too. Takes your breath away with the intensity and structure. Full- bodied, powerful and muscular, yet there's an agile undertone to the whole thing. Compact and condensed. A new legend for Margaux. The 1961 that didn't happen. Try in 2024."
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, February 2018
Jeb Dunnuck : 100
"The grand vin is the 2015 Château Margaux and it's as good a wine as I've ever tasted. Coming from just over one-third of the total production and a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and the balance Petit Verdot, brought up in 100% new French oak, its deep ruby/purple-tinged color is followed by a thrilling bouquet of crème de cassis, toasted spice, hints of toasty oak, and cedar wood. -driven, yet packed with fruit, depth, richness, and structure, it has as much class as you can fit inside a glass.While the vintage provides plenty of upfront charm, this is a wine to cellar for at least a decade, and enjoy over the following 40+ years. 2026 - 2066"
Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com, November 2017
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW : 98
"Chateau Margaux 2015 has a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot and is deep garnet in color. It is very closed and shy to begin, eventually opening out to beautiful warm cassis , black raspberries, and notes of dried mulberries, followed by hints of tobacco leaf, crushed rocks, and dried lavender, with a touch of Ceylon tea.The medium to full-bodied palate is rich and seductive, featuring grainy tannins and bright, bold acidity, finishing epically long and layered. The tannins are just a touch "al dente" compared with the 2016, but this is nonetheless gorgeous. This vintage is packaged in a beautiful 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 evocative swan song from a gifted winemaker, taken from us too soon."
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, The Wine Independent, November 2022
Wine Enthusiast : 100
“Predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine shows a wonderful black-currant purity on the palate, along with intense, vibrant acidity. The background is all tannin, which speaks to its aging potential. This wine is the last vintage produced by Paul Pontallier, who was general manager from 1990 until his death in 2016. It's a memorable wine and one for aging.” *Cellar Selection* (RV) (4/2018)
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