Margaux
Styles
Principal grape varieties
Varieties of interest
Terroir
Natural factors
- 4 communes in the Gironde on gravelly terraces; the largest communal appellation in the Médoc (1,490 ha, average 60,900 hl).
- Soils derived from Plio-Quaternary fluvial deposits arranged in terraces between 6 and 33 m in elevation, drained by a dense hydrographic network.
- Temperate oceanic climate: the Atlantic and the Gironde provide a moderating thermal effect, while autumn depressions bring rainfall that drives vintage-to-vintage variation. (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)
Human factors
- From the 16th century onward, prominent Bordeaux families established the 'bourdieux', forerunners of today's châteaux; by around 1760 the modern vineyard landscape was essentially in place.
- The AOC Margaux, delimited to its 5 communes by a court ruling of 3 December 1923, was officially recognised by decree on 10 August 1954.
Product characteristics
- Red wines of intense colour, finesse, and fruity aromas, with a remarkable capacity for ageing (over 50 years for exceptional vintages).
- Merlot contributes roundness and generosity, underpinning the so-called 'feminine', less tannic profile that sets Margaux apart from other Médoc appellations.
Terroir / wine link
- Proximity to the estuary shields the vineyard from climatic extremes, contributing to the overall quality of the wines.
Facts drawn from the cahier's terroir-link section (Lien au terroir) by automatic interpretation — see the source.