2007 Margaux Wines & Tasting Notes

The Berrys' Fine Wine team are in Bordeaux sending back regular, comprehensive reviews on the 2007 vintage. The tasting notes below highlight some of the stand-out wines from Margaux.

Berrys' Points
Wines are scored out of 20. Berrys' points are given regardless of price, value and reputation, and are in absolute terms rather than relative to the vintage.

Drink Dates
By definition these are estimated drink dates only based on our experience of how the wines age. As some of the wines mature these drink dates may not turn out to be different from those originally stated.

As is so often the case in challenging vintages, Angludet has produced a surprisingly good, really well-made wine in 2007. Made with 48% Cabernet Sauvignon and 42% Merlot (much more than last year), the 10% Petit Verdot gives the wine its pretty, perfumed strawberry jam nose. The soft, silky, ripe plum and cream palate has supple tannins and an attractive, lively red fruit finish. Perfectly in tune with the 2007 vintage, this elegant Margaux is not the wine to lay down for your new-born's 18th birthday, but it will be lovely to drink, share and enjoy over the next decade.
BBR Score 14.5/20 Drink 2011-2016

"Dark crimson. Some curious oak (?) on the nose. Hint of buckwheat. Brawny. Very round and, for the vintage, thick. Acidity a little jagged on the finish. Not the liveliest, freshest 2007. A bit forced? Very drying end."
Jancis Robinson: 15/20
Drink: 2011-2015

The renaissance of the tiny (only 8ha) and little-known Ch. Ferrière is entirely down to the brilliant work of Claire Villars, who has transformed this very average estate into an elegant wine worthy of its 3rd Growth classification. The aromatic 2007 is very fine indeed with rich raspberry, kirsch and cedar on the palate, delicately textured tannins and a lovely pure cassis finish. This is a classic, charming, cracking-value Margaux.
BBR Score 14.5/20 Drink 2011-2018

Margaux had a tough time of things in 2007 so it is particularly rewarding to find a wine like Du Tertre that has outperformed the vintage with such concentration, personality and class. Their 59% Cabernet Sauvignon is the highest proportion ever at Du Tertre and its lushness helped make this wine such a success. A fragrant black fruit and eucalyptus nose leads on to a refined but velvety palate with creamy, spicy, ripe blackberry fruit, dark chocolate, melted tannins and a long, firm finish. Another impressive effort from one of the rising stars of Bordeaux.
BBR Score 15/20 Drink 2012-2018

"Dark slightly brownish crimson with a weak rim. Luscious fully ripe Cabernet Franc aromas to me [JH: it does have an unusually high 18% this year]. Very round and plush and easy. Soft and gentle with good refreshment factor. Very appetising. Nicely balanced. And Margaux gentleness."
Jancis Robinson: 17/20
Drink: 2010-2016

One of the more creatively-named Second wines, Alter Ego offers more than a glimpse of the seductive charm of the Grand Vin in 2007. Made with 60% Merlot, it is extremely harmonious with ripe, perfumed black cherry and orange hints on the nose. Gentle tannins support the sweet, spicy, morello cherry fruit while the elegant coffee hints on the finish top things off nicely. This is not a particularly intellectual wine but is none the worse for that - after all you wouldn't want to only read Dostoïevsky - it is, however, perfectly judged, more generous than ever and absolutely delicious.
BBR Score 15/20 Drink 2011-2016

"Mid crimson. Light, lively super-brisk nose. Very round and easy and lovely already - pure airline stuff. Great texture. Great balance – just very slightly astringent on the finish but a gentle little thing. More freshness on the nose than the Ch Palmer itself. Very light but lively."
Jancis Robinson: 17/20
Drink: 2010-2013

Despite the most difficult vintage in the last 10 years according to Henri Lurton, Brane-Cantenac have produced a highly attractive, feminine, early-drinking Margaux in 2007. With more Cabernet Sauvignon (53%) than usual in the blend, only a minuscule 25% of the crop made it into the Grand Vin, showing the sacrifice required to succeed in this tricky year. An attractive nose of ripe strawberries and chocolate leads on to a sophisticated raspberry and cream palate with a lovely racy, fruit-driven finish. With a finesse reminiscent of top Burgundy, this classic, well-crafted Margaux is as good value as ever.
BBR Score 15.75/20 Drink 2011-2018

It is reassuring to see that even in a vintage like 2007 Ch. Giscours retains its masculine, cerebral style, albeit with a rare streak of seductive charm. A fragrant, slightly heady, blackberry nose is supported by a dense palate packed full of rich, dried black fruit, creamy morello cherries and licorice. The velvety tannins emerge on the long finish alongside subtle mocha and bitter chocolate notes. This has more elegant Margaux characteristics than usual but its depth and richness mark it out as unquestionably Giscours. One of the few successes in Margaux in 2007.
BBR Score 16/20 Drink 2012-2022

