2019 Chateau Margaux (Ex-Chateau 2022)

The 2019 Château Margaux is slightly more low-key than its peers, but very precise. Crushed rocks infuse the black fruit, quite transparent and very terroir driven. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red fruit, and fine structure. Dense and weighty, with a sapid finish that doesn't quite have same effortless ease as its peers. Maybe this is hiding something up its sleeve? (When its identity is revealed, the answer is affirmative.) Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting.

Tasted blind. A rather weak rim to the crimson. Light nose. Lots of sweet palate entry but without quite the drama or concentration of some. Angostura-bitters element to the flavour. Lots of tannin underneath. Not quite as thrilling as some. And pretty angular at present. (JR)

Another utterly heavenly wine from this estate is the 2019 Château Margaux, a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot coming from a selection of just 37% of the total production. Deep purple, with an incredible array of ripe currants, blueberries, sweet tobacco, sandalwood, and toasted spices, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a seamless, powerful, yet incredibly sexy mouthfeel, polished tannins, and a great, great finish. As I wrote in the barrel review, it reminds me slightly of the 2016, but has a touch more sun-kissed profile. It already offers incredible pleasure yet deserves 4-6 years of bottle age and will blow you away any time over the coming 40+ years.