Chateau Margaux 2020

JAMES SUCKLING: "Gorgeous aromas of dark plums and violets. Orange peel, too. Some crushed stone. Bark. Stems. Iron shavings. Full-bodied, but very tight and compacted. The tannins are all here making it very structured, yet they are polished and melted together. Needs years to show all of its greatness. Incredible polish and structure. More structured than the 2019. Try after 2030 and beyond."

WEINWISSER: "Komplexes Bouquet, dominikanischer Tabak, edle Cassiswürze und tasmanischer Bergpfeffer. Im zweiten Ansatz Graphit und rote Kurantdrops. Am sublimen Gaumen seidige Textur, feinkörniges Extrakt, engmaschig kakaoartiges Tanningerüst, perfekt geformter Körper. Im konzentrierten, leicht introvertierten Finale mit schwarzen kleinen Beeren, Wildkirsche, dunkler Mineralik. Großes Margaux-Kino – wiederholt das Primeur- Ergebnis eindrucksvoll! Ein genialer Margaux mit absoluter Traumnote."

LISA PERROTTI-BROWN: "The 2020 Chateau Margaux is deep garnet-purple in color. After a couple of swirls, notions of blackcurrant pastilles, redcurrant jelly, and juicy black plums soar from the glass, leading to underlying suggestions of dark chocolate, candied violets, cast-iron pan, and forest floor. The medium-bodied palate is satiny smooth, vibrant, and energetic, featuring floral, mineral, and black fruit layers, finishing very long and shimmery. Cabernet Sauvignon accounts for 89% of the blend, completed by 8% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot, and 1% Cabernet Franc."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "It is the elegance of the wine, silkiness in the tannins, and the purity in the fruits that form the character in this wine. On the palate, you find layers of sweet, refined, cherries, red plums, and black raspberries tasting like they were picked at the perfect moment and eaten in the vineyard. Texturally, the wine is incredible. The fruits are velvety, creamy, fresh, long, and rich. Everything is in balance and harmony. The finish is seamless giving you a wine that is effortless to taste. The wine blends 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot, and 1% Cabernet Franc, 13.5% ABV, 3.68 Ph. Drink from 2030-2060."

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, tiefer Kern, zarte Randaufhellung. Süße Herzkirschfrucht, zart nach Rosenblättern, feine reife Pflaumenfrucht, ein Hauch von Vanille und Orangenzesten, etwas Nugat, sehr einladende und verführerische Nase. Saftig, elegant, zartes Cassis, frische Kirschen, sehr puristisch, seidige, feine Tannine, frisch und lebendig, voll Charme und Harmonie, bleibt lange haften, ein delikater Wein mit sehr guter Länge. (2025–2060)"

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The 2020 Château Margaux is a brilliant young wine, unfurling in the glass with aromas of dark berries and cherries mingled with hints of rose petals, iris, burning embers and pencil lead. Medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with terrific tension, beautifully refined tannins and a long, penetration finish, this is a vibrant, dynamic Margaux that stands out as the most classically proportioned wine of the 2018, 2019 and 2020 trio."

JEB DUNNUCK: "As to the Grand Vin, the 2020 Château Margaux is 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, pulled from a tiny 36% of the total production, that spent 20 months in new barrels. It has that classic Château Margaux sense of elegance and complexity and offers full-bodied aromas and flavors of ripe currants, blueberries, acacia flowers, crushed stone, and sandalwood that develop with time in the glass. With remarkable purity as well as flawless balance, it's a seriously concentrated, powerful 2020 that still just glides across the palate with no hard edges, silky tannins, and a great finish. I love everything about this wine. It's going to flirt with perfection in 7-8 years and evolve for 50-75 years. It actually reminds me slightly of the 2016."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Gorgeous wine that is both classic and expressive. Aromatically complex with floral, mineral and dark-fruit notes. Quality of tannins superb from entry to finish, the texture smooth and velvety. Lovely freshness, poise and length. Perfect pitch. Definitely has the edge on 2019 and 2018."