Is the 2019 Château Margaux the wine of the vintage? A strong case in its favor could certainly be made. Soaring from the glass with aromas of blackberries, raspberries, rose petals, violets, pencil shavings and vine smoke, it's full-bodied, layered and sensual, with a strikingly vibrant core of fruit that's framed by ripe, powdery tannins and bright acids, concluding with a penetrating, mouthwateringly saline finish of almost interminable duration. Complex, elegant and utterly compelling, this is a brilliant Bordeaux that anyone with the requisite disposable income is going to want to own.
100 points, William Kelley, Wine Advocate (Apr 2022)
The 2019 Chateau Margaux is a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot, with the first wine representing 37% of the harvest. Deep purple-black colored, it needs considerable coaxing to release scents of plum preserves, blueberry compote, and ripe blackcurrants, leading to nuances of violets, cedar chest, pencil shavings, wood smoke, and wet slate with a waft of black truffles. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is simply electric, with a firework display of mineral earth and black fruits and super-fine, firm, tannins, plus incredible tension, finishing with epic length and depth. "I'm surprised by the body," commented winemaker Philippe Bascaules as we tasted together. "During primeurs, the 2019 was full of charm. Now it is more concentrated, more powerful." Indeed.
100 points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Independent (Apr 2022)
The 2019 Château Margaux possesses off the charts richness to go along with plush contours and mind-blowing balance. All the elements are so wonderfully woven together. It's as if all the Château Margaux signatures are dialed up to eleven, but without losing any of the classic Margaux character. The purity of the red-toned fruit is just breathtaking. The Merlot was picked early, but then rain during harvest delayed the ripening of the Cabernets, which turned out to be a huge advantage. Estate Manager Philippe Bascaules and his team turned out two spectacular wines in 2019. Bascaules describes 2019 as an easy vintage. Flowering was normal and set was good. Yields came in at a healthy 47 hectoliters per hectare, more than 2017 or 2018, the summer heat spikes notwithstanding. Bascaules opted to pick the Merlot early and gave those lots very gentle extractions at low temperatures, whereas the Cabernet Sauvignon vinifications were a much more typical 20-22 days at 28-30 degrees Celsius. In tasting, the 2019s have more tannins than any other vintage, with the exception of 2018, and yet the wines don't show that at all. The bottled wines are every bit as impressive as the barrel samples.
99 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous (Feb 2022)
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