“This property has produced solely distinctive wines during the last three a long time.” -Robert Parker
Château Margaux is one in every of Bordeaux’s most historic and well-known estates. The one labeled First Progress in Margaux, it epitomizes the appellation’s magnificence, whereas producing wines with unbelievable getting older potential.
Margaux’s roots date again eight centuries. The Margaux website was initially used as a fortress, constructed near the Gironde River to guard in opposition to invasion. With a wealth of troopers to feed, they have been inspired to plant grains within the surrounding fields, however they quickly discovered that because of the explicit gravel soils, massive elements of the land weren’t possible for grain manufacturing and so as an alternative opted to plant vineyards. This choice to desert rising cereal in favor of grapes in 1572 performed the decisive position within the full restructuring of the Médoc.
As the primary grape growers within the southern Médoc, it wasn’t lengthy earlier than they acknowledged that explicit plots have been producing higher high quality grapes than others. Even at this very early stage, terroir definition was already enjoying its half in the place the Margaux producers would develop their grapes. Because the fortress’s inhabitants elevated, a neighboring village developed in an effort to present obligatory items and providers, and the village of Margaux was born. The truth that the property predated the village and appellation is vital, since right this moment it’s unlawful to call an appellation in France after a producer (or vice versa) – Margaux stays the one one.
Categorised as a First Progress in 1855, it was the one château to obtain 20 out of a doable 20 factors in the course of the classification course of – cementing its iconic standing.
Like a lot of Europe, with the event of the vine ailments of mildew, oidium and phylloxera that swept by way of Bordeaux within the late 1800s, adopted by the Nice Despair and World Wars, the property went by way of a tough interval all through the nineteenth and twentieth centuries earlier than being purchased by André Mentzelopoulos, a Greek entrepreneur, in 1977.
At a time when Bordeaux was rising from a critical financial and qualitative disaster, André was proactive within the area, investing closely within the vineyards (implementing drainage programs and replanting packages), in addition to using famend oenologist Émile Peynaud who launched new oak barrels for élevage . Sadly, André Mentzelopoulos died simply three years after taking on the property, however his legacy lives on underneath the present proprietor, his daughter Corinne Mentzelopoulos, who took over at simply 27 years outdated.
Beneath her administration Margaux has loved unbelievable success together with her proper hand man and winemaker, the late Paul Pontallier a key participant within the property’s rise. Pontallier is acknowledged as a real legend of contemporary Bordeaux and was behind a few of the best wines ever made on the property. He died in 2015, however Philippe Bascaules has taken over, persevering with the property’s dedication to excellence.
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