Chateau Margaux 1997

ANTONIO GALLONI: "Medium red-ruby. Confectionary aromas of raspberry, cocoa powder, mocha and sexy oak; more evolved than either the '99 or '98, even considering its extra year of age. Fat, sweet and harmonious; offers lovely balance but just misses out on the density and depth of a great year. Finishes with firm but very suave tannins; this must be one of the longest '97s."

FALSTAFF: "Kräftiges Rubingranat, violette Randaufhellung, in der Nase herrliche Röstaromen, verführerische Süße eines typischen Margaux, elegant, mit seidigen Tanninen, feine Schokohülle, jung und doch schon sehr einladend, feine Tannine im Abgang."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Dark crimson right out to the rim. Very Margaux attack (aromatic) with good intensity to begin with but this wine went nowhere in the glass. Fragrant and pretty to begin with it was relatively light on the palate and the fruit seemed to recede in the glass. Difficult to imagine this getting much better and more complex."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Medium bodied, elegant, softer style of wine, which is stronger on the nose, with its earthy, cigar box, cherry pipe tobacco, forest aromas and hint of floral notes, than on the lighter fruited palate, which shows its warm, cherry notes, herbs, and wet earth well. Splash decanted, the wine was much better than expected from such a difficult vintage, especially at only a few weeks shy of its 21st birthday."

THE WINEADVOCATE: "Undoubtedly a success for the vintage, this immensely charming, dark ruby/purple-colored wine exhibits floral, black currant, and smoky, toasty oak aromas. There is admirable richness, excellent ripeness, not a great deal of density, or superb concentration, but plenty of finesse, suppleness, and character."

WEINWISSER: "Parfümierter Duft mit der Margaux- Duftpalette aus Cassis, Erde, Rauch, Zigarrenkiste und Veilchen. Im Mund sehr dicht und charming, schöne Extraktsüsse auf würzigem Hintergund, noch sehr jugendliche Frucht mit viel frischen rotbeerigen Reflexen und cremiger Textur. Überhaupt noch sehr jung wirkend, das hat noch Reserven, was sich auch an der grossen Länge zeigt."

WINESPECTATOR: "All in finesse, with berry, currant and light vanilla character. Medium- to full-bodied, with silky tannins and a fresh finish. Lovely, long finish. Gorgeous core of fruit in this wine."