Château Margaux | 1995

In the 12th century, the estate known as “La Mothe de Margaux” was a getaway for royals, but there were no vineyards until the d'Aulède family cultivated vines in the 1600s. By the late 17th century, the estate expanded to 265 hectares, with approximately one-third planted to vines—a recipe that has remained nearly constant into the present day. During a dismal Bordeaux market in the 1970s, Greek businessman André Mentzelopoulos bought Château Margaux for 72 million francs (around $17 million at the time). In 1980, his daughter, Corinne Mentzelopoulos, took the reins and transformed the estate into a billion-dollar enterprise. Remarkably, with fewer than 100 full-time employees, Château Margaux ranks among the smallest billion-dollar companies in the world. Today, Corinne’s children, Alexis and Alexandra, serve as the estate’s bright new leaders.

For the past three decades, Château Margaux has been an icon of sophistication. Unlike many other first growths, its vineyards are within eyes of the Château, and the final blend of the Grand Vin is heavily weighted towards Cabernet Sauvignon (85%). Often described as “elegant,” these wines are anything but light. They are well-structured with robust Left Bank character, layered with seemingly infinite gobs of velvety fruit. While the exuberant 1996 vintage often steals the spotlight, the 1995 vintage is a pitch-perfect classic Margaux. Antonio Galloni notes, “It may not possess the intensity or crystalline nature of 1996, but it offers a femininity and finesse that captivates.” For those looking to commemorate a special 30th anniversary, birthday, or milestone in the coming year, a bottle of the timeless 1995 Château Margaux would be nothing short of extraordinary. ~Allegra A