Margaux
If Pauillac is the bastion of ‘traditional’ Red Bordeaux, Margaux represents its other facet in producing wines that are some of the region’s most sensual and alluring. The largest commune in the Médoc, it encompasses the communes of Cantenac, Soussans, Arsac and Labaude, in addition to the village of Margaux itself. Its finest examples are paragons of refinement and subtlety which have few parallels in Bordeaux.
If Pauillac can be seen as the bastion of ‘traditional’ Red Bordeaux, then Margaux represents its other facet in producing wines that are among Bordeaux’s most sensual and alluring. It is the largest commune in the Médoc, encompassing the communes of Cantenac, Soussans, Arsac and Labaude, in addition to Margaux itself. Located in the centre of the Haut-Médoc, Margaux is the closest of the important communes to the city of Bordeaux.
The soils in Margaux are the lightest and most gravelly of the Médoc, with some also containing a high percentage of sand. Vineyards located in Cantenac and Margaux make up the core of the appelation with the best vineyard sites being located on well-drained slopes, whose lighter soils give Margaux its deft touch and silky perfumes. Further away from the water, there is a greater clay content and the wines are less dramatically perfumed.
Margaux is the most diffuse of all the Médoc appelations with a reputation for scaling the heights with irreproachable wines such as Ch. Margaux and Ch. Palmer, but also plumbing the depths, with too many other châteaux not fulfilling their potential. There has been an upward shift in recent years, but the appellation cannot yet boast the reliability of St Julien. However, the finest Margaux are exquisitely perfumed and models of refinement and subtlety which have few parallels in Bordeaux.
Recommended Châteaux: Ch. Margaux, Ch. Palmer, Ch. Brane-Cantenac, Ch. Rauzan-Ségla , Ch. Dufort-Vivens, Ch. Ferrière, Ch. du Tertre, Ch. Giscours, Ch. d'Angludet.
Prices:
Bottle
£14.00
Bottle 12 x 75cl1cs
Bottle
£14.00
Bottle 6 x 75cl21cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl2cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl4cs
Case price (Bottle 6 x 75cl)
Bottle 6 x 75cl30cs
Bottle
£22.95
Bottle 12 x 75cl198cs
Bottle
£28.00
Bottle 12 x 75cl14cs
The nose is fresh and bright, bursting with aromas of lemon, pear and peach. There is a lovely zip of acidity on the palate, with ripe citrus and green apple followed by stone-fruit characters of peach and white nectarine. There is a touch of creaminess on the finish adding an extra layer of complexity. Drink now to 2018.
Bottle
£29.00
Case price (Bottle 6 x 75cl)
Bottle 6 x 75cl10cs
Bottle
£33.00
Bottle 12 x 75cl48cs
Earthy chocolate notes mingle with tobacco and spice beneath a core of fresh, crunchy forest fruit. Lifted by its acidity and a hint of violet perfume, this wine is refined and elegant – typical of its Margaux appellation and everything you might expect from a second wine of Ch. Brane-Cantenac.
Bottle
£34.00
Bottle 12 x 75cl2cs
Case price (Bottle 12 x 75cl)
Bottle 12 x 75cl26cs
Bottle 12 x 75cl1cs
Jake Dean – Fine Wine Sales Director
A vibrant red colour, with redcurrant and blackberry on the nose, weaved with a touch of spice. 75% Cabernet Sauvignon gives a kick of cassis on the palate which flows neatly through the wine. Structure is very gentle and this should be approachable relatively early. Touch of toast on the finish. One of the successes in the Margaux appellation this year.
Fergus Stewart – Private Account Manager
There is a record amount of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend this year and it has helped to create a lovely expression of Ch. Giscours. There is a good balance, a touch of sweetness, ripe engaging fruit and superbly integrated tannins.
Bottle
£38.50
Bottle 6 x 75cl9cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl2cs
Simon Staples, Asia Director
Case price (Bottle 6 x 75cl)
Bottle 6 x 75cl50cs
Case price (Bottle 6 x 75cl)
Bottle 6 x 75cl46cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl1cs
Bottle
£44.00
Bottle 12 x 75cl15cs
Bottle
£45.00
Bottle 12 x 75cl2cs
Bottle
£45.10
Bottle 6 x 75cl93cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl1cs
Simon Staples - Sales Director, Asia
Bottle
£47.00
Bottle 12 x 75cl31cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl1cs
Imperial 1 x 600cl1cs
Matthew Tipping, Fine Wine
From one of the real up-and-coming estates in Bordeaux, Du Tertre's 2006 is a lovely silky wine. Gently perfumed, with bright yet creamy red fruit and a very elegant palate, the tannins here are so supple that you might almost think you were drinking Burgundy rather than Bordeaux. It is as feminine as ever with a lovely explosion of fruit on the palate. It has a generosity and attractiveness that is not frequently found in 2006.This will make delicious and extremely sophisticated drinking.
