1996 Chateau Margaux (12-bottle case)
1996 Chateau Margaux (12-bottle case)
1996 birthday & anniversary vintage red wine for sale.
This fine estate has existed since at least the twelfth century, when it was a castle known as “La Mothe”, derived from “motte”, the Médocain word for a small hill. Pierre de Lestonnac planted vines in the 1570s and initiated winemaking here. Upon his death the d’Aulède family acquired Margaux, which by this time was a large estate of 265 hectares, a third of which was vineyards. It has changed relatively little since then.
By the eighteenth century Château Margaux was a wine of renown. In 1776, it was the first claret to be sold at auction by Christie’s, Margaux being noted in the catalogue as ”excellent claret with a fine flavour, from the 1771 vintage”. During his visit to Bordeaux in 1787, Thomas Jefferson noted Margaux as one of the “four vineyards of first quality”, an opinion that was formalised in 1855 when Margaux was one of four estates to be classified as “Premier Cru”. The Marquis de Colonilla built the magnificent neo-Palladian château from 1810 onwards. Louis Combes, who was also the architect of Bordeaux’s Grand Théâtre, designed it.
Although great wines were made in favourable vintages (such as 1900, 1945 and 1961), Margaux underachieved for many years. Its return to greatness began when Greek-born businessman André Mentzelopoulos purchased the estate in 1976. Investments were made in the vineyards and winery and Émile Peynaud was recruited as consultant oenologist. There was an immediate improvement: the generally underwhelming 1978 and 1979 vintages were great successes at Margaux.
André Mentzelopoulos died in 1980 and was succeeded by his daughter Corinne. In partnership with the late Paul Pontallier, who joined Margaux as General Manager in 1983, a succession of brilliant wines has been made.
Price: £10,280
Vintage: 1996
Classification: First Growth | Premier Cru
Country: France
Region: Bordeaux | Margaux
Grape Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon | Merlot
Private cellar via UK merchant.
(BAJ)
Currently stored In Bond (IB) at LCB and available ex-VAT.