Category:
 
Red Wines
Sub-Category:  
 
Red Wines
Producer:
 
Margaux
Label Name:
 
Margaux 1er Cru
Vintage:
 
1996
Country:
 
France
Region:
 
Margaux, Bordeaux
Volume:
 
750ml
ABV:
 
12.5%
Grape(s):
 
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc
Acidity:
 
4
Tannins:
 
4
Sweetness:
 
1
Body:
 
5
Length:
 
5
Aroma Intensity:
 
5
Best Temperature:
 
16-18°C

Awards/Ratings
Notable scores: Robert Parker/Wine Advocate ~99–100 (sources vary); Neal Martin 100/100; Wine Spectator ~95; Jancis Robinson ~18/20. Widely praised as one of the top Left Bank wines of 1996

Tasting Note
Perfumed and elegant: violets and blackcurrant with cedar, cigar box, graphite and spice. Medium–full body, silky filigree tannins, vivid acidity and a long, perfumed finish.

Food Pairing
Western: roast lamb, grilled ribeye, beef short ribs, mushroom risotto. Asian: Peking duck, char siu, soy-braised short ribs, miso-glazed aubergine.

Production Method
Hand-harvested fruit; fermentation in oak vats or large oak/stainless vessels, 2–3 week maceration; aged ~18–24 months in new French oak; egg-white fining; minimal or no filtration.

Vineyard Info
Château Margaux, an 1855 Premier Cru (First Growth) estate owned by the Mentzelopoulos family; modern era led by Paul Pontallier (from 1980s/1990s). ~82 ha (predominantly gravel soils).