2006 Chateau Margaux - 1er Cru Classe Margaux

Decanter.com – 94 pts – CC: *The 2006 Margaux was almost shocking, with its dark blackberry fruit and hints of spice, pepper and smoke. People remember the cool August of this vintage and late rains, but this is firm, tannic and massively structured. Less approachable than the 2009 or the 2010, and It may never reach those heights, but when it comes around it should be lovely. 36% of the harvest was used in the grand vin; the blend is 90% Cabernet and 4% each of Merlot and Petit Verdot.* - 07/2023

Falstaff Magazin - 92-94pts - PM: *Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, jugendliche Reflexe, violetter Rand. In der Nase feinwürzig unterlegte dunkle Beerenfrucht, zarte Schokoladenote, wirkt noch etwas verhalten, Edelholzanklänge. Am Gaumen kompakt, saftige Herzkirschen, feine Zitrusanklänge, kraftvolle, präsente Tannine, die sich fast pfeffrig präsentieren, gute Länge, frischer rotbeeriger, exktraktsüßer Rückgeschmack. Einzig die Länge ist nicht völlig überzeugend.* - 05/2007

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate - 94pts - NM: *Tasted at Bordeaux Index's annual 10-Year On tasting in London.The 2006 Château Margaux has a sense of airiness and wonderful definition on the nose: wild strawberry, redcurrant, cedar and crushed roses soaring from the glass, but it never strives for the opulence of say the 2006 Château Palmer. The palate is very well balanced with fine and quite firm tannin in the mouth. This seems to be approaching its plateau after a decade. While not a powerful or ostentatious Château Margaux, it epitomizes understatement and refinement in a similar vein to Lafite-Rothschild. It is only after the wine has been swallowed that you appreciate its qualities and you feel urged to go back for another sip. Tasted January 2016.* -05/2016

Vinum Magazin – 18,5/20pts: *Majestätisch, wie aus einem Stück gemeisselt, dicht, engmaschig, langes, noch pfeffriges, auch mineralisches Himbeerfinale: ein Klassiker.*

WeinWisser – 19/20pts: *Dunkles, recht sattes Purpur mit rubinrotem Schimmer. Dichtes Bouquet, parfümierte Margaux-Frucht von Cassis, Maulbeeren, Preiselbeeren und einer vielschichtigen Blütennote, Himbeerrispen, tendenziell im rotfruchtigen Bereich, schön stützende Edelhölzer, heller Kaffee und die typischen Wachsnoten eines grossen Margaux-Jahrgangs. Eleganter Gaumenauftakt, stoffig, tolles Fruchtextrakt, fordernde Adstringenz, hat seit der Primeurprognose zugelegt und ist jetzt ein fast identischer Folgejahrgang des genialen Margaux 1996!*

JancisRobinson.com – 18,5/20pts – JR: *Tasted blind. Tense and tight and focused. Dry rather than sweet and definitely left bank but very fluid and glorious. Dry finish. Still youthful.* - 04/2016

Vinous.com - 93pts - ST: *Good deep red-ruby. Deep but reticent aromas of redcurrant, tobacco leaf, licorice and loam; I don't find the typical floral high notes of Margaux. Juicy, fine-grained and suave, with good definition and a seamless, spherical texture to the currant and soil flavors. Finishes with a fine dusting of tannins, but not the grip or power of earlier barrel samples of this wine.* -05/2009

Thewinecellarinsider.com – 96 pts – JL: *Still tightly wound, although it resists much of the stern tannins found in many of the other 2006 Medoc wines, the wine offers the start of its secondary aromatics with its tobacco, cherry, plum, spice, smoke and forest floor scents. Elegant, sophisticated and charming, give it another 5-10 more years to develop more secondary notes, soften and add more weight. The wine was produced from 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc, until this time, this probably set a record for the highest percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend.* - 05/2016