Category:
 
Red Wines
Sub-Category:  
 
Red Wines
Producer:
 
Margaux
Label Name:
 
Margaux 1er Cru (ex Château 2021)
Vintage:
 
1986
Country:
 
France
Region:
 
Margaux, Bordeaux
Volume:
 
1500ml
ABV:
 
12.5%
Grape(s):
 
Cabernet Sauvignon 75%, Merlot 20%, Cabernet Franc 3%, Petit Verdot 2%.
Method:
 
Hand-harvested fruit; traditional fermentation in vats; matured ~18–24 months in French oak barrels (significant new oak typical of the era), bottled after racking.
Acidity:
 
3
Tannins:
 
5
Sweetness:
 
1
Body:
 
5
Length:
 
5
Aroma Intensity:
 
5
Best Temperature:
 
16-18
Tasting Note:
 
Dense ruby-purple with aromas of blackcurrant, violets, smoke, toast and mineral. Very full-bodied; high but sweet tannins, firm acidity and a long, masculine finish.
Food Pairing:
 
Roast or grilled beef, milk-fed lamb, game, mushroom risotto, aged hard cheeses; Asian pairings: Peking duck, Korean BBQ (grilled beef short ribs), char siu, Szechuan-style beef.
Vineyard Info:
 
Château Margaux — historic Premier Cru (1855) estate; Mentzelopoulos family ownership since 1977; estate managed by château team (Philippe Bascaules et al.). Renowned gravel soils and Cabernet-led plantings.
Awards/Ratings:
 
Wine Advocate (Robert Parker) 98 pts (noted as a 'magnificent' example). Neal Martin / Vinous ~97–98 pts. Wine Spectator ~95 pts; Falstaff 94 pts; James Suckling ~90 pts