Bordeaux 2009: Margaux
With 1100 hectares in the appellation and a wide diversity of soils across its many châteaux, Margaux has often been described as 'all over the place' when compared to the homogeneity of Saint-Julien. Margaux was still all over the place in 2009, but in the positive sense that almost every wine tasted of where it came from. Brane-Cantenac and Boyd-Cantenac might share a name, but their soils are very different, so are their wines. The steady improvements in overall quality in this commune have come to splendid fruition in 2009. Steven Spurrier
Chateau Margaux, 1er Cru Classe, Margaux 2009
(87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot) Fine black red, quite magical bouquet, pure quality of cashmere silkiness on the palate with a touch of fragrance from Cabernet Franc, blending softness of attack with pure density. A wine of stunning fragrance and purity, the most perfect expression imaginable of the greatest of Margaux vineyards. Drink 2016-40. (20 points)
Chateau Palmer, Grand Cru Classe, Margaux 2009
Black red, deep velvety richness and wonderful concentration of black, spicy fruits on the nose, firm and powerful, fragrant and lifted, a satiny, seductive texture, great concentration, totally harmonious. Drink 2016-35. (19 points)
Chateau Rauzan-Segla, Grand Cru Classe, Margaux 2009
Fine dense red, beautifully poised, naturally concentrated wild roses Margaux nose, superb fragrance that leads to a finely polished palate with great depth and purity, a great vineyard expression, power and finesse all in balance, very good indeed. Drink 2015-35. (18.5 points)
Chateau Monbrison, Cru Bourgeois, Margaux 2009
Dense red, fine fragrant Margaux fruit, well-expressed with elegance and natural vineyard depth, fine personality and all in balance. Drink 2014-20. (16.5 points)
Chateau Marquis de Terme, Grand Cru Classe, Margaux 2009
Fine black red, well-extracted red/black fruits, good vigourous expression and good future, perhaps more weight than finesse. Drink 2014-22. (16.5 points)
Chateau Marquis d'Alesme-Becker, Grand Cru Classe, Margaux 2009
Purple red, good Cabernet cassis nose, quite vigourous, still quite tight with firm tannins and good length, good future. Drink 2015-25. (16.5 points)
Chateau Tayac-Plaisance, Margaux 2009
Dense colour and blackcurrant Cabernet fruit, a broad yet classic Margaux with ripe, succulent fruit, elegant texture and potential to build on the palate. Drink 2014-20. (16.5 points)
Chateau Boyd Cantenac, Grand Cru Classe, Margaux 2009
Purple red, slightly smoky, plummy and nicely earthy nose, good depth characterful ripe fruit, big tannins and purity of acidity all in balance. Drink 2014-24. (17 points)
Chateau Brane-Cantenac, Grand Cru Classe, Margaux 2009
Fine purple red, beautifully fragrant Cabernet nose, lovely expression of Margaux fruit, textured and dense, lifted and distinctive, both fleshy and classy, long and harmonious, very good. Drink 2015-30. (18 points)
Chateau d'Angludet, Cru Bourgeois, Margaux 2009
Black red, very good extraction of crushed berry Cabernet fruit, supple and rich on the palate with robustness and weight and fragrant complexity to come. Drink 2014-24. (16.5 points)
Clos des Quatre Vents, Margaux 2009
Old vines from the highest point in Margaux, slightly smoky nose, dense and pure, really vigourous fruit, yet very polished with beautiful texture and structure. Drink 2014-22. (17 points)
Chateau Giscours, Grand Cru Classe, Margaux 2009
Fine black red, very expressive black fruits with the elegant lift from Cabernet, fine density of fruit, very good natural middle sweetness and lots of depth and vineyard character, a very good wine. Drink 2015-25. (18 points)
Chateau Cantenac-Brown, Grand Cru Classe, Margaux 2009
Dense purple red, quite meaty, savoury nose with a good lift of freshness and spice, good extraction and good firm tannins, a fleshy, fragrant wine with a good future. Drink 2014-22. (17 points)
Chateau Desmirail, Grand Cru Classe, Margaux 2009
Deep red, fine aromas of red fruits, floral and very Margaux, good natural middle sweetness, good length, harmony and will gain depth. Drink 2014-22. (16.5 points)
Chateau du Tertre, Grand Cru Classe, Margaux 2009
Fine deep red, good briary berry fruit with concentration and elegance, good florality, length, structure and very good potential. Drink 2015-25. (17.5 points)
Chateau Lascombes, Grand Cru Classe, Margaux 2009
Fine black red, very good concentration of vineyard Cabernet fruit, quite dense with a nice spicy richness, good fragrance on the palate, quite broad and structured, will open early and last well. Drink 2014-24. (17 points)
Pavillon Rouge du Chateau Margaux, Margaux 2009
Fine deep colour, great purity of Cabernet on the nose, a really beautiful wine, pure Margaux, perfect balance and unexpected length. Drink 2014-24. (18 points)
