Appellation Bordeaux margaux

The Margaux appellation bears the name of the most famous château in the region. It is an important appellation in the Haut Médoc of Bordeaux. It has acquired its letters of nobility with its supple and aromatic wines based on Cabernet Sauvignon. In this Margaux wine guide, we will review the terroir and the best wines of Bordeaux Margaux that combine velvety textures, power, unique floral characters and silky tannins.

Overview of the Margaux terroir

This region is located 25 km north of the city of Bordeaux. Its history of viticulture dates back almost 2000 years to the time of the Romans. In the 17th century, it already made a name for itself as a producer of quality wines. This prompted the American president Thomas Jefferson to visit some of the châteaux in the region, including Château Margaux. However, many of these châteaux would have been downgraded if the 1855 classification was changed. Fortunately, improved winemaking techniques and aggressive competition have encouraged many châteaux to produce quality wines. The terroir of Margaux is characterised by a high gravel content, some sand and limestone. This type of soil ensures excellent drainage and low nutrient levels. The vines dig deep to feed and ripen. This makes them more resistant and stronger. The grape varieties allowed in the region are Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Carmenere, Petit Verdot and Malbec. The total area of vineyards in the appellation covers 1335 ha.

Our selection of the best wines of the appellation Bordeaux margaux.

Nearly 80 estates and chateaux maintain fields of vines in this appellation, which includes 21 classified growths from the 1855 classification. Among them, Château Margaux and Château Palmer produce remarkably consistent quality wines. Other châteaux also stand out after restructuring work, such as Château Brane Cantenac, Malescot St Exupéry... The best wines are to be tasted, pure wines with velvety textures. But like all other wine regions, the vintages differ in style, character and price. If they are not the most powerful and dense of Bordeaux wines, they can stand out for their intense floral character that is at once sensual, elegant and fragrant. The best vintages can also age gracefully for decades.