Chateau Margaux 1995

WINE SPECTATOR: "This still broods seriously, with dark plum, currant and blackberry fruit, studded with charcoal, singed tobacco and cedar notes and backed by a serious grip of roasted earth. The gorgeously long finish is driven by old-school tannins, with the smoldering edge going on and on. A brick house of a Margaux, with more charcoal than graphite, more austerity than elegance and more power than refinement.--Non-blind Château Margaux vertical (December 2013). Drink now through 2034. 18,000 cases made. — JM"

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Bottled very late (November, 1997), the 1995 has continued to flesh out, developing into one of the great classics made under the Mentzelopoulos regime. The color is opaque ruby/purple. The nose offers aromas of licorice and sweet smoky new oak intermixed with jammy black fruits, licorice, and minerals. The wine is medium to full-bodied, with extraordinary richness, fabulous equilibrium, and hefty tannin in the finish. In spite of its large size and youthfulness, this wine is user-friendly and accessible. This is a thrilling Margaux that will always be softer and more evolved than its broader-shouldered sibling, the 1996. How fascinating it will be to follow the evolution of both of these vintages over the next half century. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2040."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Dense crimson with less development at the rim than the 1996. Lovely complexity and density – so much more than on the 1996. Mellowing ripe autumn fruit with liquorice and sweetness and some pretty briary tannins on the end. Very exotic but there is sufficient fruit for the tannins here. Long."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: 94 THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Firm, tannic style of Chateau Margaux, that seems like its a modern day version of their 1986. As time evolved in the decanter and glass, the wine filled out, but it never found a silky, elegant place on my palate. Full bodied, and concentrate, this is still quite tannic. Fans of older, classic styled Bordeaux will probably be more enamored with this than I was."