The legendary First Growth of Margaux offers extraordinary aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry, violet, cedar, graphite, rose petals, and subtle spice. Seamlessly elegant and profoundly complex, it combines velvety tannins, exceptional purity, remarkable depth, and an endlessly refined finish destined for generations of aging.
Food Pairing: Pair with beef Wellington, roast lamb, venison, duck breast, truffle potatoes, aged Comté, wild mushrooms, or braised short ribs.
100 Points - Decanter
If you want to drink a Margaux 2009 any time soon, you need to go for the Pavillon - the grand vin is still extremely young, holding back its power and impact for another five or 10 years time. It's still closed up enough to hint rather than reveal. The smooth, silky tannins are joined by blackberry and cassis fruit with a great sense of vibrancy and concentration, and some tingling minerality with a pulse of electricity. There's a latent generosity here, a slow confidence that builds through the palate as the flavours layer up, yet it's clear that there's still lots to be revealed, particularly the hints of violet and peony florality that just peek through on the finish. This is very, very good - up with the best ever from this estate. 31% of production went into this wine, and it has the same amount of Cabernet Sauvignon as in 2005. 2% Petit Verdot completes the blend.
99 Points - James Suckling
This marathon runner is currently in the no-man's land between youthful vitality and mellow maturity. There's a very serious tannin structure here, but it needs a lot longer to fully resolve. Very tight and closed. A perfect wine usually. But not today. Try in 2020.
98 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2009 Château Margaux is deep garnet in color and features wonderfully fragrant minted cassis, lilacs, black forest cake and oolong tea scents with touches of pencil shavings and dusty soil. Medium to full-bodied, it has a firm, grainy frame with lovely freshness lifting the perfumed fruit to a very long, mineral-laced finish.
98 Points - Wine Enthusiast
A massive wine for Margaux, packed with tannins and ripe fruit. It has more Cabernet Sauvignon than usual, giving intense black currant flavors with enticing acidity balanced by the sweetness of the fruit. Ripe swathes of opulent fruit are also elegant and structured
97 Points - Wine Spectator
This offers gorgeously caressing fruit, with steeped plum, blackberry and red currant notes, finely embroidered with accents of rooibos and black tea, tobacco leaf, alder and sandalwood. Delivers loads of fruit, with the structure already melded into the core of fruit—but that's the vintage style. A stunner, though I still find the '10 a full step ahead. Best from 2018 through 2035.