Simon Staples, Asia Fine Wine Director
Case price (Bottle 12 x 75cl)
Bottle 12 x 75cl10cs
Bottle 12 x 75cl1cs
Bottle 12 x 75cl1cs
Bottle 12 x 75cl1cs
Case price (Bottle 12 x 75cl)
Bottle 12 x 75cl8cs
Case price (Bottle 12 x 75cl)
Bottle 12 x 75cl1cs
Only a minuscule 25 percent of the crop made it into the Grand Vin in 2007, showing the sacrifice required to succeed in this tricky year. An attractive nose of ripe strawberries and chocolate leads on to a sophisticated raspberries-and-cream palate with a lovely, racy, fruit-driven finish.
Bottle
£56.50
Bottle 12 x 75cl3cs
Case price (Bottle 12 x 75cl)
Bottle 12 x 75cl18cs
Case price (Bottle 12 x 75cl)
Bottle 12 x 75cl50cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl1cs
Hong Kong Fine Wine Team
This is very typically Margaux, with an extremely attractive perfumed nose of ripe red fruit and roses. The palate was lighter than expected, with a poised dark fruit core enveloped by an obvious, but very fine, tannic structure. A multi-layered complexity of flavour shows promise and became more apparent having been open for a few hours. A delicious treat, but I would probably tuck it away for a few more years Drink now-2025+.
Fine Wine Team
Ch. Giscours is always a more serious wine than its stable mate, Ch. du Tertre - a result of a very different terroir - and the 2006 is no different. Giscours' 2006 is more typically Margaux and less masculine than in recent vintages. It is extremely aromatic, ripe and savoury with floral hints, however, despite the fine-grained tannins its rich, dark fruit and hefty structure shows that it still has lot of guts and depth. This is quite a cerebral wine but its multi-layered personality makes it well worth the effort. Why not buy this and the Du Tertre and drink the latter while you wait for the former to mature!
Simon Staples - Fine Wine Director Asia
Bottle
£63.00
Bottle 12 x 75cl46cs
Magnum
£140.00
Magnum 6 x 150cl2cs
Simon Staples, Fine Wine Director
Case price (Bottle 6 x 75cl)
Bottle 6 x 75cl2cs
Case price (Bottle 12 x 75cl)
Bottle 12 x 75cl193cs
Case price (Jeroboam 1 x 500cl)
Jeroboam 1 x 500cl33cs
H/Bottle 24 x 37.5cl1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl2cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl2cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl2cs
Bottle
£65.00
Bottle 12 x 75cl76cs
A difficult summer and September comprised the Merlot in 2002, but the Left Bank’s Cabernet Sauvignon-based wines enjoyed the Indian summer. Reaching its peak now, this Giscours has charming notes of cedar and pencil lead, with a poised, elegant palate and finish.
Bottle
£67.00
Bottle 12 x 75cl52cs
Max Lallondrelle, Bordeaux Wine Buyer
Having suffered greatly during both World Wars, Ch. d'Issan sadly underperformed for decades. But all has changed at this pretty Third Growth property due to serious vineyard replanting and cellar refurbishments by the Cruse family.
The vines are now reaching maturity and the quality in recent years has been superb (with Parker points to match). It has shed the angular firmness and replaced it with Margaux style elegance and charm. With few properties in the commune of Margaux producing quality wine, Ch. d'Issan is a property to watch. With a small annual production of around 5000 cases of Grand Vin this is a must have.
2010 d'Issan is beautifully perfumed with a rich silky dark fruit palate of blue plums and morello cherries, balanced by a surprising freshness and a very fine but obvious tannic structure.
Fine Wine Team
Case price (Bottle 12 x 75cl)
Bottle 12 x 75cl14cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl1cs
Case price (Bottle 12 x 75cl)
Bottle 12 x 75cl22cs
In 2004 Giscours produced a restrained and precise example. Powerful yet sophisticated, densely fruited yet refined, this is one of the most masculine wines of the Margaux appellation. The 2004 vintage is seriously under-rated and it’s in a cool style, with elegant fruit and a structure which allows the terroir to shine through.
Bottle
£70.00
Bottle 12 x 75cl19cs
Bottle
£70.00
Bottle 12 x 75cl117cs
Bottle
£76.00
Bottle 12 x 75cl31cs
Giscours typically produces one of the most masculine wines of the Margaux appellation and one which normally requires a little patience. Defined by its rich, dark fruit, complex structure and wonderful, classic perfume, this elegant 2001 is nonetheless drinking beautifully now, yet will last another five years.
Bottle
£81.00
Bottle 12 x 75cl23cs
Bottle
£81.00
Bottle 12 x 75cl37cs
Case price (Magnum 6 x 150cl)
Magnum 6 x 150cl7cs
Martyn Rolph, Private Account Sales Manager.