A refined and elegant Château Margaux with aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry, violet, spring flowers and graphite, complemented by tobacco and subtle mineral notes. The palate is medium to full-bodied with remarkable purity, fine-grained tannins and vibrant acidity. Structured yet graceful, the 2012 combines Margaux’s signature finesse with impressive depth and a long, precise finish.

The Wine Advocate | RP 96
Published: Oct 29, 2016
Drink: 2022-2050 

Tasted blind at the 2012 Southwold tasting, the 2012 Château Margaux has a taut, linear, pencil lead-infused bouquet with pure blackberry and boysenberry scents, an undercurrent of tobacco that surfaces after five minutes in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, crisp acidity, a life-affirming sense of balance with well-integrated new oak towards the finish. I concur with Robert Parker that his has become more structured and masculine in bottle, yet there is pedigree here from start to finish, a sense of effortlessness that is seductive. This is a top-class wine from the late Paul Pontallier and his team. Tasted January 2016.

Decantere | D 96
Published: Mar 3, 2022
Drink: 2024-2042 

By Margaux standards not a big wine, but beautifully perfumed. Finesse and length on the palate that’s unmatched by any other property in the Médoc in 2012. Making 34% grand vin of a small crop with 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, the team at Margaux read this vintage right, doing something they can do better than anyone else.

James Suckling | JS 94
Published: Feb 09, 2015

Wonderful aromas of flowers such as roses, violets, strawberries and a hints of wet earth. Wet stones as well. Full to medium body, very firm tannins and a long, racy finish. Minerals and chalk on the aftertaste. Needs three to five years to soften. Better in 2020.

Jancis Robinson | JR 17.5+
Published: Mar 5, 2022
Drink: 2024-2042

Looks much more evolved than Lafite tasted alongside. Neat and well balanced but so well mannered it could easily be overlooked. Not that much flesh at the moment. Jancis Robinson

Technical Specs

Alcohol: 13.0%
Closure: Natural Cork
Harvest: 2012
Oak: French oak
Varietals: 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot
Vineyard Area: Approx. 82 ha
Harvest: Hand-picked, 25 September–16 October 2012
Vinification: Rigorous selection followed by traditional fermentation and maceration in temperature-controlled vats
Region: Margaux, Bordeaux
Classification: 1st Grand Cru Classé 1855

Serving Temperature: 16–18°C
Decanting: 1-2 hours
Food Pairing: Roast beef, lamb, venison, duck, steak, braised beef, mushrooms, truffle and mature hard cheeses