One of the most famous names in the world of wine, the quality of Chateau Margaux has been well documented since the 18th century, with British Prime Minister Sir Robert Walpole and US Ambassador Thomas Jefferson among its followers. Despite an amazing effort in 1953, the wines of Chateau Margaux struggled for several decades during the 20th century to achieve the same level of quality it had previously become famous for. It wasn't until the purchase of the estate in 1977 by the Mentzelopoulos family, and the 1983 appointment of Paul Pontallier as manager, that the fortunes of this great estate turned around. Andre Mentzelopoulos invested huge amounts of money into the estate and the results were almost immediate with a stellar wine produced in 1978. When Andre passed away suddenly shortly after, it was left to his 25-year old daughter Corinne to take over - and alongside Pontallier she created a modern legacy for the estate with three and a half decades of brilliant vintages. After Paul Pontallier’s tragic death in early 2016, Philippe Bascaules took over as General Manager and the estate continues to thrive. As Neal Martin summarises: “The fundamental virtue of a great Château Margaux is poise; the way it tiptoes on the palate like a ballerina, full of strength and grace.”