"Very dark crimson. Fresh, frank, Cabernet aromas. Pretty, lively, scented. A very nice whole. Not forced. Well-judged expression of the vintage. Transparent – not at all heavy. Quite different in style from the much denser Lascombes, for example."
Jancis Robinson: 17/20
Drink: 2010-2015

Under the talented stewardship of John Kolasa, a former director of Ch. Latour, this rising star of Margaux has more than proved its pedigree with this rich, beautifully perfumed 2007. Considered the finest Second Growth alongside Mouton-Rothschild in the 19th century, it is only in recent years that this Chanel-owned property has really started living up to its potential. With crushed velvet black fruit, it is particularly sexy even for a Margaux, although its elegant tannins and precise, focused structure temper its lasciviousness. If you haven't already discovered the delights of Rauzan-Ségla this is an excellent vintage to start.
BBR Score 16/20 Drink 2012-2023

This Pavillon Rouge is so fine and silky it could almost be mistaken for top-quality red Burgundy! The normal proportions of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon and 37% Merlot are joined this year by 5% Petit Verdot that normally goes into the Grand Vin but here adds an extra dimension of tannic structure and spice. The nose is as aromatic as ever with lovely fine redcurrants, raspberries and cream while the precise, pretty palate boasts stylish, soft red fruit and a very pure, polished finish. Beautifully balanced, subtle and soft, this reminds Director Paul Pontallier of their excellent 2004.
BBR Score 15/20 Drink 2012-2018

"57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot (because the Petit Verdot didn’t reach the optimum level of ripeness and so didn’t make it into the grand vin). Very aromatic. Mid purplish crimson with a weak rim. Looks a lot weaker than Alter Ego. Very fresh revitalising nose, pretty weak on the palate. But fine. For the first time I could taste something like stewed apples! Very soft gentle texture but without much density. Fragrant, dry finish, Pretty long. Quite a different expression from the more voluptuous Alter Ego, Very light and dry. Certainly a very valid expression of Margaux."Jancis Robinson: 16.5/20
Drink: 2012-2016

This is the smallest production of Ch. Palmer since 1991, with the vineyards requiring 300 more man hours work per hectare than in 2006. Thankfully, such sacrifice has produced a refined, silky-textured Palmer with all the early-drinking charm of the vintage but atypical intensity, luscious fruit and high Merlot content (49%). A wonderful nose of cool black fruit, minerals and toffee is followed by a mouthfilling palate with fine, ripe tannins, attractive cedar notes and a lingering, pure cassis and plum finish. Not far off the quality of Ch. Margaux itself this year.
BBR Score 16.75/20 Drink 2014-2028

"Very deep crimson. Rather more drama and concentration on the nose than Alter Ego has. Reasonably sumptuous. Very sweet, really very obviously low acidity. Not desperately appetising. Pretty round and soft. Very polished. 12.5%. Very unusual mixture of old-fashioned structure (low alcohol) with modern texture and much less acidity than in the old days. Quite distinctive! At Palmer the second wine seemed particularly successful – having the freshness that was not so evident on the grand vin. Compare with the Pavillon Rouge"
Jancis Robinson: 17/20
Drink: 2012-2017

If Lafite 2007 is all about texture, then Margaux is all about perfume and finesse. With only 32% of the crop deemed worthy of this great wine - the most rigorous selection ever - this is like Ch. Margaux essence. The delicate, aromatic raspberry and cassis nose is unmistakably Ch. Margaux while the supple palate builds into a crescendo of pure, precise red and black fruit with creamy, apple hints. This very fine, beautifully integrated Margaux is true to its terroir and will be gorgeous to drink while you wait for the legendary 2005 to mature.
BBR Score 17.25/20 Drink 2015-2028

"Pretty purplish crimson. More obviously dry and ambitious than the Pavillon Rouge. Some real lift and intention here. Delicate and super charming – really aerien and wonderful dry minerally finish. Great lift and delicacy without being at all thin. All the ingredients came from the core of Ch Margaux terroir. Pontallier: ‘You couldn’t get any stricter. Pure pebbly soils facing the Gironde.’ Very pure indeed yet long. Real class and finesse. Very very delicate. Wonderfully typical of Margaux. ‘Mmm not Wow’, says Pontallier. He doesn’t expect 2007 to close like 05 will and 2001 already has done. Nice dry finish. The low key nature of 2007 seems to suit Ch Margaux."
Jancis Robinson: 18/20
Drink: 2012-2020

• Ch. Kirwan

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