Château Margaux is one of the most prestigious wines in Bordeaux and in France. Located in the Gironde, Château Margaux is a “first growth” (premier grand cru classé) under the 1855 classification of the great wines of Bordeaux. Whether a duke (Louis-Charles-Marie de la Trémoille) or a banker (Frédéric Pillet-Will), the owner of the Château Margaux mansion reflects its history. Château Margaux is now run by Corinne Mentzelopoulos.
The history of Château Margaux
A Bordeaux grand cru, this famous château has a thrilling history at the heart of the region’s vineyards.
Château Margaux: a historic estate
While the earliest traces of the estate go back to the 13th century, the current mansion was built between 1810 and 1816 by Louis Combe, an architect from Bordeaux. You can visit Château Margaux, with a tasting of a few of its grands crus to round things off.
Château Margaux: the story of its owners
The story of this famous Bordeaux wine could begin in the 15th century, when François de Montferrand was given the title of Baron Margaux. As the château’s owners came and went, the estate modernized, in particular during the 18th century under the impetus of the estate manager Berlon.
Then, in 1801, Bertrand Douat, Marquis de la Colonilla, acquired the estate. In place of the existing manor, he had the mansion we know today built under the direction of the architect Louis Combe.
The Marquis de la Colonilla’s descendants lost interest in the estate and sold it in 1830 to Alexandre Aguado, a banker with a passion for wine. In 1879, the château was sold to Count Pillet-Will, another banker who would leave his mark on the estate’s history.
Finally, in the middle of the 20th century, the Ginestet family acquired the château before handing it over to André Mentzelopoulos in 1977. On his death, his daughter, Corinne Mentzelopoulos, took over ownership, following in her father’s footsteps by nurturing the estate’s production. Although Château Margaux has been through difficult patches, the estate’s quality and reputation are now firmly restored.
The vintages of Château Margaux
If the history of Château Margaux is exceptional, its vintages are even more so.
The best Château Margaux vintages
The question of the best vintage often comes up, but there isn’t just one!
The best years for this famous Bordeaux wine are: 1900, 1961, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1989, 1990, 1996, 2000, 2003 and 2005. Château Margaux 1961 has often been hailed as the finest cuvée of the 20th century, and even as a “wine built for eternity”. Finally, it is worth noting that the 1900, 1990 and 2000 vintages were awarded a score of 100/100 by Robert Parker, a testament to how exceptional these grands crus are.
Château Margaux prices
Château Margaux prices range from €15,000 (Château Margaux 1900) to €288 (Château Margaux 1976). Wine Decider has carried out a study compiling the average prices seen on the market alongside the score for each Château Margaux vintage.
Château Margaux food and wine pairings
Margaux can be paired with starters, main courses or cheeses. For starters, pair Château Margaux with dishes built around mushrooms and truffles in particular. For main courses, pairing Château Margaux with a cut of red meat is always a safe bet. You can also pair this grand cru with dishes that include foie gras. It will also go beautifully with a beef Wellington, for example.
Finally, Château Margaux pairs perfectly with cheeses such as Boulette d’Avesnes, Rocher Nantais or Chambarand.
The second wines of Château Margaux
The estate has two second wines: Pavillon Rouge and Pavillon Blanc. Here is a closer look at both.
Château Margaux’s Pavillon Rouge
Pavillon Rouge is the estate’s second wine. It appeared in the middle of the 19th century and has carried this name since 1908. Although its production stopped in the middle of the 20th century, André Mentzelopoulos brought it back in 1977. It is a fairly intense, fruity wine with present tannins.
The highest score awarded to Pavillon Rouge is 95/100, by Robert Parker in 2010. Over the past ten years, only the 2007 vintage has fallen below the 90 mark, earning an 89/100. Pavillon Rouge from Château Margaux trades at around €200 today.
Château Margaux’s Pavillon Blanc
Before 1920, this wine was only sold as a white Sauvignon. It was not until 1920 that it was given the name Pavillon Blanc du Château Margaux. This white Bordeaux is both very fine and complex.
Finally, the 2016 cuvée earned the highest score of the past ten years, with a 96/100 from Robert Parker.
And there you have it: Wine Makers Show has given you everything you need to know about Château Margaux, a “first growth” under the 1855 classification of the great wines of Bordeaux. Its exceptional vintages now hold no more secrets for you. And with a little luck, we might soon record a podcast on the subject!
