The 2018 Chateau Margaux is a stunningly refined and powerful wine, dominated by 90% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deeply concentrated, it offers aromas of ripe blackberries, currants, dark chocolate, and subtle floral notes. The wine's seamless tannins and vibrant freshness provide a perfect structure, making it both approachable now and poised for incredible aging. A true classic Margaux, it's expected to evolve beautifully over the next few decades, showcasing its full potential by 2027 and beyond.

Scroll down for expert ratings, detailed tasting notes, and what makes this vintage truly stand out.

The Wine Advocate | RP 100
Published: Mar 31, 2021
Drink: 2027-2067

The 2018 Chateau Margaux is composed of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, representing 36% of the crop this year. The wine has a pH of 3.8 and 14% alcohol. Deep purple-black in color, it slowly unfurls to reveal tantalizing scents of creme de cassis, wild blueberries and Black Forest cake with hints of redcurrant jelly, rose oil, dark chocolate and cedar chest plus a touch of star anise. The medium to full-bodied palate bursts with opulent black fruit, fragrant earth and floral layers, supported by a rock-solid structure of exquisitely ripe, finely grained tannins and seamless backbone of freshness, finishing with fantastic length. This is classic Margaux at its most seductive, although it is, rather amazingly, approachable and absolutely delicious right now. But, to enjoy its full glory, you will want to cellar it for at least 6-8 years and then watch it metamorphize over the next 40 years. 

Jamessuckling.com | JS 100
Published: Jan 14, 2021

So much ash, tobacco and earth to the bright blackberry and currant aromas. Flowers too. Fresh. Full-bodied with seamless tannins that spread across your palate and caress every square centimeter. It’s shows loads of ripe-berry, cherry, currant and chocolate character, as well as walnut and light cedar. Then the finish goes on for minutes. Extremely refined and elegant, despite the structure. 90% cabernet sauvignon, 4% cabernet franc, 4% merlot and 2% petit verdot. A joy to taste, but drink after 2025.

Decanter | D 98
Published: Nov 10, 2020
Drink: 2030-2050

This is extremely powerful, with high tannin levels that are beautifully velvety and a real presence that is going to need a good 15 years before it softens. There are layers and layers of subtlety here, charcoal, earth, fresh acidity - a ton of serious character that needs time to inch towards opening. Grips on like a limpet - this needs a good half an hour in the glass to even begin to open, but as it does so you see clearly the finesse and precision of the fruit construction. Exceptionally good. 3.64pH, 2% Petit Verdot completes the blend, 36% of the harvest in the first wine. Bottled mid-September.
Closure: Cork
Alcohol: 14.00%
Body: Full
Oak: Oaked
Grapes: 4% Cabernet Franc 90% Cabernet Sauvignon 4% Merlot

Jancisrobinson.com | JR 18
Published: Feb 10, 2022
Drink: 2028-2048

Tasted blind. Light animal note on the nose. Rich but in medium mode rather than top-drawer mode. Neat and very good but just a little more restrained than the finest. Long though. Easy to overlook.

Chateau-margaux.com

Château Margaux 2018 is one of the best wines to be produced on the Estate in recent years even taking into consideration the extraordinary quality of the 2015 and 2016 vintages! Château Margaux 2018 is remarkably concentrated. A small grape size and relatively low yields largely explain the exceptionally high tannin indices. The wine's power is not, however, overwhelming and helps to considerably lengthen the aromas and structure of the finish. Fairly early in the wine-making process, we understood this tannic potential and moderated our extraction programs including for our Merlot plots, which are usually less dense than our fine Cabernet Sauvignon wines. The latter still forms the heart of Château Margaux, accounting for 90% of the blend. They limit the alcohol content to 14° in these weather conditions. This wine's blend is completed by 4% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Château Margaux represents 36% of the harvest.