Wine Advisor
Chateau Margaux 2000
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Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted blind at Bordeaux Index’s 2000 tasting in London. This has a lovely nose, black fruit, fruitcake, mulberry, graphite, cedar and a touch of black olive. Very fine definition and lift, just building with every swirl of the glass. The palate is medium-bodied, very well poised, such a fine silver thread of acidity with melting tannins, touches of cooked meat and dried herbs, very elegant towards the finish. This is sophisticated and regal. Drink 2015-2045. Tasted March 2010.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Bottled in late November, 2002, the 2000 has turned out to be a colossal example of Chateau Margaux that is tasting even better from bottle than it was from cask. Only 40% of the crop made it into this 2000 Margaux, a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot. Stylistically, it is somewhat of a hybrid between the succulent, opulent, fleshy 1990, and the more delineated, structured, cooler climate-tasting 1996. The 2000 possesses a saturated ruby/purple color to the rim as well as an extraordinarily promising nose of creme de cassis intermixed with white flowers, licorice, and hints of espresso and toasty oak. There is great intensity, compelling purity, a multi-layered, full-bodied palate, and a finish that goes on for nearly 70+ seconds. Bottled naturally, with no filtration, it is a monumental example of the elegance and power that symbolize this extraordinary vineyard. A tour de force in winemaking, many of my colleagues predicted, far earlier than me, that it would be the "wine of the vintage." It is certainly one of the wines of the vintage, but there is plenty of competition, even at this lofty level of quality. Absolutely awesome! Anticipated maturity: 2012-2050.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Only 40% of the crop made it into the 2000 Chateau Margaux, a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot. Picked by many of my colleagues as the "wine of the vintage," it merited an even higher score than my lofty ratings of last year. The color is a saturated purple. The exquisite nose reveals blackberries, creme de cassis, and subtle new oak and graphite aromas. The tannin has become more supple, the texture is sensational, and the wine is like a towering skyscraper in the mouth without being heavy or disjointed. The finish is splendid. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2050.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
An spell-binding nose of crushed violets, raspberry and rose-petal. But it already seems to be closing down. The palate is very feminine, peppery with an incredible balance. Silky smooth tannins, vibrant acidity and extraordinary long finish. Such a succinct subtle wine. Is it as good as the 1996? Maybe. November 2004. Another First Growth that scores a home-run. Just a quintessential Chateau Margaux nose: so minerally, exquisite definition with pure blackberry mixed with a little cigar-box and seaweed. A Rolls-Royce palate: perfect example of power and finesse. Seamless tannins, very complex with blackberry, violets, minerals and cassis. Very focused but is very backward. Awesome. Drink from 2020.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted blind, the 2000 Chateau Margaux was a reminder of the peaks that the millennial vintage could reach. Noticeably deep in color, the bouquet rivets you to the seat with copious red berry fruit, clove and truffle, hints of cedar emerging with time. As the aromatics open and aerate, the fruit profile seems to darken and manifests blackcurrants and bilberries. The palate is medium-bodied with filigree tannin. There is immense depth and symmetry conveyed by this First Growth, quite masculine for the estate with a gentle but insistent grip. It is a brilliant wine that flirts with perfection. Afford it another 3-4 years if you can, because it will last decades. Tasted November 2016.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Absolutely compelling in two tastings of this vintage, the 2000 Margaux is composed of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot. The extraordinary seductiveness, complex aromatics, and purity it exhibits lead me to believe it has reached its window of full maturity. Medium-bodied, with layers of concentration, stunning blue, red, and black fruits intermixed with spring flowers, a subtle dosage of new oak, and a distinctive personality that is elegant while at the same time powerful and substantial, this is a multi-dimensional wine that was extremely approachable and drinkable in both tastings I had of it. The color remains a healthy, even opaque bluish/purple, but there is no reason to hesitate to drink it. It should evolve for another 30-40 years, so there is no hurry either.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Chateau Margaux's administrator, Paul Pontallier, told me that 2000 was the most tannic and concentrated in polyphenols of any Chateau Margaux in the last forty years. A blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot, and 3% Cabernet Franc (nearly identical to the 1996), the 2000 represents only 40% of the production. There is remarkable ripeness to the tannin, giving this wine a contradictory feel. It is a traditionally-styled Bordeaux with plenty of structure, tannin, and weight, but the sweetness of the tannin brings it into the modern day school of winemaking. Notes of blueberries, creme de cassis, and flowers are present in this medium to full-bodied Margaux. A touch of licorice, subtle new oak, and a savory, expansive, full-bodied palate are brilliantly displayed in this pure, symmetrical effort. Surprisingly refreshing acidity gives the wine a zesty delineation that the very ripe years (i.e., 1982, 1983, 1989, and 1990) lack. Pontallier thinks this may be the greatest Margaux yet made under the Mentzelopoulos administration, "a new reference." A fabulous wine to be sure, I will defer judgment given the enviable record of superlative wines made over the last two decades. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2050.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2000 Château Margaux has always been one of the stars of the millennial vintage. A dozen or so bottles over the years, starting with my first encounter from bottle with the late Paul Pontallier, have never disappointed. Philippe Bascaule did not decant this bottle, although it does deserve an hour’s aeration before serving. Deep in color with little aging on the rim, it has a very intense bouquet, sophisticated and almost aloof. Oddly, it reminds me of the 2000 Latour in its sense of aristocracy and breeding. The palate is medium-bodied with gorgeous, rounded, pliant tannins that frame the multilayered red fruit. Always a Margaux with considerable backbone, the 2000 has mellowed in recent years, though it has lost none of its complexity or ethereal balance. There is substance but not sinew, and the silky-smooth finish fans out gloriously. A brilliant Château Margaux from beginning to end. It’s difficult to find fault with this magnificent wine.
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
Full ruby-red. Penetrating, highly perfumed aromas of sappy dark berries, violet and minerals; seems less oaky today than the '01. Offers compelling mouthfilling concentration and perfume. A wine of great power and consistency, with a pungent minerality lingering on the palate-staining finish. This somehow doesn't flag or grow narrower even after one swallows or spits. Makes the 2002 seem almost dry in comparison. Wine-of-the-vintage material.
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
(just fined; Pontallier expected to bottle this wine very late rather than fine it a second time) Very bright dark ruby. Explosive, somewhat exotic aromas of sappy boysenberry, black raspberry, dark chocolate and violet. A wine of great richness, sweetness and depth of flavor; this coats every nook and cranny of the palate, with fruit to spare. Very young and vibrant, but already utterly silky. Still, the big, ripe tannins are a bit less fine than those of the 2001. A wine of extraordinary dimension, and likely to last for 40 years.
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
Bright medium ruby. Explosively perfumed aromas of blackberry, black raspberry, violet, bitter chocolate, minerals, mint and sexy oak. Powerful, superconcentrated and seamless, with superb inner-mouth aromas. Very full and sophisticated. The finish boasts uncanny flavor complexity, with major, ripe tannins reaching every nook and cranny of the palate. Built for the long haul.
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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