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Château Margaux Premier Grand Cru Classé Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 1996
...undoubtedly one of the great classics produced under the Mentzelopoulos regime. In many respects, it is the quintessential Chateau Margaux, as well as the paradigm for this estate, combining measured power, extraordinary elegance, and admirable complexity. I tasted the wine on three separate occasions in January, and in short, it's a beauty! The color is opaque purple. The wine offers extraordinarily pure notes of blackberries, cassis, pain grille, and flowers, gorgeous sweetness, a seamless personality, and full body, with nothing out of place...It tastes complete and long...it is open-knit, tasting like a recently bottled wine. The fruit is exceptionally sweet and pure, and there are layers of flavor in the mouth. I do believe this wine will develop an extraordinary perfume, and possess a high level of richness. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2040. Robert Parker
Ratings on Delectable
Andrew Lohse 
Rich red and black fruit: currant, plum / spice, gravel, leather / well structured and brooding, princely / let’s revisit in middle age
Rich red and black fruit: currant, plum / spice, gravel, leather / well structured and brooding, princely / let’s revisit in middle age
9.5
Martin G Rivard
WOTN! This blew away all others. Thank you kirk for donating this elegant beauty & the 2nd flight Screagle for us to try!! A wet dirty diaper nose that just begged you to try it to prove it wrong!!! Could not put the glass down until it was conquered
WOTN! This blew away all others. Thank you kirk for donating this elegant beauty & the 2nd flight Screagle for us to try!! A wet dirty diaper nose that just begged you to try it to prove it wrong!!! Could not put the glass down until it was conquered
9.9
Greg Ballington
Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog
Deep brick red with a ruby hue. Lovely age on the nose with leather, dusty, mushrooms, dried cherries and a little dirty diaper. Medium tannins (6/10) and full bodied. Layered palate with notes of dried cherries, leaves, forest floor and truffles. Long finish. Drink till 2045.
Deep brick red with a ruby hue. Lovely age on the nose with leather, dusty, mushrooms, dried cherries and a little dirty diaper. Medium tannins (6/10) and full bodied. Layered palate with notes of dried cherries, leaves, forest floor and truffles. Long finish. Drink till 2045.
9.7
Matt Duncan
Oh hell yes. Dark, tannic, brooding.
Oh hell yes. Dark, tannic, brooding.
9.4
Greg Gregory
Nowhere near showing what it's going to be in a decade. Amazing floral characteristics. Roses galore. Having next to the 2010 BRAND Napa Valley, a friend that hasn't ever had wines like this before incredibly stated, "The Margaux is the mother and the BRAND is the daughter". Wow. Couldn't have expressed it better myself. I think he has a future in wine!
Nowhere near showing what it's going to be in a decade. Amazing floral characteristics. Roses galore. Having next to the 2010 BRAND Napa Valley, a friend that hasn't ever had wines like this before incredibly stated, "The Margaux is the mother and the BRAND is the daughter". Wow. Couldn't have expressed it better myself. I think he has a future in wine!
9.5
Doug Kahn
Prettiest 1st growth I've had of this vintage. Plenty of potential though
Prettiest 1st growth I've had of this vintage. Plenty of potential though
9.2
Yianni Stone
Classic lean and funky
Classic lean and funky
9.4Doug Kahn
Not ready
Not ready
9.0
Charles Antin
Senior Wine Specialist/Auctioneer Zachys
Expressive, cedar, length.
Expressive, cedar, length.
9.3
Robert Cunningham
Wine Educator DeVinimus, Wine Workshop
Lovely Margaux showing. Still not fully integrated and needs 10 more years for the tannins to soften. Rich red fruit on a solid tannic backbone.
Lovely Margaux showing. Still not fully integrated and needs 10 more years for the tannins to soften. Rich red fruit on a solid tannic backbone.
9.2
See all reviews and ratings on Delectable WARNING: DRINKING DISTILLED SPIRITS, BEER, COOLERS, WINE AND OTHER ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES MAY INCREASE CANCER RISK, AND, DURING PREGNANCY, CAN CAUSE BIRTH DEFECTS.