Margaux 2015 300cl

The 2015 Chateau Margaux is a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Medium garnet-purple colored, the nose features oh-so-seductive notes of warm blackberries, cassis and black forest cake with touches of forest floor, sandalwood, anise and cigar boxes plus a waft of lavender. Medium to full-bodied, it delivers taut, muscular, densely packed black fruits and exotic spice flavor layers supported by a very firm backbone of grainy tannins with oodles of freshness and a long, savory finish. It is tightly knit and a little reticent at this very youthful stage; afford it at least 15 years in the cellar, and it will open out into a classic Chateau Margaux of incredible proportions. Readers may be interested to know that this wine is beautifully packaged in a special 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 achingly beautiful swan song from an incredibly gifted winemaker, taken from us too soon. In my view, this alone makes this vintage more than worth the investment for the many lovers of history in a bottle.

Sublime, with captivating sandalwood, black tea and mesquite aromas that infuse the core of gently steeped red and black currant and raspberry fruit. The structure is seamless and thoroughly embedded throughout, letting warm tar, lilac, juniper and iron notes display themselves at will through the finish. The finish is about as long as it gets, with echoes of fruit and warm earth that should prove haunting when this reaches full maturity. Best from 2030 through 2050. 10,833 cases made.—J.M.

87 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 8 % Merlot, 3 % Cabernet Franc, 2 % Petit Verdot. Nur ein Drittel der Produktion wurde als Grand Vin selektioniert. Sattes Purpur-Granat, dicht in der Mitte, lila Schimmer aussen. Süsses Bouquet mit einem Hauch von ganz frisch gepflückten Beeren und auch Dörrfrüchten, eine Nuance Grenadine, gekochte Kirschen, fein laktische Töne, welche dem ausladenden Bouquet eine herrliche, aber auch elegante Fülle verleihen. Im Gaumen seidig, elegant mit veloursartiger Textur, und wieder diese süssen, verführerischen roten Beeren in ausufernder Form. Man muss wissen, dass der Cabernet sonst eigentlich den Blend verdünnt, weil die Merlots höhere Alkoholgradationen avisieren. Hier lagen die Cabernetchargen auf über 13 Volumenprozenten was nicht die Regel ist. Ein royaler Margaux mit viel Finessen. Seine Kraft merkt man irgendwie am Anfang gar nicht, aber man erspürt diese am druckvollen Nachklang. 19/20 2026 – 2058