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Bordeaux 2007 four years on: Margaux

Written by JW. Posted in Bordeaux

Chateau Palmer: one of the best Margaux 2007s

Usual mixed back in this appellation with diverse terroir, blends and wine-making styles. The best 2007s are worth considering at the right price. These include Chateau Palmer, Chateau d’Issan, Chateau Lascombes and Chateau Rauzan Ségla, but there are many here to avoid. 2008 is a slightly better bet, 2009 certainly so.

Chateau Brane-Cantenac

Mid depth; darkish; some coffee and leaf; earthy and some bell pepper/capsicum notes; feels a bit tight, angular and not at all generous; thin and mean though not over extracted. May come good with another year or so? 86?/100

Chateau Cantenac Brown

Deepish, dark at core, saturated looking; earthy, peaty nose with smoke and some sweet oak and stalky blackcurrants too; ripe red fruits on the palate along with chewy blackcurrant fruit, stalks and lots of grip; still pretty angular and grippy with acid but the flesh is there at present. 87/100

Chateau Dauzac

Deepish; earthy red at edge; some spice, coffee, fresh blackcurrant notes without the leafy, peaty notes; extracted palate; tannin feels dry and chewy, starting to meld maybe, but inky certainly. Fraction short. 84/100

Chateau Desmirail

Mid depth, dark at centre, red edge; earthy and meaty note; some tobacco; quite forward and developed; solid meat and tobacco flavours on the palate, quite chewy, lacks finesse, dryish tannin but just enough ripeness to get by. Shortish finish. 85/100

Chateau d’Issan

Mid depth, earthy, reductive nose; feral and a bit farty, could do with decanting; meaty flavours on the palate, ripe and more polish than the nose suggests; quite harmonious. 87+/100

Chateau Durfort-Vivens

Mid depth, quite dark at centre; dusty tannic nose; some spice and blackcurrants on the palate but lacks joy; angular and dry and tannin very dry and chewy. Not sure where this is headed? 84?/100

Chateau du Tertre

Deepish, earthy red at edge; some leafy Cabernet; very light palate which lacks depth; feels thin; some chew on the finish and grip but overall feels light and dilute. 84?/100

Chateau Giscours

Mid depth, darkish central core; leafy, spicy herbaceous nose; some lifted blackcurrant notes too; feels a little green; leafy, tobacco and blackcurrant, some and light palate, feels a bit dilute with a streak of green; harmonious and drinkable effort though in its way and not over extracted. 87/100

Chateau Kirwan

Deep and dark; ripe, mineral, wet rocks, slightly Northern Rhone-ish; blackcurrants; some ripeness  here; blackcurrants on the palate, quite angular, green tannin but reasonable effort. 86/100

Chateau Lascombes

Mid depth; lifted violets and floral tones, feels very Margaux like, quite seductive; some leaf and slightly green coffee bean streak; palate polished, easy and attractive with harmony. This feels a successful effort. 88+/100

Chateau Margaux

Mid depth; some spice and lift; fresh blackcurrant, some tobacco; some resin and camphor notes but lacks the apparent depth of Lafite and Mouton on the nose; spicy blackcurrants on the palate; velvet quality; much better palate; elegant and balanced. Pretty composed, elegant style. 92/100

Chateau Marquis d’Alesme

Mid red; some leaf and lift; quite light; red fruits, some sappy fruit and grip on the palate but rather green tannin on finish. 84/100

Chateau Marquis de Terme

Mid depth; some feral/earthy tones; tea and tobacco too; palate lacks fruit, feels tannic and lacks depth. 82/100

Chateau Palmer

Nice deep colour; looks promising; legs; earthy notes followed by meaty tones; some plushness; pretty full and deep; blackcurrant notes; nice palate and feels like really fine Bordeaux; chewy tannin but sufficient density of flavour. Excellent length. Very successful effort for the vintage. 92+/100

Chateau Prieuré-Lichine

Deep and dark; muscular feel if a little dusty; solid palate, grip; chunky and lacks harmony but good body and chew. 86/100

Chateau Rauzan-Gassies

Deep; some lifted ripe red fruits; some wet stone and leaf; modest palate; red fruits lacks a bit of depth but not a bad effort for the vintage or this property. Elegant if light. 86/100

Chateau Rauzan-Ségla

Mid red; not huge depth; some earthy tobacco notes and cool Cabernet freshness; clean; ripe entry; quite solid and structured; depth to the palate; chewy tannin; grippy but not a bad effort. 88+/100

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