Wine Advisor
Chateau Margaux 1970
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The 1970 is better than the 1971 or 1975, but certainly exceeded in quality by most of the classified growths of the Medoc, not to mention a good number of Crus Bourgeois. This is certainly the type of wine to foster consumer ill-will toward expensive, presumably ``great'' first-growth Bordeaux. Compact, austere, lacking fruit and richness, this wine has adequate color and tannins, but not much flesh to cover the bones. Time may help, but then again, it may not. Anticipated maturity: Now-may be in decline. Last tasted, 9/83.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 1970 Château Margaux was born during a weak period for the estate and it has long been an underperforming wine. It's not terrible, but it unquestionably does fall a long way short of what you would expect from a First Growth. It has a one-dimensional nose with rather lifeless tar and cedar scents. The palate is showing a touch of volatility on the entry with charred, dry tannins that lead down towards a foursquare finish, which can best be described as "dull". Tasted June 2015.
About the Producer
Chateau Margaux is located in the village of Margaux, in the Medoc appellation on the left bank of Bordeaux, and was awarded a First Growth in the 1855 Bordeaux Medoc classification, alongside Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Chateau Latour and Château Haut-Brion. It is also known as Chateau Haut-Brion. Château Margaux currently covers a total of 262 hectares, including 99 hectares of vineyards. The red vineyard has an appellation of 87 hectares, of which 82 hectares are planted, while the white vineyard is planted with 12 hectares. The red varieties are mainly Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc; the white varieties are Sauvignon Blanc and the vines are on average 45 years old. Since the end of the 1990s, the estate has refused to use pesticides in the vineyards. In addition, only organic fertilisers are used in the vineyard, and deep fertilisation is carried out at regular intervals to improve the soil structure and rejuvenate the soil. During the harvest season, the winery team selects the right time to harvest the grapes by testing and analysing all the indicators and by tasting the grapes themselves. Once the grapes have reached their ideal state of ripeness, they are harvested by a team of over 200 trained harvesters. Once in the winery, the grapes undergo a rigorous selection process before being de-stemmed. Both oak barrels and stainless steel tanks are used to ferment the red grapes, while the white grapes are fermented entirely in oak barrels. After the alcoholic fermentation, the wine undergoes malolactic fermentation. The red wines are then left to mature in oak barrels for 18-24 months and the whites for 6-8 months. The main wine of the estate, Château Margaux's red wine, is rich and complex, with an elegant and powerful ballet on the tongue, rich and smooth tannins, good balance and a long, fresh finish with excellent ageing potential. It successfully conquered Napoleon Bonaparte, the founder of the First French Empire, and won the hearts of Thomas Jefferson, the founding father of the United States, and Margaret Thatcher, the "Iron Lady" of England. In the world of wine criticism, Château Margaux's red wines have also been recognised, with four perfect scores from Robert Parker and many more from other critics with 95 points or more. In recent years, the quality of Château Margaux's red wines has been steady and has maintained a high level of interest in the market.
1958(1)1960(1)1961(2)1962(1)1963(1)1964(1)1969(2)
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