Margaux 2006

Margaux, First Growth

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Tasting Notes
Tasted blind at Southwold ’06 Bordeaux tasting. Here is an example of pure unadulterated Cabernet on the nose with superlative definition and vigour. Crushed stones, a touch of blackberry and black olive, conservative and blue blooded. The palate is full-bodied with sturdy, dense tannins; reserved and masculine with a beguiling tobacco tinged finish that displays superb delineation and focus. Very pure with incredible persistency, this Margaux actually reminds me of a top Lafite! Divine. Tasted January 2010. Score: 96 Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 01 July 2010
Tasted at Margaux. Representing just 36% of the crop and consisting of a whopping 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, the highest proportion ever, this is a bold, masculine Château Margaux. A limpid purple/black hue. The nose is tight with blackberry and blueberries, harmonious with night on perfect acidity. Firm grip, cedar and a touch of graphite, yet I find this to be an exemplary expression of Cabernet, rather than an exemplary expression of Château Margaux, the latter being the greater. Like Latour, just missing that explosion of fruit on the finish. A superb wine, but handicapped by under-performing Merlot. Tasted April 2007. Score: 94 - 96 Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 24 April 2007
Good deep red-ruby. Deep but reticent aromas of redcurrant, tobacco leaf, licorice and loam; I don't find the typical floral high notes of Margaux. Juicy, fine-grained and suave, with good definition and a seamless, spherical texture to the currant and soil flavors. Finishes with a fine dusting of tannins, but not the grip or power of earlier barrel samples of this wine. Score: 93 Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar 01 May 2009
It is worth noting that when the bottled 2006 Chateau Margaux, which appeared closed and less impressive than I had predicted from barrel, was retasted alongside the remarkable 2008, I elevated my score to 94+. It does not possess the size or power of the 2008 or 2005, but the 2006 exhibits impressive density, a deeper color, and the beautifully textured, pure style that is a hallmark of this estate. Moreover, it is relatively precocious, and can be drunk now or cellared for 25+ years. Score: 94 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2009-2034 01 April 2009
I was hoping the 2006 Chateau Margaux would turn out along the lines of the 1996, but that is not the case. It appears to be the least of the first-growth Medocs in 2006. The color is a medium dark ruby that lightens at the rim, and the bouquet offers classic, but evolved Margaux aromas of sweet currants, licorice, forest floor, and earth. Medium-bodied with dry tannin in the finish, it does not possess the profound concentration found in the truly sublime vintages of Chateau Margaux (i.e., 2005, 2000, 1996, 1990, 1983, and 1982). This mid-weight effort requires 5-7 years of cellaring, and should age for 20-25 years. Score: 93 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2014-2039 01 March 2009
The strictest selection ever instituted at this estate resulted in only 36% of the crop being utilized for the blend of 2006 Chateau Margaux. Composed of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot, it is similar to the 1996, but with sweeter, more seductive fruit in the nose. A big, tannic, dense effort displaying terrific purity, power, elegance, and a distinctive mineral/flower component, it is a medium to full-bodied wine of great nobility that should be at its finest between 2017-2050+. Score: 93 - 95 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2017-2050+ 01 April 2007
Very powerful and rich. Fantastic. Full, silky and structured. Yet layered and rich, with loads of mineral, violet and coffee character. Incredible. So much finesse in the nose. What a wine. Similar to the 1995, which received 100 points. Score: 95 - 100 James Suckling, Wine Spectator 01 April 2007
A Cabernet year for Margaux with a whopping 90% Cabernet Sauvignon selected for the Grand Vin this year (compared with 85% in 2005 which was also higher than usual). Just 4% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, and 2% Cabernet Franc make up the blend. At the Chateau we were told that 2006 is "not the 2000 or 2005 which were truly exceptional", but a 'great' vintage nonetheless, an assessment borne out by a memorable tasting. Soaringly fragrant and complex aromatics featuring violets, minerals and perfume. Then handsome and intense on the palate with a deep core of pure, precise fruit. Beautifully, powerfully structured with very grand, velvety tannins. Perfect restraint; a graceful panther of a wine. Classically elegant and excellent. Score: 93 - 96 Albany Vintners, - 01 April 2007
Mid crimson. SO much riper and more appetising and fuller than the Pavillon Rouge on the nose! Pretty complete already with lovely balance and lift, though the acidity is certainly notable, even if the tannins are wonderfully mellow. Very polite and unforced. Dancing - reminds Paul Pontallier of 1996 with a little less density but just as much charm. Very Margaux. This is the Cabernet of Margaux (not of Pauillac NB...) Graceful though only for certain palates. Follows through. Great line, as the Australians would say. Quite distinctive and much much more delicate than the early vintages of Margaux from the new regime here in the 1980s. Very fresh and elegant - quite a gamble in a way. Very, very fine tannins. Bone dry. Will always be in elegant idiom. Score: 18 Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2016-2030 01 April 2007

Tasting Notes

Tasted blind at Southwold ’06 Bordeaux tasting. Here is an example of pure unadulterated Cabernet on the nose with superlative definition and vigour. Crushed stones, a touch of blackberry and black olive, conservative and blue blooded. The palate is full-bodied with sturdy, dense tannins; reserved and masculine with a beguiling tobacco tinged finish that displays superb delineation and focus. Very pure with incredible persistency, this Margaux actually reminds me of a top Lafite! Divine. Tasted January 2010.

