Chateau Margaux Margaux AOC Premier Grand Cru Classe 2013

The history of Chateau Margaux dates back to the 12th century, although the building seen on labels today was constructed only in the 19th century. Passing from one noble owner to another, the estate began to take its current form only in the late 16th century when it was acquired by the Lestonnac family. It was under Pierre de Lestonnac from 1572 to 1582 that vineyards were planted instead of grain crops on most of the estate's land. The figure of manager Berlon, who insisted in the early 18th century that white and red grape varieties be planted and vinified separately, and that harvesting be done in the afternoon when the dew dries, is also noteworthy. He paid great attention to the characteristics of the terroir and knew its best plots. It was under Berlon that the estate began producing excellent wines, which were classified as Premier Grand Cru Classe during the 1855 Bordeaux wine blind tasting, scoring 20 out of 20 points. Today, Chateau Margaux is among the top five producers in Bordeaux, largely due to its last owner, Andre Mentzelopoulos. Under his leadership from 1977 to 1980, the estate itself was restored, the vineyards were restructured, new underground cellars for wine storage were equipped, and most importantly, under the guidance of oenologist Emil Peynaud, the creation of the second great wines of Chateau Margaux — "Pavillon" Rouge and "Pavillon" Blanc — was revived, with the recipe for the latter being slightly adjusted. Thanks to the mild climate, the estate creates ideal conditions for grape ripening, and the soil characteristics of Chateau Margaux, which consist of clay, limestone, and gravel, endow the wines with a complex bouquet and excellent texture, allowing them to develop for decades.