Chateau Margaux Premier Cru Classe, Margaux 2016

A gorgeous, captivating bouquet gives the 2016 Margaux an irresistible allure. Weightless yet wonderfully persistent, in the way only the château's wines can be, the 2016 Grand Vin is a wine of exceptional breeding and pedigree. So many wines in this vintage are obvious, but Margaux is a wine that takes time to discover, like a great book or piece of music. Shades of tobacco, cedar, mint, liquorice and bright, red-toned fruit reveal themselves over time. And yet, a sense of total harmony and seductiveness elevated Margaux into the stratosphere in 2016.

Drink 2026 - 2066

It’s very friendly and warm on the nose, showing flowers, such as roses and red fruit. But then, it lets you know how serious it is on the palate. Full-bodied yet reserved, extremely tight and well-formed with super polished tannins that go on for minutes. A solid and typical Margaux with all the personality and beauty in strength.

Try after 2027

Deep garnet-purple coloured, the 2016 Château Margaux sashays out of the glass with glamorous red currants, candied violets, kirsch and crushed blackcurrants scents followed by notions of tilled black soil, forest floor, cast iron pan and cigar box with subtle wafts of lavender and oolong tea. Medium-bodied, mineral-laced accents hover over the palate with an ethereal sensation of weightlessness, yet it is super intense with layers of red and black flavours supported by a firm texture of silt-fine tannins, finishing wonderfully fragrant and incredibly long.

Drink 2024 - 2063

This is a serious Margaux, hugely Cabernet dominant on both nose and palate, as you would expect, with 94% of the blend. It has an extremely fine, elongated tannic structure, barely there and so classy, focussing on the gentle elasticity. There are more blue than black fruits, wonderfully spun out and softened with crushed tobacco. It has the expansive aromatic structure of Margaux, the clear floral and mineral aspects, and the tension that lifts the palate up and out. It's reminiscent of the 2005, though with less evident tannins. It's not as hefty as the 2010 or as staggering as 2015 but it is still a joyful expression of the estate.

Drink 2026 - 2045

Showing consistently and from a bottle purchased locally and drunk over multiple days, the 2016 Château Margaux is a magical wine that tastes like the essence of Margaux. Red and black currants, blueberries, spring flowers, sandalwood, and crushed violet notes all define the aromatics, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a pure, elegant, seamless profile, gorgeous concentration, and a great finish.

The level of freshness, purity, and precision paired with concentration and intensity is truly something to behold. It has some accessibility even today, yet it's going to take another decade for this to come close to the early stages of its prime drinking window. It's going to be a 50-75+ year wine.

Drink 2033 - 2108

The 2016 Château Margaux has an intense bouquet of blackberry, briar, crushed stone and subtle cedar aromas that enrapture the senses; hints of pencil box and sous-bois emerge with time. The harmonious palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins and a fine bead of acidity, and a touch of bitterness lends tension to the finish. Impressive – very impressive.

Drink 2026 - 2070