Score: 96

Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 01 July 2010

Tasted at Margaux. Representing just 36% of the crop and consisting of a whopping 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, the highest proportion ever, this is a bold, masculine Château Margaux. A limpid purple/black hue. The nose is tight with blackberry and blueberries, harmonious with night on perfect acidity. Firm grip, cedar and a touch of graphite, yet I find this to be an exemplary expression of Cabernet, rather than an exemplary expression of Château Margaux, the latter being the greater. Like Latour, just missing that explosion of fruit on the finish. A superb wine, but handicapped by under-performing Merlot. Tasted April 2007.

Score: 94 - 96

Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 24 April 2007

Good deep red-ruby. Deep but reticent aromas of redcurrant, tobacco leaf, licorice and loam; I don't find the typical floral high notes of Margaux. Juicy, fine-grained and suave, with good definition and a seamless, spherical texture to the currant and soil flavors. Finishes with a fine dusting of tannins, but not the grip or power of earlier barrel samples of this wine.

Score: 93

Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar 01 May 2009

It is worth noting that when the bottled 2006 Chateau Margaux, which appeared closed and less impressive than I had predicted from barrel, was retasted alongside the remarkable 2008, I elevated my score to 94+. It does not possess the size or power of the 2008 or 2005, but the 2006 exhibits impressive density, a deeper color, and the beautifully textured, pure style that is a hallmark of this estate. Moreover, it is relatively precocious, and can be drunk now or cellared for 25+ years.

Score: 94

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2009-2034 01 April 2009

I was hoping the 2006 Chateau Margaux would turn out along the lines of the 1996, but that is not the case. It appears to be the least of the first-growth Medocs in 2006. The color is a medium dark ruby that lightens at the rim, and the bouquet offers classic, but evolved Margaux aromas of sweet currants, licorice, forest floor, and earth. Medium-bodied with dry tannin in the finish, it does not possess the profound concentration found in the truly sublime vintages of Chateau Margaux (i.e., 2005, 2000, 1996, 1990, 1983, and 1982). This mid-weight effort requires 5-7 years of cellaring, and should age for 20-25 years.

Score: 93

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2014-2039 01 March 2009

The strictest selection ever instituted at this estate resulted in only 36% of the crop being utilized for the blend of 2006 Chateau Margaux. Composed of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot, it is similar to the 1996, but with sweeter, more seductive fruit in the nose. A big, tannic, dense effort displaying terrific purity, power, elegance, and a distinctive mineral/flower component, it is a medium to full-bodied wine of great nobility that should be at its finest between 2017-2050+.

Score: 93 - 95

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2017-2050+ 01 April 2007

Very powerful and rich. Fantastic. Full, silky and structured. Yet layered and rich, with loads of mineral, violet and coffee character. Incredible. So much finesse in the nose. What a wine. Similar to the 1995, which received 100 points.

Score: 95 - 100

James Suckling, Wine Spectator 01 April 2007

A Cabernet year for Margaux with a whopping 90% Cabernet Sauvignon selected for the Grand Vin this year (compared with 85% in 2005 which was also higher than usual). Just 4% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, and 2% Cabernet Franc make up the blend. At the Chateau we were told that 2006 is "not the 2000 or 2005 which were truly exceptional", but a 'great' vintage nonetheless, an assessment borne out by a memorable tasting. Soaringly fragrant and complex aromatics featuring violets, minerals and perfume. Then handsome and intense on the palate with a deep core of pure, precise fruit. Beautifully, powerfully structured with very grand, velvety tannins. Perfect restraint; a graceful panther of a wine. Classically elegant and excellent.

Score: 93 - 96

Albany Vintners, - 01 April 2007

Mid crimson. SO much riper and more appetising and fuller than the Pavillon Rouge on the nose! Pretty complete already with lovely balance and lift, though the acidity is certainly notable, even if the tannins are wonderfully mellow. Very polite and unforced. Dancing - reminds Paul Pontallier of 1996 with a little less density but just as much charm. Very Margaux. This is the Cabernet of Margaux (not of Pauillac NB...) Graceful though only for certain palates. Follows through. Great line, as the Australians would say. Quite distinctive and much much more delicate than the early vintages of Margaux from the new regime here in the 1980s. Very fresh and elegant - quite a gamble in a way. Very, very fine tannins. Bone dry. Will always be in elegant idiom.

Score: 18

Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2016-2030 01 April 2007

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