Chateau Margaux 2018

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The 2018 Château Margaux is composed of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, representing 36% of the crop this year. The wine has a pH of 3.8 and 14% alcohol. Deep purple-black in color, it slowly unfurls to reveal tantalizing scents of crème de cassis, wild blueberries and Black Forest cake with hints of redcurrant jelly, rose oil, dark chocolate and cedar chest plus a touch of star anise. The medium to full-bodied palate bursts with opulent black fruit, fragrant earth and floral layers, supported by a rock-solid structure of exquisitely ripe, finely grained tannins and seamless backbone of freshness, finishing with fantastic length. This is classic Margaux at its most seductive, although it is, rather amazingly, approachable and absolutely delicious right now. But, to enjoy its full glory, you will want to cellar it for at least 6-8 years and then watch it metamorphize over the next 40+ years."

JAMES SUCKLING: "So much ash, tobacco and earth to the bright blackberry and currant aromas. Flowers too. Fresh. Full-bodied with seamless tannins that spread across your palate and caress every square centimeter. It’s shows loads of ripe-berry, cherry, currant and chocolate character, as well as walnut and light cedar. Then the finish goes on for minutes. Extremely refined and elegant, despite the structure. 90% cabernet sauvignon, 4% cabernet franc, 4% merlot and 2% petit verdot. A joy to taste, but drink after 2025."

WEINWISSER: "Granat mit rubinrotem Rand. Was für eine Margauxdelikatesse, beginnt fast schüchtern, so zart und feingliedrig, mit einem Anflug an Wildkirschen und getrocknetem Rosmarin, nach einigen Minuten mit Luft legt der Modellathlet zu, wie einzelne Schichten übereinander kommen rote Pflaumen, zarter Anflug von Dörrbanane, dominikanischer Tabak und edle Cassiswürze zum Vorschein. Am sublimen Gaumen mit seidiger Textur, stützendem reifem Tanningerüst, erhabener Adstringenz und geradliniger straffer Ausrichtung, hier steckt unglaublich viel Tiefe und Konzentration aber auch Finesse und Spannung drin. Im komplexen Finale verschlankt er sich zuerst und katapultiert sich dann in ein langanhaltendes Rückaroma mit kleinen schwarzen Beeren, dunkler Terroirwürze, exotische Edelhölzer und Baumnussnoten. Da hier alles in wundervoller Harmonie und beeindruckender Balance ist bleibt mir nichts anderes zu tun als die Höchstnote zu zücken! Reiht sich in die ganz grossen Jahrgänge 1990 und 2010 mit ein."

JEB DUNNUCK: "Based on 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% each of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot, the 2018 Château Margaux is a magical, incredibly sexy expression of this Château that sports a dense purple color as well as a thrilling bouquet of blueberries, cassis, acacia flowers, scorched earth, sandalwood, and violets. Incredibly concentrated and full-bodied on the palate, it nevertheless has an almost Burgundian sense of finesse and elegance, with an ethereal texture, silky yet massive amounts of tannins, notable freshness, and brilliant length. The alcohol hit a whopping 14%, which is high by this estate's standards, but everything is flawlessly integrated, the balance is perfect, and I certainly can't find anything that could be better. This 2018 is going to be relatively drinkable at an early age (do your best to hide bottles for 7-8 years) yet last for 75+."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Perfectly poised between opulent and refined, rich and elegant, this is a beautiful example of Chateau Margaux with intense notes of lilacs, violets, cigar box, red fruits and espresso. The palate has concentration, but there is also freshness and depth of flavor, so the silky textured wine is light on its feet and effortless to drink. The seamless finish provides great energy, soft, silky tannins and a gorgeous sense of purity to the fruit that does not want to quit. Made from a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, 14% ABV."

LISA PERROTTI-BROWN: "Chateau Margaux 2018 is deep garnet-purple in color. It wafts gently out of the glass with notes of Morello cherries, black raspberries, and cassis, plus suggestions of cedar, black olives, and charcoal, with a touch of wood smoke. Medium-bodied, the palate is very refreshing and finely knit with exquisitely ripe tannins and so many delicate layers, finishing with epic length."

DECANTER: "This is extremely powerful, with high tannin levels that are beautifully velvety and a real presence that is going to need a good 15 years before it softens. There are layers and layers of subtlety here, charcoal, earth, fresh acidity - a ton of serious character that needs time to inch towards opening. Grips on like a limpet - this needs a good half an hour in the glass to even begin to open, but as it does so you see clearly the finesse and precision of the fruit construction. Exceptionally good. 3.64pH, 2% Petit Verdot completes the blend, 36% of the harvest in the first wine. Bottled mid-September. Drinking Window 2030 - 2050"

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, feiner Wasserrand. Süße tabakige Nuancen, saftige schwarze Beerenfrucht, zart nach Cassis und Lakitze, feiner Edelholztouch, rotbeerige Noten unterlegt, öffnet sich gut mit etwas Luft. Saftig, reife Herzkirschen, Brombeerkonfit, seidige, tragende Tannine, rotbeerig und mit einer bezaubernden Frische ausgerüstet, salzig-mineralisch, zeigt sich bereits sehr zugänglich, verführerische Frühphase, sicheres Entwicklungspotenzial. (2020–2070)"

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "While this wine reflects the richness and density of the vintage, it also shows all the elegance of which a great Margaux is capable. The wine is powerful and beautifully structured, both ripe and restrained. It will age magnificently. Start to think about drinking from 2028."

WINE SPECTATOR: "This struts along with supreme confidence, as a cashmere-textured structure effortlessly carries a prodigious set of warmed cassis, plum reduction and blackberry compote flavors, pulling in alder, bergamot, black and red tea and iron notes. Still manages to come across as restrained in the end. A beautiful wine. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2028 through 2040."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Tasted blind. Light animal note on the nose. Rich but in medium mode rather than top-drawer mode. Neat and very good but just a little more restrained than the finest. Long though. Easy to overlook."