1978 Château Margaux

The 1978 Château Margaux is drinking at point today yet is still lively and youthful. Offering a classy, elegant, medium to full-bodied style as well as perfumed notes of darker fruits, lead pencil, truffle and flowers, this ruby colored effort is in no danger of falling off a cliff and certainly has another decade of longevity. It’s a classy Margaux and a joy to drink.

The 1978 Chateau Margaux is a significant wine for two reasons: that is was the first under the Mentzelopoulos family after acquiring the property and also, it was their best wine in many years. Today it is still going strong. Clear in color, it has quite a deep garnet core. The nose is very seductive with black fruit, leather, scorched earth, a hint of lavender all beautifully defined and quintessentially Margaux. The medium-bodied palate has exquisite balance, the acidity nicely judged, still a little masculine and "solid" compared to the subsequent vintages under Paul Pontallier, yet fresh and vital. Sure, there is a grittiness and a touch of rusticity towards the finish, but all in all, this represents a great 1978 Left Bank and a signpost that the First Growth was back on the right track after a dismal run of vintages during the 1970s. Tasted May 2016.

The 1978 Château Margaux saw a remarkable return of fortunes under their new owners, the Mentzelopoulos family. Crisp and vital on the nose, it is a typical old-school claret armed with black fruit, tertiary scents and a light lavender trait. The palate is medium-bodied with fine acidity, a little austere maybe, but that is a leitmotif of the vintage. It's a fine "solid" First Growth, nowhere near as spectacular as the 1982 or 1983, yet auguring what was to follow.