Château Margaux - Margaux 2018

Vinous

95-97 / 100

par Neal Martin le 15/11/2019

The 2018 Château Margaux was picked from September 17 until October 13, the Cabernet Sauvignon from the beginning of October. The word that springs to mind on encountering this for the first time is "luxurious." The supremely pure bouquet features raspberry, blueberry, violet petals, black currant pastilles and a hint of vanilla; it is opulent rather than rich. The palate is medium-bodied with very plush, velvety-smooth tannins. It sashays along nicely and, atypically for a 2018, reaches a gentle crescendo toward the linear finish. It is amazing how well this contains the excesses of the growing season and retains the sense of Château Margaux.

WeinWisser

19,5 / 20

le 07/05/2019

Vinous

95-98 / 100

par Antonio Galloni le 03/05/2019

Château Margaux's 2018 Grand Vin boasts off the charts textural richness and intensity from the very first taste. A huge core of dark fruit, potent, muscular tannins are two of the signatures. Dense and explosive in the glass, with breathtaking concentration, the 2018 is one of the finest Margauxs in recent memory. Lavender, rose petal and spice add striking perfume in this compelling, memorable Grand Vin. In 2018, the Grand Vin represents 36% of the crop and is 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot.

Vinifera

98 /

par Jacques Perrin le 01/05/2019

Belle robe foncée. Le nez est d'une grande finesse d'expression sans exhubérance. Chaque élèment paraît à sa place, les notes fruitées s'allient à de très fines notes épicées et balsamiques. Corps pulpeux à la texture fondante, suave, en filigrane de laquelle apparaît une trame tannique assez ferme mais sans aucune rigidité, structurante dans le sens noble du terme. La finale, longue et savoureuse laisse une empreinte très élégante.   

Jeb DUNNUCK

98-100 / 100

par Jeb Dunnuck le 01/05/2019

One of the wines of the vintage on the Left Bank is the 2018 Château Margaux, a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% each of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, and the balance Petit Verdot. A thrilling, sensational Margaux that reminds me of the 2015 at this stage, it reveals a saturated purple/blue color as well as heavenly notes of black raspberries, blueberries, cassis, spring flowers, high-class smoke tobacco, and graphite. Deep, full-bodied, and seamless, it builds incrementally on the palate and carries masses of fine tannins, no hard edges, and awesome purity of fruit. Given its purity, depth of fruit, and texture, it’s going to be approachable with just short-term cellaring, but I suspect it won’t start to hit prime time for at least a decade.

Yvesbeck.wine

98-99 / 100

par Yves Beck le 01/05/2019

90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot
Pourpre violacé. Que de complexité et de finesse ! D’entrée il y a un mariage entre la minéralité, le fruit et la fraîcheur. Tout en équilibre, pas dans la démonstration mais bien dans la complexité. Notes de baies rouges, de menthe et de cannelle. Au palais c’est également la fraîcheur et le fruit qui sont mis en avant. Il y a une séduisante et légère sucrosité, de la race, de la densité et des tannins parfaitement intégrés qui assurent idéalement les arrières. Beaucoup de précision et de finesse dans la structure tannique. Un vin qui surprend par son aptitude à si bien marier densité et puissance tout en mettant la finesse et l’élégance en avant. En fin de bouche la finale parvient brillamment à mettre le terroir de Margaux en avant. Un vin fin et puissant, paré pour aller dans le temps. 2026-2058

My Bettane + Desseauve

97 / 100

par Bettane & Desseauve le 24/04/2019

Beaucoup plus de chair et de milieu de bouche que les 2016 et 2017, classe évidente, grande longévité assurée, un grand millésime qui rivalisera avec 2015.

La Revue du Vin de France

19,5-20 / 20

le 24/04/2019

The Wine Cellar Insider

97-99 / 100

par Jeff Leve le 23/04/2019

Deep in color with an intense, dark ruby hue, the nose offers violets, lilacs, espresso, wet earth and cigar wrapper along with ripe, deep red fruits. There is freshness and soft, silky vibrant tannins. The wine feels quite powerful in the moment and its classic design reminds me of 2005. This is not going to be fun to taste young but with Chateau Margaux patience is always a virtue. Made from a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, the wine reached 14% alcohol. The Grand Vin was produced using only 36% of the harvest. Picking commenced September 17, finishing October 13.

Wine Advocate

97-100 / 100

par Lisa Perrotti-Brown le 23/04/2019

The 2018 Château Margaux is made of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. The grand vin represents 36% of the crop this year. The wine has a pH of 3.8 and 14% alcohol. Deep purple-black in color, it comes prancing out of the glass with energetic Morello cherries, black raspberries and blackberry pie scents plus nuances of fragrant soil, candied violets, lavender, sandalwood, unsmoked cigars and black olives with a gentle wave of cassis and licorice emerging with coaxing. Full-bodied, the palate is charged with the most amazing energy, delivering layer after layer of red and black fruits with tons of earthy nuances, framed by the most exquisitely ripe, fine-grained tannins, finishing with amazing freshness and an extraordinarily long-lingering perfume. Magnificent.

Decanter.com

98 / 100

par Jane Anson le 17/04/2019

Without doubt an incredible Margaux, although whether it will equal the 2015 remains to be seen. It's less serious than the 2016 but every bit as good, floating above the palate, performing that acrobatic trick that only happens in the really great years. It's silky yet intense and powerful, with sweet, fleshy and succulent raspberry cut through with fresh rosemary and sage that add texture and grip. The menthol side of the Cabernet is already coming through, which suggests the fruit was just perfectly ripe - these are aromatics that you don't get in true heatwave years like 2003. The flavours stretch out, gently gripping and keeping you involved in what is unfurling. 
Harvested between 17 September and 13 October, with an average yield of 31hl/ha due to both mildew and the concentration of the berries that occured at the end of ripening. The impact was uneven, depending on the vineyard blocks, so yields actually varied between 15 and 50hl/ha. The best plots were the least affected, which means that unusually there is more production in the grand vin and in Pavillon, with less in the third and fourth wines. Final numbers are 36% of production here, 30% in Pavillon Rouge.

Wine Enthusiast

97-99 / 100

par Roger Voss le 16/04/2019

 It is impressive how the serious structure of this wine has been totally absorbed by the depth of fruit. A dense black currant flavor and bright acidity are balanced by the core of dark tannins and an overall richness. Currently, the end is dominated with tannins that will allow the wine to age.

Jamessuckling.com

99-100 / 100

par James Suckling le 12/04/2019

Wow. This takes off on the palate the moment you taste it. Aromas and flavors of redcurrants, flowers, cherries and hints of hazelnuts. Full-bodied, tight and compact, but the linear tannins, running down the center of the wine, draw the wine through the finish. Superb.

Jean-Marc QUARIN

99-100 / 100

par Jean-Marc Quarin le 08/04/2019

Vinous

95-98 / 100

par Antonio Galloni le 01/04/2019

Château Margaux's 2018 Grand Vin boasts off the charts textural richness and intensity from the very first taste. A huge core of dark fruit, potent, muscular tannins are two of the signatures. Dense and explosive in the glass, with breathtaking concentration, the 2018 is one of the finest Margauxs in recent memory. Lavender, rose petal and spice add striking perfume in this compelling, memorable Grand Vin. In 2018, the Grand Vin represents 36% of the crop and is 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot.