Overview
A refined expression of one of Bordeaux's most celebrated First Growth estates, the 1997 Château Margaux is defined by elegance, aromatic finesse and balance rather than sheer density. Château Margaux itself describes the vintage as a true success in a challenging year, with beautifully integrated tannins and an already harmonious profile.
Vintage
The season began with particularly dry and warm conditions and an early but prolonged flowering period. July was dry and hot, while August was both rainy and very warm, increasing disease pressure in the vineyard. Conditions improved dramatically from the beginning of September, with hot and very dry weather continuing through the end of harvest. Picking began on 15 September.
Vineyard
Château Margaux's vineyards lie in the Margaux appellation of the Médoc, where gravel-rich soils over chalky clay are particularly well suited to Cabernet Sauvignon. The Grand Vin is Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant, complemented by Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc.
Winemaking
The Grand Vin of Château Margaux is produced through rigorous selection from vineyard to cellar. The estate states that the wine is aged for an average of 21 months in new French oak barrels, with around 40% of the harvest selected for the Grand Vin depending on the vintage.
Producer Tasting Notes
Château Margaux, October 2025:
“The generally adverse weather conditions in August prevented the grapes from reaching the concentration achieved in great vintages. However, the exceptional weather in September and during the harvest brought them to an excellent level of ripeness.
Château Margaux 1997 stands out for its great elegance and aromatic finesse—worthy of the finest vintages—as well as 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 for it to be a true great vintage.
It can be enjoyed now, as it already offers great pleasure, but there’s no rush—quite the opposite. A true success in a vintage often regarded as challenging.”
Critic Reviews
95 Points — Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate
Tasted July 2000
Drinking Window: 2008–2025.
94 Points — Giuseppe Lauria, Fine Wine Guide
Tasted April 2017
93 Points — Falstaff
Tasted January 2004
“Strong ruby garnet, violet rim brightening, wonderful roasted aromas on the nose, seductive sweetness of a typical Margaux, elegant, with silky tannins, fine chocolate coating, young and yet already very inviting, fine tannins on the finish.”
92 Points — Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider
Tasted November 2017
“Medium bodied, elegant, softer style of wine, which is stronger on the nose, with its earthy, cigar box, cherry pipe tobacco, forest aromas and hint of floral notes, than on the lighter fruited palate, which shows its warm, cherry notes, herbs, and wet earth well. Splash decanted, the wine was much better than expected from such a difficult vintage, especially at only a few weeks shy of its 21st birthday.”
Awards
3 Stars Coup de Coeur — Le Guide Hachette des Vins
1997 Vintage, awarded 2001.
Producer
Château Margaux has been classified as a Premier Grand Cru Classé since 1855 and is renowned for combining finesse, elegance and exceptional ageing potential. Its history as a recognised fine-wine estate stretches back centuries, and the Grand Vin remains the purest expression of the château's terroir and meticulous selection.
Specifications
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Vintage: 1997
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Producer: Château Margaux
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Grape Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc
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Region: Margaux, Médoc, Bordeaux, France
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Classification: Premier Grand Cru Classé, 1855 Classification
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Alcohol: 12.5%
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Sweetness: Dry
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Maturation: Approximately 21 months in new French oak barrels
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Winemaker: Paul Pontallier
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Harvest: Picking began 15 September 1997
