Château Margaux - Margaux 2006

Wine Advocate

94 / 100

byNeal Martinthe5/31/2016

Tasted at Bordeaux Index's annual 10-Year On tasting in London.The 2006 Château Margaux has a sense of airiness and wonderful definition on the nose: wild strawberry, redcurrant, cedar and crushed roses soaring from the glass, but it never strives for the opulence of say the 2006 Château Palmer. The palate is very well balanced with fine and quite firm tannin in the mouth. This seems to be approaching its plateau after a decade. While not a powerful or ostentatious Château Margaux, it epitomizes understatement and refinement in a similar vein to Lafite-Rothschild. It is only after the wine has been swallowed that you appreciate its qualities and you feel urged to go back for another sip. Tasted January 2016.

Jancis Robinson

17 / 20

byJancis Robinsonthe1/27/2010

Deep but with a markedly evolved rim. Toasty nose and then very easy, fairly complex fruity appeal. Not the most distinctive wine with some greenness on the finish. Drink 2014-2028

Wine Advocate

94 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/30/2009

It is worth noting that when the bottled 2006 Chateau Margaux, which appeared closed and less impressive than I had predicted from barrel, was retasted alongside the remarkable 2008, I elevated my score to 94+. It does not possess the size or power of the 2008 or 2005, but the 2006 exhibits impressive density, a deeper color, and the beautifully textured, pure style that is a hallmark of this estate. Moreover, it is relatively precocious, and can be drunk now or cellared for 25+ years. Drink 2009-2034

Wine Spectator

95 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe3/31/2009

This has a wonderful nose of perfume, sandalwood, ripe plum and berries. Full-bodied, with seamless tannins and a long finish. Gorgeous. Best after 2015.

Wine Advocate

93 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe2/1/2009

I was hoping the 2006 Chateau Margaux would turn out along the lines of the 1996, but that is not the case. It appears to be the least of the first-growth Medocs in 2006. The color is a medium dark ruby that lightens at the rim, and the bouquet offers classic, but evolved Margaux aromas of sweet currants, licorice, forest floor, and earth. Medium-bodied with dry tannin in the finish, it does not possess the profound concentration found in the truly sublime vintages of Chateau Margaux (i.e., 2005, 2000, 1996, 1990, 1983, and 1982). This mid-weight effort requires 5-7 years of cellaring, and should age for 20-25 years.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

93-95 / 100

byStephen Tanzerthe6/30/2008

Bright ruby-red. Blueberry, boysenberry and violet on the pure nose. Lively and minerally on entry, then really expands in the middle palate to show terrific density with any loss of clarity. Wonderfully classy, vibrant and long, with compelling subtle sweetness of fruit. Finishes with outstanding depth and length. Although this wine was fined in January and racked just a month before I tasted it, it was far easier to taste than was my earlier barrel sample last spring.

Wein Wisser

18 / 20

byRené Gabrielthe2/6/2008

Extrem dunkle Farbe, viel karmesinrote Reflexe im satten Purpur. Erstaunlichdicht, eifer, aber leicht kühler Berrenton. Im Gaumen ein wilder, fleischiger Cabernet-Bordeaux, noch etwas dumpf im Innern, mächtige Tannine, im Extrakt viel Pflaumenschalen, Lakritze im Finale. Ungeduldige Weinlibehaber werden im jetzigem Stadium hart bestraft.

Decanter Magazine

19 / 20

the6/30/2007

Deep colour, 99% cabernet sauvignon dominates with amazing purity and noblesse, freshness combined with great depth and perfect tannins. A 100% Ch. Margaux (for Paul Pontallier 2000 and 2005 were 100%+). 2015-2040

Cahier Gaultmillau

19,5 / 20

the6/30/2007

Vin à la robe délicate d'un grenat velouté aux nuances carmin et pourpres. Au nez le vin m'a apparu trèsfin et d'une grande pureté. La minéralité s'exprime avant out et révèle ce terroir exceptionnel. Le vin s'ouvre sur une trame mentholée, réglissée et de fruits noirs. Le nez annonce une souplesse que l'on retrouvera en bouche avec une attaque souple, aux flaveurs marquées Margaux, très florales : violettes. C'est ensuite que le cabernet sauvignon en dominance absolue exprime la puissance et la force, voire de a virilité en finale. Racé, dans un style plus cartésien aujurd'hui .Le grand vin représente 30% de l récolte, Pavillon 55% et un 3ème vin non disponible 15%. A boire avant 2030

La Revue du Vin de France

18-19 / 20

the6/27/2007

Le château n'a produit que 36% de grand vin en 2006. Une sélection drastique composée d'un pourcentage historiquement bas de merlot (4%) et de 90% de cabernet-sauvignon. Le vin possède un raffinementde nez extrême, avec un fruit superbe de pureté. La bouche est dense, tendue et suave, avec un grain de tanin formidable, sans la moindre rusticité. La finale est d'une immnse pureté et l'ensemble apparaît déjà magnifiquement fondu. Il évoque le 1996 avec davantage de densité et une trame plus longiline encore. A noter que le Pavillon rouge est très savoureux et possède un superbe éclat de fruit.

Le Point

19 / 20

byJacques Dupontthe5/24/2007

Menthe et cerse noire, bouche tendre en attaque, tanins assez vifs, de la chair, des notes poivrées et minérales, un vin très long, tendu et fin, beaucoup de fruit, une très grande pureté.

