Standard - 75cl
ETA: +2 years
ETA: +2 years
It was a challenging vintage at Margaux, with high levels of mildew, and the Merlot vines on clay soils were severely affected. The yields in some plots were as low as 8 hl/ha, and yet, by contrast, some of the Cabernet, on gravel soils, were up around the 50 hl/ha mark! Some of these Cabernet plots were ready for harvest surprisingly early, and this explains why Margaux produced more Grand Vin than expected. Another point of interest is the inclusion of Cabernet Franc in the blend. Margaux planted more Cabernet Franc 15 years ago, and it stepped up to the mark in 2024. Margaux MD Philippe Bascaules thinks this grape will play a more and more pivotal part in Margaux’s makeup in years to come. The Grand Vin is slightly riper than the Pavillon selection, and it certainly has more pronounced tannins and better integration. Philippe feels that “Softer and denser is the aim”. There is a beautiful level of concentration and finesse here, coupled with balletic poise, and the tannins are gossamer-smooth, pristinely clean, and invigorating. If you love refined, silky, concentrated wines with little bulk or overt muscle, this wine will be at the top of the tree in this vintage. For my part, I awarded this wine a 19+ in my notes until the very last moment of my tasting. Revisiting for one last sip, I bumped this wine up one-half of a point because the freshness on the finish and the astoundingly pure tannins make this a rare and magical wine with a true medium-weight chassis and thrilling refinement.
Really impressive depth, concentration and perfume this year, with fine tannins. Lots of violets, red flowers, black cherries and currants. Full-bodied and seriously structured, with impeccable freshness and a very long finish. Dense and powerful for the vintage, with tension, vibrations, good concentration and a tannin framework. 93% cabernet sauvignon, 5% merlot, 1% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot.
A tremendous effort from Margaux in 2024. Fragrant Cabernet notes on the nose, blackcurrant leaf, blackcurrants, cherries, some tobacco touches, dark fruits with aromatic nuances on the nose. Wild flower meadows with ripe cherries and blackcurrants. Glossy and so smooth, incredibly well textured, not demonstrative, this is sleek and like layers of silk on top of each other, a glossy feel and so confident. Blue cherry, cola, crushed blueberries, salty touches, liquorice and dark chocolate - everything balanced. Beautiful, this is just what you expect from Margaux, precision and perfection with a lively acidity and crushed stone chalkiness on the finish. 1% Cabernet Franc completes the blend. 13% press wine. 46% grand vin production.
Such a floral wine, aromatics that really take hold and grip on through the palate, raspberry, black cherry, edges of rosebud, chalk, white tea, crayon, chalk, iris, has real precision, and a slow-burn unspooling of flavours, salted cracker salinity on the finish. 46% of the overall production is in Château Margaux, 30hl/ha yield after sorting through the year as needed. Harvest September 23 to October 8. Philippe Bascaules director, 3.62ph. Excellent quality, one of the wines of the vintage, with a slightly earlier starting date for drinking than usual, eight years following harvest.
Based on 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, the 2024 Château Margaux is similarly deep purple-hued, with a more inward, closed, yet impressive style. Crème de cassis, graphite, spring flowers, and subtle spicy nuances all define the aromatics. It's medium-bodied with a concentrated, ripe, layered mouthfeel, beautiful tannins, and nicely integrated background oak. It's going to need time, but this is unquestionably a beautiful, elegant Margaux. The 2024 is 12.8% alcohol with a pH of 3.62.
Representing 46% of the total crop (a little higher than recent years due to higher yields in the best Cabernet blocks), the 2024 Château Margaux contains slightly less Merlot (5%). It has a sophisticated bouquet in the context of the growing season, with black fruit, pressed violet and hints of pencil box that almost lend a Pauillac-like allure. Very fine delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins and modest depth. This is clearly a leaner Château Margaux compared to, say, the 2020 or 2022, but it is razor-sharp with superb tension and mineralité. Unapologetically classic in style with modest length, this noble First Growth will benefit from four to five years in bottle.
The 2024 Château Margaux has turned out beautifully, unfurling in the glass with notes of cassis, violets, cigar box and iris. Medium to full-bodied, deep and vibrant, with excellent density and concentration for the vintage, it's lively and layered, concluding with a long, penetrating finish. This is a serious, youthfully tightly wound blend of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc that attained 12.8% alcohol.
The 2024 Château Margaux is quite soft and delicate. It shows fine delineation in its aromatics and on the palate, but it's distinctly on the lighter side, even for Château Margaux. The mid-palate and finish are a touch compact, while there is a bit of edginess in the tannins that needs time to resolve. Bright acids and the lack of fruit pliancy expose the tannins at this stage. Élevage will be everything. Château Margaux is a bit of a question mark.