Chateau Margaux - Margaux 2011

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

91 / 100

byIan D'Agatathe8/31/2014

Deep ruby.  Aromas of blackcurrant, dark cherry, herbs and licorice.  Spicy and taut, with dark fruit and herb flavors offering decent flesh and grip; seems to be shutting down.  Finishes long and smooth:  this really is a considerable step up from the Pavillon Rouge.  I like this wine's tension but hope that it develops more sweetness of fruit and length with another five or six years in the cellar. (91(+?) points)

Wine Advocate

93 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe5/2/2014

The renowned Chateau Margaux’s 2011 boasts a dark ruby/plum color as well as a fragrant perfume of spring flowers, sweet, supple, well-integrated tannins, medium body, and the elegance and nobility expected from a great first-growth. Although it is not as powerful or concentrated as the 2009 or 2010 (no 2011s are), it possesses finesse, elegance, purity and suppleness. The wine is surprisingly approachable already yet should keep for 15-20 years.

Jamessuckling.com

94 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe2/19/2014

Fabulous aromas of flowers with hints of strawberries and currants. Extremely aromatic. This is full-bodied, with chewy tannins and a racy finish. It is very finely structured but chewy and austere. I like the tension to this. Try in 2018.

Wine Spectator

94 / 100

byJames Molesworththe2/10/2014

This has a restrained core of steeped plum, blackberry and anise, studded with tobacco and roasted cedar notes. The structure is silky but persistent, with an almost-succulent feel through the finish, while warm bergamot, singed cedar, vanilla and sanguine hints define the finish. Discreet today, but shows the balance and precision to unfold slowly with cellaring. Best from 2017 through 2030.

Jamessuckling.com

97 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe3/31/2013

What a youthful ruby color. And it's fresh and young on the nose with currants, plums, mints, and flowers. A full-bodied red, with slightly tight and firm tannins, it opens to a long and satisfying finish. What freshness. Leave it five years, or decant three or four hours in advance before serving.

La Revue du Vin de France

17-17,5 / 20

the5/31/2012

Avec un rendement moyen de moins de 30hl/ha, 2011 est l'une des plus petites récoltes de Château Margaux. La sécheresse du printemps, le coup de chaud de la fin juin ont été préjudiciables à la quantité, car le vin s'avère très concentré, avec des niveaux de tanins supérieurs à ses prédécesseurs. La matière lui permet de les absorber, avec une suavité remarquable. Droit et sérieux.

Le Point

17,5 / 20

byJacques Dupontthe5/17/2012

Nez cerise mûre, bouche ample, ronde, moelleuse, tanins serrés et souples, bien fondu mais touffu, plein serré en finale. "On voulait aller le plus loin sans obtenir d'asperité". O=2020 G=20 ans

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

92-95 / 100

byIan D'Agatathe5/12/2012

Deep purple. Enticing aromas of plum, cassis and minerals. Silky but laid-back, with suave flavors of sweet spices, herbs, smoke and blackcurrant. This firmly built, very pure wine finishes with smooth, ripe tannins and outstanding length. A very successful Chateau Margaux and one of the best wines of the vintage.

Decanter.com

18,5 / 20

the4/30/2012

Floral cassis fruit, lovely florality and perfect texture, beautifully harmony of expression above concentrated natural tannins. Drink 2017-2035. (18.5 points)

Wine Advocate

94-96 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/30/2012

Administrator Paul Pontallier is nearly embarrassed to explain the amazing success of the 2011 Chateau Margaux, a candidate for wine of the vintage. With the harvest occurring between September 5-20, it was the smallest crop in over twenty years as yields were cut significantly by the drought. The berries were tiny. Moreover, analytically, the 2011 has a higher level of concentration as well as tannins than the 2009. A blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, only 38% of the harvest made it into the grand vin. The wine offers an inky/purple color, barely noticeable sweet tannin, and a beautiful nose of creme de cassis, spring flowers and lead pencil shavings backed up by fresh acids and good overall structure. This medium to full-bodied effort possesses tremendous personality and character. It rivals what they achieved in both 2010 and 2009, which is virtually impossible to contemplate given the quality of those two vintages. (94-96+ points)

TAST

18-18 / 20

by Bettane & Desseauvethe4/30/2012

Incomparable noblesse des arômes floraux et épicés de grands cabernets-sauvignons, longiline mais avec suffisamment de chair pour enrober le tanin, finale d'une fraîcheur et d'une précision d'école!

