The 2019 Château Margaux, bottled in July 2021, is absolutely divine on the nose. It unfurls to reveal exquisitely defined black fruit infused with graphite, Japanese nori and just a hint of potpourri and crushed stone. This is supremely well focused, refined and correct, so much so that you would think it comes from a cooler growing season. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant, filigreed tannins that envelop the senses. Flavors of blackberry and bilberry, tinged with sea salt and black pepper, merge into a slightly more sensual finish that is still quintessentially Margaux. I used the word "effortless" in my note from barrel, and that rings true in bottle, though maybe there is now even more persistence. Quite stunning.

A stunning, monumental Margaux, this has all the power, concentration and class expected of a First Growth. Cool on the palate with an emerging floral bouquet after a few minutes swirling in the glass, Asian spices also appear, supported by ultra-fine tannin and beautifully managed, subtle oak. Dark red-fruits abound with fantastic purity on the palate, remarkable length to finish. 37% of production went into the Grand Vin. A vin-de-garde which has years ahead of it but is already promising so much.

The is next level stuff, coiled and brooding but with incredible layers of perfume and distinctive vanilla and mocha from well judged oak. The perfume is intoxicating; damask rose, tar, rich cassis and blackcurrant fruit and leaf, layered up with not bricks, warm earth... smells like summer. The palate is a serious wow. It's as ripe as they dare to go with masses of intensity but all held in place by finely chiselled tannins and mouthwatering aciidty. It's so soft and seamless, rich in the mouth, and yet never OTT. The finish brings a zesty citrus bite in between rich dollops of bright, blackcurrant and plum fruit, giving massive length and pixellated precision. A hedonistic Margaux, admittedly, but with immense class and undeniable presence.

The 2019 Château Margaux is a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, accounting for 37% of the crop. The alcohol came in at 13.9%, the IPT was 75, and the pH was 3.66. Deep garnet-purple in color, the nose begins with intense scents of crushed blackberries, warm cassis and plum preserves before fanning out into a whole array of floral, exotic spice and earth scents: iris, red roses, star anise, cassis, tilled soil, moss-covered bark and black truffles, with an emerging waft of crushed rocks. The medium-bodied palate quivers with energy, emitting loads of mineral sparks, featuring bold freshness and fantastically ripe, finely grained tannins to support the delicate, perfumed layers, finishing very long and wonderfully poised. The juxtaposition between the acidity and the richness in this Château Margaux is just extraordinary!

90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot. 37% of the production. Barrel sample. Deep colour to the rim. Super fragrance, the aromas pure and persistent with typical Cabernet cassis and graphite notes. Rich and full across the palate but definitely more freshness than the Pavillon. Plentiful tannins provide the drive but absolutely no aggression. Aromatic freshness on the finish aids persistence and length. (JL)

Tasted blind. A rather weak rim to the crimson. Light nose. Lots of sweet palate entry but without quite the drama or concentration of some. Angostura-bitters element to the flavour. Lots of tannin underneath. Not quite as thrilling as some. And pretty angular at present. (JR)

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.

Amazing aromas of crushed stones and wet soil with fresh mushrooms, then going on to violets and other flowers. Dark fruit, too. Full-bodied, yet agile and fine, with a linear flow of tannins that run through the center of palate. The finesse of the tannins is exceptional, like raw silk and changing all the time. Cool and energetic, yet reserved. Zen-like. 37% of the production and 90% cabernet sauvignon, 7% merlot, 2% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot. So well balanced that you can drink it now, but this is one to leave for a decade and more. Ethereal.