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
£20.00
Bottle 6 x 75cl 123cs
Bottle
£21.00
Bottle 6 x 75cl 160cs
Case price (Bottle 12 x 75cl)
Bottle 12 x 75cl 11cs
Bottle
£25.00
Bottle 6 x 75cl 12cs
Case price (Bottle 6 x 75cl)
Bottle 6 x 75cl 6cs
Case price (Bottle 12 x 75cl)
Bottle 12 x 75cl 64cs
Bottle
£33.00
Bottle 12 x 75cl 17cs
Simon Staples, Sales Director - Asia
The rejuvenated Ch. du Tertre is steadily building a reputation for excellent value for money. The 2014 has a lovely expressive nose, with sweet red fruits combining effortlessly with aromas of floral cassis and dried fruit. There are generous helpings of blackberries and cream on the palate which sit wonderfully alongside the elegant Margaux femininity. Fine tannins, crunchy black fruit and excellent length. The Cabernet Franc provides a really strong backbone and the Cabernet Sauvignon a structure and texture, which is typical of this commune. There is a lovely peppery focus here, courtesy of the Cabernet Franc. Focused and direct, it is a real pleasure to taste this wine, even at such an early stage, straight from barrel. It's one of the best du Tertre wines we have tasted in many years.
Bottle
£36.00
Bottle 6 x 75cl 25cs
Bottle 12 x 75cl 1cs
Simon Staples, Asia Sales Director
Case price (Bottle 12 x 75cl)
Bottle 12 x 75cl 22cs
Case price (Bottle 6 x 75cl)
Bottle 6 x 75cl 4cs
Bottle 12 x 75cl 1cs
Stuart Rae, Fine Wine Commercial Manager
Case price (Bottle 6 x 75cl)
Bottle 6 x 75cl 48cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Case price (Bottle 12 x 75cl)
Bottle 12 x 75cl 1cs
Simon Staples, Sales Director - Asia
Round and seductive, Ch. Giscours is brimming with dark fruit this year, showing an inky colour. It is neatly packed with dense fruit, with good concentration and luscious tannins. Black fruit dominates the nose and palate. There is an elegance here, alongside a structure which demonstrates the super terroir of this property and indeed the appellation. Cool, refreshing acidity appears on the finish and textured tannins complete a really attractive mouth-feel. A broad, fleshy fruit profile really appeals.
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle
£45.10
Bottle 6 x 75cl 50cs
Case price (Bottle 12 x 75cl)
Bottle 12 x 75cl 6cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Simon Staples, Asia Director
Case price (Bottle 12 x 75cl)
Bottle 12 x 75cl 149cs
Case price (Bottle 6 x 75cl)
Bottle 6 x 75cl 32cs
Case price (Bottle 6 x 75cl)
Bottle 6 x 75cl 10cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Case price (Bottle 6 x 75cl)
Bottle 6 x 75cl 10cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 2cs
Bottle 12 x 75cl 2cs
Bottle 12 x 75cl 1cs
77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc
Bottle
£51.00
Bottle 6 x 75cl 8cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Jake Dean, Fine Wine Sales Director
Bottle
£54.19
Bottle 12 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 2cs
Bottle
£56.00
(Jake Dean, BBR Fine Wine Sales Manager - Oct 08) Owner Henri Lurton has made quite a reputation for himself (no mean feat when there are so many other winemaking Lurtons in Bordeaux) by dragging this Second Growth back to close to its best. This is a highly attractive, feminine wine,with a smooth, spicy, vanilla nose, silky raspberry and blackcurrant fruit and a pure, intense finish. Henri's selection for this wine was ruthless, with less than 40% making it into the Grand Vin. Made in an early-drinking style, the extra good news is that Henri's wines alwaysfill out and improve in their second year thus making this a very smart buy indeed.
(Simon Staples - BBR Fine Wine Director - Jun 07)
Case price (Bottle 12 x 75cl)
Bottle 12 x 75cl 5cs
Bottle 12 x 75cl 1cs
Case price (Bottle 12 x 75cl)
Bottle 12 x 75cl 3cs
Case price (Bottle 12 x 75cl)
Bottle 12 x 75cl 35cs
56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc
Bottle
£60.80
Bottle 6 x 75cl 3cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 3cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Magnum 3 x 150cl 1cs
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 75cl 5cs
Simon Staples, Fine Wine Director
Case price (Bottle 12 x 75cl)
Bottle 12 x 75cl 49cs
Case price (Bottle 6 x 75cl)
Bottle 6 x 75cl 11cs
Case price (Jeroboam 1 x 500cl)
Jeroboam 1 x 500cl 21cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 12 x 75cl 1cs
Magnum 6 x 150cl 1cs
Magnum 6 x 150cl 1cs
Bottle
£65.00
Bottle 12 x 75cl 26cs
Case price (Bottle 12 x 75cl)
Bottle 12 x 75cl 5cs
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 75cl 57cs
Bottle
£76.00
Bottle 12 x 75cl 10cs
Case price (Bottle 6 x 75cl)
Bottle 6 x 75cl 8cs
Hong Kong Fine Wine Team
Bottle
£78.19
Case price (Bottle 12 x 75cl)
Bottle 12 x 75cl 1cs
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 75cl 6cs
Bottle
£81.00
Tariq Khan - Wine Advisor