2012 Margaux, Margaux

Serena Sutcliffe, MW: 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot. This is a third of the total production. A very complete wine with glorious, bloomy fruit from the start. Very juicy with great harmony of tannin, fruit and acidity.

Jamie Ritchie: Very perfumed and aromatic. Redcurrants and blackcurrants. Seamless, polished and harmonious - everything in balance: tannin, fruit and acidity. Lots of finesse and great length. Very successful. 94-96

Representative blend: 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc

Annual production: 29,000 cases of Grand Vin and Pavillon Rouge (the second label) and around 3000 cases of Pavillon Blanc, a 100% Sauvignon Blanc

One of the most hallowed names in wine, Margaux has an allure to it which has proved irresistible to drinkers for centuries. Sited on arguably the most perfect terroir for Cabernet Sauvignon in Bordeaux, the sheer first growth nobility of the property comes across on the nose every time: a perfume of stunning complexity and beauty. The neo-classical building, perhaps the ulimate image of Bordeaux to outsiders, also helps the cause. But ultimately, this is wine lovers` wine, exemplary year by year and just more beautiful with age. Under winemaker Paul Pontallier and the ownership of the Mentzelopoulos family since the late 1970s, the property has gone from strength to strength.