Corinne Mentzelopoulos and general manager Paul Pontallier have crafted truly great red Bordeaux now for upwards of two decades. The wine is not only remarkably elegant, with the unmistakably intense perfume of the appellation, but also enormously rich. Loaded with dense but supple tannins, Margaux is remarkably powerful and needs a minimum of 10–12 years’ ageing to begin to reveal itself. Meticulous care in the vineyard and at harvest, along with traditional vinification in wooden fermenters, defines the style and quality. The second label, Pavillon Rouge, ensures the integrity of the Grand Vin but is itself regularly very impressive. As well as the 82 ha of red varieties planted there are some 12 ha of Sauvignon Blanc, which produce an intense floral, grassy and complex white sold under the humble Bordeaux AC. Among the great years are 2009, 06, 04, 03, 01, 00, 99, 96, 95, 90, 86, 83, 82, 79 and 78, with 2005 and 2010 being the vintages of the decade. Surprisingly the wine was very uneven prior to this and the Mentzelopoulos family involvement.