Wein Wisser

18 / 20

byRené Gabrielthe5/7/2007

2017-2040. Mittleres Purpur-Rubin, aufhellender Rand. Sehr dichtes Bouquet, Maulbeeren, Preiselbeeren und eine Spur Johannisbeeren, welche dem dicht beschichteten Nasenbild eine schöne Vielseitigkeit und auch Frische verleihen, darunter Trüffelnoten, Edelhölzer und fein pfeffrig. Im Gaumen Rasse und Finessen gleichzeitig, Fruchtspiel bei vielen vershiedenen roten Beeren bleibend, noch fein mehliger Fluss auf der Zunge, noch etwas fehlende, angestammte Süsse, was mit dem weiteren Barriqueausbau sicher kommen wird, Zeit brauchend, mindestens zehn Jahre Flaschenreife, um die Aromatik freizugeben. Philippe Bascaules, technischer Direktor auf Château Margaux, vergleicht den 2006er mit grossen Jahrgängen wie 1986, 1995, 1996 und 2000, so weit sind wir bei unsere Vergleichen (noch) nicht.

Falstaff

92-94 / 100

the5/3/2007

Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, jugendliche Reflexe, violetter Rand. In der Nase feinwürzig unterlegte dunkle Beerenfrucht, zarte Schokoladenote, wirkt noch etwas verhalten, Edelholzanklänge. Am Gaumen kompakt, saftige Herzkirschen, feine Zitrusanklänge, kraftvolle, präsente Tannine, die sich fast pfeffrig präsentieren, gute Länge, frischer rotbeeriger, extraktsüßer Rückgeschmak. Einzig die Länge ist nicht völlig überzeugend.

Wine Advocate

93-95 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe5/3/2007

The strictest selection ever instituted at this estate resulted in only 36% of the crop being utilized for the blend of 2006 Chateau Margaux. Composed of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot, it is similar to the 1996, but with sweeter, more seductive fruit in the nose. A big, tannic, dense effort displaying terrific purity, power, elegance, and a distinctive mineral/flower component, it is a medium to full-bodied wine of great nobility that should be at its finest between 2017-2050+.

Vinum

18.50 / 20

the4/30/2007

Ungemein klassicher Margaux, dicht, wie aus einem Stück gemeisselt, erratisch, aber ohne jede Härte, mit Tanninen, die frsch und knackig enden, afu frischen Himbeernoten. 2016 bis 2030

TAST

19 / 20

the4/30/2007

Encore un assemblage à très forte proportion de cabernet-sauvignon (90 %), ce qui le classe à part, avec ses pairs du classement de 1855 ! Arôme très noble et frais de petits fruits rouges, de cèdre, de rose, corps merveilleux de plénitude et d’élégance, tannin ultra racé, et inimitablement “margaux”, persistance remarquable, bref, une impressionnante réussite, encore plus typée de son origine que le glorieux 2005 où le raisin du millésime prend le pas sur le terroir ! Le second vin, Pavillon Rouge (17/20), bénéficie des grands merlots absents du grand vin, avec une tendresse et une chair inhabituelles ! Sublime Pavillon Blanc (19/20), sommet absolu de la production de blanc sec dans ce millésime à Bordeaux, sans doute à cause d’une récolte réduite de moitié par le gel.

Wine Advocate

94-96 / 100

byNeal Martinthe4/15/2007

Tasted at Margaux. Representing just 36% of the crop and consisting of a whopping 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, the highest proportion ever, this is a bold, masculine Château Margaux. A limpid purple/black hue. The nose is tight with blackberry and blueberries, harmonious with night on perfect acidity. Firm grip, cedar and a touch of graphite, yet I find this to be an exemplary expression of Cabernet, rather than an exemplary expression of Château Margaux, the latter being the greater. Like Latour, just missing that explosion of fruit on the finish. A superb wine, but handicapped by under-performing Merlot.

Wine Enthusiast

94-96 / 100

the4/15/2007

A year in which Château Margaux had a much higher percentage (90%) than usual of Cabernet Sauvignon. The result is a wine that is pure fruit, very juicy, packed with black currants. It is surprisingly soft even for the usually elegant Margaux, a vintage that will develop relatively fast over 10 years. —R.V.

Jancis Robinson

18 / 20

byJancis Robinsonthe4/10/2007

Mid crimson. So much riper and more appetising and fuller than the Pavillon rouge on the nose! Pretty complete already with lovely balance and lift, though the acidity is certainly notable, even if the tannins are wonderfully mellow. Very polite ad unforced. Dancing-reminds Paul Pontallier of 1996 with a little less density but just aas much charm. Very Margaux. This is the Cabernet of Margaux (not of Pauillac NB...) Graceful though only for certain palates. Follows through. Great line, as the Australians would say. Quite distinctive and much much more delicate than the early vintages of Margaux from the new regime here in the 1980s. Very fresh and elegant-quite a gamble in a way. Very, very fine tannins. Bone dry. Will always be in elegant idiom. 18++

Wine Spectator

95-100 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe3/29/2007

Very powerful and rich. Fantastic. Full, silky and structured. Yet layered and rich, with loads of mineral, violet and coffee character. Incredible. So much finesse in the nose. What a wine. Similar to the 1995, which received 100 points.