Tasting Notes
Neal Martin 90
It is many years since I tasted the 1979 Château Margaux, so long that it simply possesses the far-off afterglow of what was a lovely wine. Now? It has a slightly deeper hue than I recall. The nose is a little frayed at the edges, but it coheres with a couple of hours of decanting, vestiges of brambly red fruit, old school desk, cedar and pressed rose aromas. The palate has probably lost some cohesion in recent years, though a core of red fruit commingles with cedar, mint and tobacco notes. Judging by this bottle, it is a Margaux that ought to be drunk sooner rather than later, though it still stands up in the context of a mediocre growing season. Tasted at the Complete Bordeaux Tasting dinner at Hedonism.
Anticipated maturity: 2024-2032
Wine Advocate 91
A deep garnet core. A knock-out nose of ripe raspberry, burnt toast and roasted herbs. The palate was initially quite aggressive and tannic (just as Michael Broadbent comments) but with an hour in the glass, the wine smoothes out, though loses its fruit intensity and finesse. Not as elegant as the 1978, but still a fine Margaux for the vintage, though not in the league of the 1980`s wine. A burly, masculine Margaux to be drunk before 2006. Tasted April 2003.
Anticipated maturity: 1999-2006
