Château Margaux - Margaux 2016 11166fe81142afc18593181d6269c740

Wine Advocate

99 / 100

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe11/30/2018

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Château Margaux (blended of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot) sashays out of the glass with glamorous red currants, candied violets, kirsch and crushed blackcurrants scents followed by notions of tilled black soil, forest floor, cast iron pan and cigar box with subtle wafts of lavender and oolong tea. Medium-bodied, mineral laced accents hover over the palate with an ethereal sensation of weightlessness, yet it is super intense with layers of red and black flavors supported by a firm texture of silt-fine tannins, finishing wonderfully fragrant and incredibly long.

Decanter.com

98 / 100

byJane Ansonthe10/30/2018

This is a serious Margaux, hugely Cabernet dominant on both nose and palate as you would expect with 94% of the blend. It has an extremely fine, elongated tannic structure, just barely there and so classy, focussing on the gentle elasticity. There are more blue than black fruits here, wonderfully spun out and softened with crushed tobacco. It has the expansive aromatic structure of Margaux, the floral and mineral aspects clear, as is the tension that lifts the palate up and out. It's reminiscent of the 2005, though with less evident tannins. It's not as hefty as the 2010 or as staggering as the 2015, but is still a joyful expression of the estate. 1% Petit Verdot completes the blend.

Drinking Window 2026 - 2045

Wein Wisser

19,5 / 20

the5/22/2017

94 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 3 % Cabernet Franc, 2 % Merlot, 1 % Petit Verdot, nur 28 % Grand Vin. Purpurgranatmit violettem Rand. Dichtes Parfüm mit viel Veilchen und Cranberry, dahinter rote Kirsche. Am Gaumen mit seidiger Textur, wunderschön reifem Tannin und zarter Adstringenz. Im langen Finale mit viel Margaux- Eleganz, reinstem Himbeermark, Preiselbeeren und feiner Würze. Besticht durch seine royale Art. Ganz grosser Margaux, der im Bouquet an den grandiosen 1985er erinnert.

Bettane & Desseauve

98 / 100

by Bettane & Desseauvethe5/3/2017

Intensité, finesse et soutien tannique dignes de ce qu’on attend de ce cru, et peut-être une échantillon un peu trop chaud pour donner une idée précise de son potentiel aromatique. Sans doute le plus haut pourcentage de cabernet sauvignon du médoc.

Wine Advocate

97-99 / 100

byNeal Martinthe5/2/2017

The 2016 Chateau Margaux is a blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc, plus 1% of Petit Verdot, representing 28% of the total production. This is the highest proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon apart from 2013, which was due to the poor Merlot. It was cropped around 50 hectoliters per hectare depending on the grape variety, for example it could be up to 65 hectoliters per hectare in some sectors. Lucid in color, it has a detailed and precise bouquet with mineral-rich blackberry, raspberry coulis and limestone scents. It feels very perfumed, though not powerful like many Grand Vins in 2016. The palate is a different creature to the aromatics. Here is the intensity of the vintage with shimmering black fruit laced with spice, a killer line of acidity and an irresistible crescendo on the finish. Then, graphite lingering on the aftertaste, a nod to Pauillac perhaps. The aftertaste is so long you could probably write a letter to your friend enthusing about this wine before the aftertaste fades. Doubtless it is destined to be compared to the magnificent 2015 Château Margaux and to be truthful, there's a hair's breadth between them. In a word: crystalline.

Jean-Marc QUARIN

19,5-20 / 20

byJean-Marc Quarinthe4/28/2017

Couleur sombre, intense, noire, pourpre, vive. Nez complexe, intense, fin. Bouche merveilleuse où le vin monte dans une grande douceur tactile, très élégant dans son toucher, très « Musigny » dans ses arômes. Puis il fond et s’étire longtemps, noble, précis et superbe de classe. Ce résultat est obtenu avec une sélection sévère de 28 % de premier vin ce qui permet de dépasser le standard qualitatif de l’appellation cette année. Assemblage : 94 % de cabernet sauvignon (très élevé), 3 % de cabernet franc, 2 % merlot, 1 % petit verdot. Degré d’alcool : 13° (moyenne) - pH : 3,6 (moyenne plus) – IPT : 70 (moyenne plus).

