Margaux 1994 (750ML)

93 WA / 91+ RP

Tasted at 28-50 restaurant at the 1994 dinner. The Chateau Margaux was easily the best wine of the night of 1994 Left Banks and better than Mouton and even better than the same wine tasted at the property twelve hours earlier. The reason is the life-affirming minerality and precision that acts as its badge confirming its status. The palate is extremely well balanced, showing up its less refined tannins. Along with Latour this is probably the finest Left Bank wine of the vintage. Sheer class. Drink now-2022. Tasted November 2011. - Neal Martin, Wine Advocate

This largely forgotten vintage seems to have turned the corner in the last year or two. Because of strict selections made at the top chateaux, the wines always had density, but the level of tannin was frequently too high, and the type of tannin was more green and astringent. Chateau Margaux’s 1994 has always been one of the candidates for the “wine of the vintage.” The wine still has a dense plum/purple color and a big, sweet nose of black fruits intermixed with licorice, camphor, vanilla, and a hint of flowers. The wine is dense and powerful, but the tannins have softened and do not seem as hard and intrusive as they did in the late nineties. This wine will last for decades and hopefully become even more seamless, although it is hard to believe all the tannin will gradually dissipate. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2025. - Robert Parker