Château Margaux Margaux 2018

100 points Lisa Perrotti-Brown (Wine Advocate): "The 2018 Château 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 crème 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. Drink: 2027-2067. (3/31/21)"

100 points Jeb Dunnuck: "Based on 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% each of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot, the 2018 Château Margaux is a magical, incredibly sexy expression of this Château that sports a dense purple color as well as a thrilling bouquet of blueberries, cassis, acacia flowers, scorched earth, sandalwood, and violets. Incredibly concentrated and full-bodied on the palate, it nevertheless has an almost Burgundian sense of finesse and elegance, with an ethereal texture, silky yet massive amounts of tannins, notable freshness, and brilliant length. The alcohol hit a whopping 14%, which is high by this estate's standards, but everything is flawlessly integrated, the balance is perfect, and I certainly can't find anything that could be better. This 2018 is going to be relatively drinkable at an early age (do your best to hide bottles for 7-8 years) yet last for 75+. Drink: 2028-2103. (3/11/21)"

100 points James Suckling: "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. (1/14/21)"

99 points Lisa Perrotti-Brown (The Wine Independent): "Chateau Margaux 2018 is deep garnet-purple in color. It wafts gently out of the glass with notes of Morello cherries, black raspberries, and cassis, plus suggestions of cedar, black olives, and charcoal, with a touch of wood smoke. Medium-bodied, the palate is very refreshing and finely knit with exquisitely ripe tannins and so many delicate layers, finishing with epic length. Drink: 2027-2062. (2/9/23)"

99 points La Revue du Vin de France: "Another legend arrives: with notes of black fruit and white pepper, 2018 shows impressive concentration, perfectly managed by the wine's silkiness. Enrobed by silky tannins, it delivers an impressive finish that lasts well over a minute and leaves a fresh impression. (2022)"

98+ points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "The 2018 Margaux is an infant. Today, the tannins are unusually searing, but then again, the 2018 is a wine in which all the elements are dialed up to the maximum. Time in the glass releases the fruit, revealing a luxurious, opulent Château Margaux built for the cellar. Cedar, tobacco, dried flowers and mint develop with a bit of coaxing. Rich, deep and utterly beguiling, the 2018 is a dramatic wine that will thrill readers lucky enough to own it. Drink: 2028-2058. (Mar 2021)"

98 points Jane Anson (Decanter): "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. Drinking Window: 2030-2050. (11/10/20)"

98 points Wine Spectator: "This struts along with supreme confidence, as a cashmere-textured structure effortlessly carries a prodigious set of warmed cassis, plum reduction and blackberry compote flavors, pulling in alder, bergamot, black and red tea and iron notes. Still manages to come across as restrained in the end. A beautiful wine. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2028 through 2040. (3/31/21)"

98 points Wine Enthusiast: "While this wine reflects the richness and density of the vintage, it also shows all the elegance of which a great Margaux is capable. The wine is powerful and beautifully structured, both ripe and restrained. It will age magnificently. Start to think about drinking from 2028. Alcohol 14%. (May 2021)"

98 points Peter Moser (Falstaff): "Dark ruby garnet, opaque core, purple reflections and fine watery rim. Sweet tobacco on the nose with juicy dark berry fruit, delicate cassis and liquorice, fine noble wood and underlying red berry notes. Opens up nicely in the glass. Juicy, ripe cherry, blackberry conserve, silky, supporting tannins, red berry notes and beautifully fresh with salty minerality. This has already reached an approachably seductive early phase, but has definite ageing potential. Drinking window: 2020-2070. (2/14/21)"

99 points Chris Kissack (Winedoctor): "Terroir and variety combine in a classical style here;the gravel beds of this estate form the beating heart of the appellation, and are situated a short(ish) walk from the edge of the Gironde. This comes through in the blend, which is completely dominated by 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, the remaining 10% including all three of the other ‘usual suspects’. This takes just 36% of the crop. If you are looking for archetypal Margaux perfume you probably couldn’t do better than this, the nose leading with a delightfully lifted note of rose petal and peony, behind which come the meat of the wine, plush dark cherry fruit, with notes of white chalk, barrel spice, scented vanilla pod and currant. The nose feels taut and expressive, and the palate follows on in the same vein;it has the texture of the vintage, but it is tightly controlled and sinewy rather than fat. There is real energy and strength hiding within this wine, with a strongman’s grip of fine tannins at its heart, but they remain elegantly secreted within the palate which instead presents a wealth of spiced and polished cherry and cocoa bean. Svelte, silky even, with a slow fade into a narrowly focused and precise finish, with great definition. A very noble example of this first growth, which takes this vintage in its stride and ultimately surpasses it. The alcohol here is 14%. (Feb 2021)"