Margaux AOC
Margaux is a wine growing commune and
Geography
As well as Margaux itself, the appellation includes the villages of Cantenac, Arsac, Soussans and Labarde.[2] It is on the left bank of the Gironde. It is the southernmost appellation in the Médoc (the haut in Haut-Médoc refers to the fact that it lies upstream), not far north of Bordeaux itself.[3] To the east is the Landes forest. The soil is the thinnest in the Médoc, with the highest proportion of gravel.[4] (The generally perceived opinion being that poor soil makes good wine.[5]) The gravel provides good drainage.[6] The forest to the west shelters the vines from Atlantic breezes.[7] Margaux contains 1413 hectares of vineyards, making it the second largest appellation in the Haut-Médoc (after Saint-Estèphe).[8] The châteaux are concentrated in the village, and the vineyards are more intermingled than elsewhere.[9] The vines ripen 7–10 days before the rest of the Médoc.[10]
Wine
Wine from Margaux may be labelled as Haut-Médoc (usually wine which the château considers inferior to its main offering and wishes to market under a different label).[13] It would also be possible (though unusual) for the wine to be labelled using the Médoc AOC or one of the Regional Bordeaux AOCs.
Châteaux
First growth
Second growths
Château Rauzan-Ségla, Château Rauzan-Gassies, Château Durfort-Vivens, Château Lascombes, Château Brane-Cantenac
Third growths
Château Kirwan, Château d'Issan, Château Giscours, Château Malescot St. Exupéry, Château Cantenac-Brown, Château Boyd-Cantenac, Château Palmer, Château Desmirail, Château Ferrière, Château Marquis d'Alesme Becker
Fourth growths
Château Pouget, Château Prieuré-Lichine, Château Marquis de Terme
Fifth growths
Château Dauzac, Château du Tertre
Notable unclassed châteaux
Château Bel Air Marquis d'Aligre, Château Monbrison, Château Siran, Château Labégorce-Zédé, Château La Tour de Mons, Château La Gurgue, Château Labégorce, Château d'Angludet
Notes
References
- Clarke, Oz (2005). Oz Clarke's New Essential Wine Book (3rd ed.). New York: Websters International Publishers and Octopus Publishing Group.
- Johnson, Hugh (1994). World Atlas of Wine (4th ed.). London: Octopus Publishing Group Ltd.
- Rowe, David (1999). Collins Gem Wine Dictionary. Glasgow: HarperCollins Publishers.