Wine Advisor
Chateau Margaux 1990
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
More than any other recent vintage, the 1990 reminds me of what Chateau Margaux's classic 1953 might have tasted like at age three. Not a heavyweight in the style of their 1982, the 1990 exhibits an ethereal bouquet of flowers, cassis, smoke, new oak, and oriental spices. The tannins are significant but tender, and the wine is expansive, with remarkable finesse, richness, and a smooth-as-silk finish. The wine's exceptional richness and harmony are hallmarks. This vintage gets my nod as the most classic example of Margaux made under the Mentzelopoulos administration. 1990 is a majestic vintage for Chateau Margaux, as well as one of the greatest wines of this superb vintage. Anticipated maturity: 1997-2020. Last tasted, 8/93.
Reviewed by: William Kelley
The 1990 Château Margaux is really beginning to hit its stride at age 31, soaring from the glass with aromas of blackberries and cassis mingled with notions of licorice, cedar and violets, framed by subtle hints of vanilla and spice. Full-bodied, deep and multidimensional, it's seamless and complete, its velvety tannins and ripe acids entirely cloaked in a lavish but vibrant core of fruit. This is an especially dramatic, fleshy rendition of Margaux, yet it remains impeccably balanced and has decades of longevity ahead of it.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
I had this wine both in Seoul, Korea in February, and from my cellar in December, 2008, and it was remarkable how identical the wines smelled and tasted. It offers an extraordinary aromatic display of spring flowers, camphor, sweet red and black fruits, a hint of licorice, and no evidence of its 100% new oak cask aging. Round and generous with low acidity, but an opulent, full-bodied richness that is fresh with laser-like precision, this stunning wine is just beginning to reach its plateau of full maturity, where it should remain for another three decades. A sensational effort, it is one of the legendary wines made at Chateau Margaux. Release price: ($1800.00/case)
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
More than any other recent vintage, the 1990 reminds me of what Chateau Margaux's classic 1953 might have tasted like at age three. Not a heavyweight in the style of their 1982, the 1990 exhibits an ethereal bouquet of flowers, cassis, smoke, new oak, and oriental spices. The tannins are significant but tender, and the wine is expansive, with remarkable finesse, richness, and a smooth-as-silk finish. The wine's exceptional richness and harmony are hallmarks. This vintage gets my nod as the most classic example of Margaux made under the Menzelopoulos administration. 1990 is a majestic vintage for Chateau Margaux, as well as one of the greatest wines of this superb vintage. Anticipated maturity: 1997-2020.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 1990 Chateau Margaux has turned into a sensational wine that eclipses both the 1988 and 1989...and then some. It has a gorgeous, ethereal bouquet with sumptuous red berry fruit, leather, camphor and licorice—it is the kind of nose in which you just immerse yourself. Is there a hint of brettanomyces here? If there is, I don't really care. The palate is soft and sensual with incredible depth. Fleshy and corpulent for Chateau Margaux, and yet surfeit with breeding and finesse, there are layers or red fruit, kirsch, sage and fig, later tobacco and cloves. I feel that this 1990 Château Margaux is at its peak and yet the harmony, the sheer swagger of this wine just wins you over. Magnificent. Tasted May 2016.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
March 2000 at Tommy’s 1990 horizontal. A beautiful sensuous nose: violets and black fruit. A huge Margaux with immense depth and charm. Silky smooth tannins, wonderful concentration and yet quite accessible. A more muscular in intense version of the 1985. A truly profound wine. Tasted again in September 2004. A perfect Margaux. A fragrant nose of roses, sweet black fruits, vanilla pod. The palate is voluptuous with rounded, svelte tannins, raisin and black tea. Very complex with a brilliant poise and freshness. Does not quite have the weight of Latour, but then again Margaux rarely does. Touch of fig on the long and persistent finish. Drink over 10 to 15 years. Magnificent.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
For me, the 1990 Margaux continues to be the quintessential example of this chateau. In addition to being profoundly concentrated, its ethereal bouquet of sweet black fruits, cedar, spices, flowers, smoke, and vanilla is remarkably well-formed and intense. In the mouth, there is not a hard edge to this classic wine, which is super-concentrated, soft, silky-textured, and opulent. It displays an opaque ruby/purple color, a compelling bouquet, and exquisite layers of flavors that cascade over the palate without any notion of toughness or coarseness. The acidity is low, although sufficient enough to provide vibrancy and focus. This wine's significant tannin level is remarkably well-concealed by the wealth of fruit. Although still an infant in terms of development, this fabulous Margaux is already drinkable. There have been so many great vintages of Margaux under the Mentzelopoulos regime that it is almost inconceivable that the 1990 could outrank the 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, and 1995, but, in my opinion, it possesses an extra-special dimension. While it is approachable, it will last for 25-30 years.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Tasted 7 Times Since Bottling With Consistent Notes More than any other recent vintage, the 1990 reminds me of what Chateau Margaux's classic 1953 might have tasted like at age three. Not a heavyweight in the style of their 1982, the 1990 exhibits an ethereal bouquet of flowers, cassis, smoke, new oak, and oriental spices. The tannins are significant but tender, and the wine is expansive, with remarkable finesse, richness, and a smooth-as-silk finish. The wine's exceptional richness and harmony are hallmarks. This vintage gets my nod as the most classic example of Margaux made under the Menzelopoulos administration. 1990 is a majestic vintage for Chateau Margaux, as well as one of the greatest wines of this superb vintage. Anticipated maturity: 1997-2020.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