The Wine Cellar Insider

96-98 / 100

byJeff Levethe4/27/2017

Deep ruby with purple accents of color around the rim of the glass, violets, lilacs and roses are the first scents you notice before moving to the red and black plums, tobacco and a hint of licorice in the bouquet. Light on its feet but don’t let that fool you, it’s impossible not to feel the purity and elegance. The wine displays an incredible clarity of fruit with a finish that dawdles on your palate, moving from red fruit to black fruit and back to sweet, red berries again. The finish has an incredibly supple, refined quality that leaves you yearning for another sip. It was early in the morning and I can assure you, I finished my glass without spitting a drop! The wine was made from a blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot reaching 13% alcohol with a pH of 3.6. Yields were high, but it’s important to note, the Grand Vin represents only 28% of the harvest, which took place September 23 to October 18 — one of the longest harvests in the estate’s storied history.

Vinous

97-100 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe4/26/2017

The 2016 Margaux is magnificent in the best tradition of the Château Margaux style, which always speaks more to finesse than power. Above all else, the 2016 is a wine of superb persistence, understated power and total refinement. There is wonderful depth and intensity to the ripe red and purplish-hued fruits, accompanied by mint, rose petal and sweet spice overtones that develop in the glass. The 2016 finishes with great aromatic lift and freshness. It has been absolutely compelling on the two occasions I have tasted it so far.

matthewjukes.com

19,5 / 20

byMatthew Jukesthe4/25/2017

(94 Cabernet Sauvignon, 3 Cabernet Franc, 2 Merlot, 1 Petit Verdot) 100% new oak | 13% alc. | 28% of the harvest was used for this wine. | 50 hl/ha. The richness of fruit found here is incredible and the nose is sensationally floral and aromatic. This is a much more intense offering than the second wine, Pavillon Rouge, with a lot more density of flavour and also focus. With serious balance and profound depth, this is a not a broad wine but a slim, long, robust and rigid creation. While the nose is open and evocative, the palate is firm and restrained. The tannins seem very ripe and savoury, but the fruit is ordered and calm and this unusual counterpoint of flavours and structure makes for a fascinating balance. I think it will start to drink relatively early and then hold very well. 19.5+

Jancis Robinson

17,5 / 20

byJancis Robinsonthe4/20/2017

94% Cabernet Sauvignon, and a little bit of Petit Verdot. pH 3.6 (cf pH 3.65 in 2015).Sweet rich start and then very fresh. Seems a little bit marked by oak at the moment. Sinewy. Hint of chocolate - just like Palmer! Slightly drying tannins. Sandpaper on the end.

Wine Enthusiast

97-99 / 100

byRoger Vossthe4/19/2017

Barrel Sample. This Cabernet Sauvignon-based wine is packed with firm tannins and a dark, dense structure. It is seriously concentrated and powerful in its impression. Magnificent fruit contrasts with the structure to suggest a wine ready for long-term aging.

Jean-Marc QUARIN

19,5-20 / 20

byJean-Marc Quarinthe4/10/2017

Couleur sombre, intense, noire, pourpre, vive. Nez complexe, intense, fin. Bouche merveilleuse où le vin monte dans une grande douceur tactile, très élégant dans son toucher, très « Musigny » dans ses arômes. Puis il fond et s'étire longtemps, noble, précis et superbe de classe. Ce résultat est obtenu avec une sélection sévère de 28 % de premier vin ce qui permet de dépasser le standard qualitatif de l'appellation cette année.

Jamessuckling.com

98-99 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/5/2017

A purity of fruit marks this Margaux with lots of currant and berry character. Full body, bright acidity and round tannins. It's a larger and more expanded style of Margaux. A wine with a heart and body. Strong.