2011 Chateau Margaux - 1er Cru Classe Margaux

Decanter.com – 96 pts – JA: *At first the tannins keep this pretty tight, but as it opens up there is an elegance and finesse, along with a subtle floral expression that is clearer in the Château Margaux than the Pavillon. Juicy on the finish, and as it opens further you get a gourmet, dense expression to the raspberry and cassis fruit. Aromatically it is finely knit and uplifting. The iris and peony aromatics of Château Margaux are really to the fore, it's a great vintage to show off this side of the estate. 2% Cabernet Franc completes the blend. 3.6pH. 38% of overall production in the first wine. One of the earliest harvest on record, all finished by end of September which is extremely rare at Margaux.* - 02/2021

Falstaff Magazin – 95 pts – PM: *Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Feine Nuancen nach Nougat und Edelholz, zart nach Vanille, etwas zurückhaltendes Bukett, exotische Gew ürze, etwas Kardamom. Am Gaumen geradlinig, dunkle Kirschen, Brombeere, gut gereifte Tannine, angenhemer Säurebogen, pfeffrig, dunkler Nougat, salzig-mineralisch, jetzt noch nicht zu öffnen, sonst unbedingt vier bis sechs Stunden dekantieren.* - 02/2022

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate - 93pts - NM: *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.* -04/2014

Vinum Magazin – 20/20pts: *Dieser Wein, der gerade in klimatisch komplizierten Jahren besonders klassisch gerät, lässt uns einmal mehr sprachlos. Superber Bau, mit blumig fruchtig -würziger Komplexität, Klasse-Tannin, wie mit dem Laser geschnitten.*

WeinWisser – 19/20pts: *Verhaltener Beginn, mit Anklängen an frischen grünen Pfeffer, Wildkirsche, getrockneten Thymian und schwarze Oliven. Im zweiten Ansatz Preiselbeersaft, helles Edelholz und Brasiltabak. Am eleganten Gaumen mit straffem perfekt ausgereiftem Tanningerüst, feiner Grip, körniges Extrakt, mit ungeheurer Finesse ausgestattet, perfekt modellierter Körper wie ein Marathonläufer. Im konzentrierten Finale fliegt der Wein wie ein Pfeil ins Schwarze, besticht durch Finesse, dank der Säure und perfekt reifer Tannine. Grandioser Job im Weinberg und Keller!* - 12/2021

(04/12): *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. (93-96/100)*

JancisRobinson.com – 17/20pts – JR: *Tasted blind. Mid garnet. Very nicely integrated and appealing on the nose. Pretty even if not that intense. Great balance. Not a blockbuster but with far more charm than one associates with this vintage. Sweet biscuits on the nose.* - 10/2021

Vinous.com - 91+pts - ID: *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.* -07/2014

Vinous.com – 93 pts – NM: *The 2011 Château Margaux has a more open-knit bouquet with brambly red fruit than its peers with notes of sage, leather and tobacco, perhaps a little more animally than its peers? The palate is medium-bodied with chewy tannins on the entry, plenty of tobacco-stained black fruit, pencil box and white pepper, fanning out with confidence on the finish that has just a little dryness. Tasted blind at the annual 10-Year-On tasting.* - 09/2021