Alter Ego de Palmer, Margaux 2009
Black red, superb, velvety almost exotic nose, rich and polished fruit with lots of ripe tannins, will open up early but has terrific length and concentration. Drink 2013-20. (17.5 points)
Chateau Malescot-Saint-Exupery, Grand Cru Classe, Margaux 2009
Fine dense red, strikingly vibrant cassis nose, very good clear fruit with density and length, quite tight now and will open up well and always be distinctively spicy. Drink 2015-24. (17.5 points)
Chateau Durfort-Vivens, Grand Cru Classe, Margaux 2009
Fine black red, beautifully expressed Margaux nose with fragrance and depth, a touch smoky and spicy, very good succulent fruit, lovely texture and depth, a charming, serious wine. Drink 2014-25. (17.5 points)
Chateau Kirwan, Grand Cru Classe, Margaux 2009
Dense red, well-extracted Cabernet fruit with intensity and spice, quite broad and spicy on the palate, good structure and acidity, fruit and aging potential. Drink 2015-25. (16.5 points)
Chateau Pouget, Grand Cru Classe, Margaux 2009
Purple red, fine fragrance and good depth of fruit, nice aromatic complexity, very good future. Drink 2015-28. (17 points)
Chateau Prieure-Lichine, Grand Cru Classe, Margaux 2009
Deep red, fine floral wild roses Margaux nose, very good ripe fruit and harmonious Cabernet-Merlot blend, quite forward, attractive fleshy fruit and will age well. Drink 2014-20. (17 points)
Chateau Siran, Cru Bourgeois, Margaux 2009
Black red, fine floral red fruits nose, very expressive, lifted Cabernet fruit, good earthy depth, a very good wine that needs time to harmonise, will age well. Drink 2015-25. (17 points)
Chateau Dauzac, Grand Cru Classe, Margaux 2009
Deep purple red, very good fragrant Cabernet/cassis fruit, fine ripeness and lifted length, good structure after a seductive attack, very attractive wine. Drink 2014-22. (17 points)
Chateau d'Issan, Grand Cru Classe, Margaux 2009
Dense red, rich,, plummy black fruits, wonderful middle palate showing great structure over the lissom, fleshy fruit, lovely texture and very good tannins for the future. Drink 2015-28. (17.5 points)
Chateau Pontac Lynch, Cru Bourgeois, Margaux 2009
Dense colour, good lively fruit with definition, elegance and length. Drink 2013-18. (16 points)
Chateau la Tour de Mons, Cru Bourgeois, Margaux 2009
Dense colour, big concentrated blackcurrant fruit, robust yet lifted, very good northern Margaux. Drink 2014-20. (16-plus points)
Chateau Rauzan-Gassies, Grand Cru Classe, Margaux 2009
Black red, quite smoky, slightly bacony fruit, good density of ripeness and robust spicy richness a bit on the solid side. Drink 2014-20. (16-plus points)
Chateau Haut Breton Larigaudiere, Cru Bourgeois, Margaux 2009
Nice soft Margaux, quite forward. Drink 2012-16. (15 points)
Chateau Mongravey, Cru Bourgeois, Margaux 2009
Dense colour, lots of fleshy well-defined fruit. Drink 2013-17. (15.5 points)
Chateau Deyrem-Valentin, Cru Bourgeois, Margaux 2009
Young black red, fragrant lifted fruit, good length and complexity, good Margaux. Drink 2013-18. (16 points)
Chateau Tayac, Cru Bourgeois, Margaux 2009
Dense colour, smooth and ripe with a broad spiciness. Drink 2013-20. (16-plus points)
Chateau la Tour de Bessan, Cru Bourgeois, Margaux 2009
Purple red, fine smoky cassis nose, almost a feminine touch, very good Margaux. Drink 2013-18. (16-plus points)
Chateau Labegorce, Cru Bourgeois, Margaux 2009
Deep red, good floral red fruits, good, quite earthy vigour with good lifted acidity, good balance and weight. Drink 2014-20. (16 points)
Chateau Paveil de Luze, Cru Bourgeois, Margaux 2009
Attractive, easy, charming Margaux. Drink 2012-16. (15.5 points)
Villa des Quatre Soeurs, Margaux 2009
Small plot of 70-year-old vines producing a fine, fragrant Margaux with lovely extraction, succulence, balance and length. Drink 2013-18. (16-plus points)
Blason d'Issan, Margaux 2009
Lovely fragrant red/black fruits, full and ripe but also fresh with rounded tannins, very attractive. Drink 2012-17. (16 points)
Chateau la Gurgue, Cru Bourgeois, Margaux 2009
Fine expression of cassis fruit, pure and elegant Margaux, classy and classic. Drink 2014-20. (16-plus points)
Chateau Ferriere, Grand Cru Classe, Margaux 2009
Fine dense red, quite lifted, fragrant berry fruit, good concentration and extraction all in an elegant Margaux style, supple with an attractively firm finish. Drink 2014-20. (16-plus points)
Chateau La Bessane, Margaux 2009
Black red, fine smoky nose, lots of spicy fruit with firmness and length, quite individual from 40% Petit Verdot. Drink 2013-18. (16-plus points)
Le Baron de Brane, Margaux 2009
Good sweet berry fruit, fragrant and ripe, fine linear elegance and harmonious finish. Drink 2013-18. (16 points)