The Wine Advocate | RP 95
Published: Jul 31, 2008

The best of the First Growth ‘97s. A limpid, garnet/ruby core with ruby rim. The nose is exquisite with great delineation and purity with much more vigour that the other Firsts. Mint, blackberries, violets and blueberries all leap from the glass, oblivious to the fact that they stem from a poor vintage. The palate has a slightly voluptuous feel to it, rounded black fruits, raspberry, cassis, tobacco, graphite and a touch of Asian spice towads the finish. Sheer class. A superb success for Paul Pontallier in a difficult vintage. Drink now-2025. Tasted September 2006. Drink Date: 2008-2025

Chateau-margaux.com

The generally adverse weather conditions during the month of August prevented the grapes from acquiring the concentration achieved in great vintages. However, the exceptional weather in September and during the harvest helped to produce an excellent level of ripeness.

The Château Margaux 1997 is remarkable for its great elegance and aromatic finesse, which are worthy of the great vintages, and also for its harmony and balance on the palate where the tannins are well integrated and almost smooth already. All that is missing in fact is a little density and depth in order to be a true great vintage.
This wine is already so enjoyable, it can be drunk now, but there is no rush, quite the contrary. This is a real success in a vintage often considered complicated. ( October 2018)

Climate
After a particularly dry and warm start to the year and an early but long, drawn-out flowering, July was dry and hot and August was rainy and very hot, resulting in the threat of disease in the vines. Fortunately, at the beginning of September, hot and very dry weather set in until the end of the harvest. (The picking began on 15th September)