Château Margaux 2015

Robert Parker Wine Advocate

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.

James Suckling

This is a haunting young wine that shows you a subtle and hidden strength on the nose with rose petals, currants, currant leaves, stones and plums. Wonderful ripeness yet brightness, too. Takes your breath away with the intensity and structure. Full-bodied, powerful and muscular, yet there's an agile undertone to the whole thing. Compact and condensed. A new legend for Margaux. The 1961 that didn’t happen. Try in 2024.

Falstaff

Dark ruby, purple reflections, subtle brightening on the rim. Delicate tobacco and SAVOURY underlaid fine heart cherry fruit, delicate nougat and candied orange zest, multi-faceted and inviting bouquet. Juicy, extractsweet, ripe cherries, silky sweetness, great finesse, simply incredibly delicate and long lasting. Presented in the exceptional set with silk screen label as

VertdeVin

The nose is elegant, complex, racy and offers a very beautiful delicacy. It reveals notes of crushed blackberry and ripe strawberry combined with slight notes of cassis, ripe red berries as well as a subtle hint of racy minerality, sweet spices and an imperceptible hint of violet. The palate is fruity, mineral, dynamic, aerial, racy and offers juiciness, a beautiful definition, a nice minerality, a beautiful finesse as well as a fresh frame. On the palate this wine expresses notes of blackberry, fleshy cassis and strawberry combined with touches of ripe raspberry, a touch of redcurrant as well as a subtle hint of tonka bean, a discreet hint of caramelization and a touch of imperceptible hint of almond / oak (in the background). Beautiful persistence. There is a very slight hint of almond on the finish / aftertaste.

Wine Enthusiast

Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider

Wine Spectator

Jean-Marc Quarin

Jeannie Cho Lee