Wein Wisser

19 / 20

byRené Gabrielthe4/30/2012

Die kleinste Ernte seit 1991. Damals war es der Frost, der die Ernte reduzierte; dieses Jahr war es die extreme Trockenheit, die nut einen Ertrag von 29hl/ha zuliess. 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Fran. Dunkle Rosen, dunkle Hölzer, Unterholz, Trüffel, schwarze Pflaumen, alles bewegt sich im Untergrund, die Nase ist nicht so süss wie sonst bei den Primeurproben. Samtiger Gaumen, trotz der Weichheit spürt man die Intesität und den Reichtum der Tannine (der 11er hat mehr Gebstoffe als die beiden Jahrgangsvorgänger!), mehr fleischig als stoffig, geniale Fruchtnote im Extrakt, gehackte Preiselbeeren und Waldfrüchte, langes Finale. Ein ziemlich grosser, langlebiger Château Margaux, den man mit praktisch keinem anderen, ebsenso grossen Jahrgang vergleichen kann. 2022-2065

The Wine Cellar Insider

94-95 / 100

byJeff Levethe4/27/2012

Blending 86% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot, along with equal parts Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, the wine is ruby in color. With delicate, complicated scents of violets, mocha, smoke, truffle, blackberry, cassis and an array of spices, the wine is soft, refined and elegant. It’s lacking the volume and darker berries found in the 2010 or 2009. Yet this is a very suave, fresh, pure, cassis-filled Margaux. 94-95 Pts

Wine Advocate

93-95 / 100

byNeal Martinthe4/27/2012

Representing 38% of the crop, the Grand Vin is a blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc. Harvest began 5th September with the earlier ripening Merlot and finished around the 20th. It has a very strict bouquet, very linear, a no-frills aromatic profile that delivers straight to the senses minerality, with touches of graphite and cedar from the intense Cabernet. The palate is medium-bodied with a more understated entry. The Cabernet is very pure right from the outset with blackberry, graphite, a saline tincture and a touch of black olive. It has a fine framework of taut tannins, beautifully composed as usual, with a finish that unlike 2009 or 2010, is very precise and linear, finishing off dry and abruptly. There is not a great long tail on the finish, but that would not suit this style of Margaux, one that is more masculine in style. Tasted April 2012

Asian Palate

92-94 / 100

byJeannie Cho Lee MWthe4/20/2012

As expected from Margaux, the nose is gorgeous with aromas of violets, spices and blackberries. The flavours on the palate are rather dense this year (as is the Pavillon Rouge which has an enormous amount of density) and leans toward a full-bodied tannic style, which is atypical of Chateau Margaux. This year the grand vin had a very high density of tannins with an IPT level of 81 (most full-bodied reds are below 80). I would have appreciated slightly less extraction in both the grand vin and Pavillon Rouge.

Jancis Robinson

17,5 / 20

byJulia Harding MWthe4/19/2012

Drink 2018-2035
Very small berries brought greater concentration but also had to be careful with the extraction. Deep dark crimson. Rich, dark and intense fruit on the nose. Floral note of violets too – open and expressive with plenty of fruit. Expressive on the palate – open and approachable and soft. Balanced and harmonious but almost too soft. 'Nothing sticks out', Paul Pontallier said, with a positive intention, but somehow it was a negative to me, all rather too safe and unexciting. Moderate length. (JH) 13.1%

Wine Spectator

93-96 / 100

byJames Molesworththe4/10/2012

This is succulent, with an almost jammy cassis, plum and black currant profile, though that's quickly harnessed by riveting acidity on the finish, which lets additional floral, bay leaf, tobacco and perfume notes play out. There's very impressive range here already. Tasted non-blind.—J.M.

Wine Enthusiast

94-96 / 100

byRoger Vossthe4/6/2012

Dry with a firm core of dark tannins and solid fruits. It is packed with tannins, showing tight acidity as well as a forward black-currant flavor. It dances with the appellation’s classic lightness. —R.V.

Jamessuckling.com

94-95 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/1/2012

Very elegant and ethereal with ultra-fine tannins and delicate fruit. Full body. I love the floral and aromatic quality to this. Then the tannins kick in. This has more tannins than 2010, according to technical director Paul Pontallier, and others, but you can't tell when tasting it.