A prototype Chateau Margaux that combines power and elegance, this wine, which seemed to be sound asleep for nearly a decade, has begun to open over the last several years. Dense ruby/purple with a developing yet compellingly ethereal bouquet of sweet black fruits, violets, smoke, camphor, and licorice, this medium to full-bodied, silky-textured wine still tastes like a 4 or 5-year-old barrel sample, but the aromatics are emerging, and the wine has thrown off that somewhat monolithic, sleepy stage it was in for nearly a decade. Despite the fact that, analytically, the acidity is low, this wine reveals plenty of delineation, very high levels of tannin, and tremendous concentration of ripe fruit, glycerin, and extract. The color shows very few signs of development. The fabulous bouquet is just emerging, and the wine is full-bodied, opulent, and very rich. It is a great achievement in this vintage, and should be drinkable in another 4-5 years and last for at least 3-4 decades. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2040. Last tasted, 10/02.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
More than any other recent vintage, the 1990 reminds me of Chateau Margaux's classic 1953. Not a heavyweight in the style of their 1982, 1983, and 1986, but wow, does it have considerable presence on the palate, not to mention an ethereal bouquet of flowers, cassis, smoke, new oak, and oriental spices. In the mouth, the tannins are tender and the wine is expansive, with remarkable finesse, richness, and a smooth-as-silk finish. With plenty of tannin and substance, this vintage gets my nod as the most classic example of Margaux made under the Menzelopoulos administration. Interestingly, the selection process in 1990 was brutally severe, with one-half of the production being eliminated from the grand vin. This is potentially a majestic vintage for Chateau Margaux. Anticipated maturity: 1997-2020.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The 1990 Margaux continues to be the quintessential example of this chateau. In addition to being profoundly concentrated, its ethereal bouquet of sweet black fruits, cedar, spices, flowers, smoke, and vanilla is remarkably well-formed and intense. In the mouth, there is not a hard edge to this classic wine, which is super-concentrated, soft, silky-textured, and opulent. It displays an opaque ruby/purple color, a compelling bouquet, and exquisite layers of flavors that cascade over the palate without any notion of toughness or coarseness. The acidity is low, although sufficient enough to provide vibrancy and focus. This wine's significant tannin level is remarkably well-concealed by the wealth of fruit. Although still an infant in terms of development, this fabulous Margaux is already drinkable. There have been so many great vintages of Margaux under the Mentzelopoulos regime that it is almost inconceivable that the 1990 could outrank the 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, and 1995, but, in my opinion, it possesses an extra-special dimension. While it is approachable, it will last for 25-30 years. Last tasted 11/96
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted at Bordeaux Index Chateau Margaux dinner at The Square. It has been some time since I last tasted this Chateau Margaux. But what a stellar performance! Youthful in colour, the glycerine-rich nose is brilliantly defined and showing none of the alcohol and volatility that some ’90 clarets are beginning to show. Very intense bouquet: blackberry, cassis, warm gravels, violets and a hint of roasting chestnut. The palate is full-bodied, broad-shouldered with intense black fruits, sinewy, layers of cassis and black plum, a hint of damson leading to a vice-like grip on the fig and raisin-tinged finish. Voluptuous, but this is no harlot, this is far more intellectual and refined. Drink now-2030+ Tasted October 2009.
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
Full ruby-red. Wonderfully perfumed nose combines redcurrant, plum, mocha, minerals and rose petal. Plush, fat and rich, with great sweetness and class. This has utterly compelling mouthfilling richness. Finishes smooth and endless, with great breadth. This wine showed fabulous potential from barrel, but this is the first truly outstanding bottle I've had. Drink 2005 through 2035.
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
Very good brilliant deep color. Multidimensional, perfumed aroma of dark berries, coffee, mint and toasty, spicy oak. Silky and seductive on the palate; very ripe and layered but with lovely freshness and impeccable balance. Archetypical Margaux finesse. Can easily be overlooked in blind tastings today against bigger 1990 Médocs, but this wine is a beauty. Ripe, extremely long aftertaste.
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.
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