1. Home/
  2. Wine Directory/
  3. France/
  4. Bordeaux/
  5. 2018 Chateau Margaux Premier Cru Classe, Margaux

$MARG 

2018 Chateau Margaux Premier Cru Classe, Margaux

Bottle size (ML)

Current price

$2,825
Chateau Margaux Premier Cru Classe, Margaux 10127812018

Start Your Wine Collection with 2018 Chateau Margaux Premier Cru Classe, Margaux

  • IconBegin your portfolio with a prestigious wine that has a history of growth.
  • IconEnjoy fully managed, secure storage facilities with insurance coverage.
  • IconGet expert advice on when to hold and when to sell.

Critics Scores

WINE ENTHUSIAST
99

Wine Enthusiast

It is impressive how the serious structure of this wine has been totally absorbed by the depth of fruit. A dense black currant flavor and bright acidity are balanced by the core of dark tannins and an overall richness. Currently, the end is dominated with tannins that will allow the wine to age.

JAMES SUCKLING
100

James Suckling

Wow. This takes off on the palate the moment you taste it. Aromas and flavors of redcurrants, flowers, cherries and hints of hazelnuts. Full-bodied, tight and compact, but the linear tannins, running down the center of the wine, draw the wine through the finish. Superb.

DECANTER
98

Decanter

Without doubt an incredible Margaux, although whether it will equal the 2015 remains to be seen. It's less serious than the 2016 but every bit as good, floating above the palate, performing that acrobatic trick that only happens in the really great years. It's silky yet intense and powerful, with sweet, fleshy and succulent raspberry cut through with fresh rosemary and sage that add texture and grip. The menthol side of the Cabernet is already coming through, which suggests the fruit was just perfectly ripe - these are aromatics that you don't get in true heatwave years like 2003. The flavours stretch out, gently gripping and keeping you involved in what.

ROBERT PARKER'S WINE ADVOCATE
100

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The 2018 Château Margaux is made of 90 Cabernet Sauvignon, 4 Merlot, 4 Cabernet Franc and 2 Petit Verdot. The grand vin represents 36 of the crop this year. The wine has a pH of 3.8 and 14 alcohol. Deep purple-black in color, it comes prancing out of the glass with energetic Morello cherries, black raspberries and blackberry pie scents plus nuances of fragrant soil, candied violets, lavender, sandalwood, unsmoked cigars and black olives with a gentle wave of cassis and licorice emerging with coaxing. Full-bodied, the palate is charged with the most amazing energy, delivering layer after layer of red and black fruits with tons of earthy nuances, framed by the most exquisitely ripe, fine-grained tannins, finishing with amazing freshness and an extraordinarily long-lingering perfume. Magnificent.

JEB DUNNUCK
100

Jeb Dunnuck

One of the wines of the vintage on the Left Bank is the 2018 Château Margaux, a blend of 90 Cabernet Sauvignon, 4 each of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, and the balance Petit Verdot. A thrilling, sensational Margaux that reminds me of the 2015 at this stage, it reveals a saturated purple/blue color as well as heavenly notes of black raspberries, blueberries, cassis, spring flowers, high-class smoke tobacco, and graphite. Deep, full-bodied, and seamless, it builds incrementally on the palate and carries masses of fine tannins, no hard edges, and awesome purity of fruit. Given its purity, depth of fruit, and texture, it’s going to be approachable with just short-term cellaring, but I suspect it won’t start to hit prime time for at least a decade.

Region Summary

Located in southwest France, Bordeaux is home to some of the most famous, expensive, and sought-after wines in the world. Even in an increasingly competitive industry, the region reigns supreme with the largest market share by value. With everything from classic red blends to sumptuous whites, it’s easy to see why Bordeaux is the epicenter of the fine wine universe.

Why We're Investing

Bordeaux has long set the market for fine wine. To understand why, we need to take a journey back in time. In 1855, Bordeaux's Syndicate of Courtier created a first-of-its-kind wine classification system at the behest of Napolean III, the emperor of France. The courtiers divided châteaux into five tiers to help people understand which wineries were worth a splurge (first and second growths) and which ones were just okay (fifth growths). Despite its flaws, of which there are several, this historical ranking system is still in use today. The 1855 Bordeaux Classification fostered near-mythic reputations around first and second growth producers. As a result, these brands trade at a premium and do not endure the same fluctuations in demand as other lower-tier producers. More importantly, the Bordeaux Classification is borderline permanent for châteaux on the Left Bank. Since its inception, only two changes have been made. The permanence creates a rigid hierarchy where châteaux are valued by their name and classification. Even if an estate changes ownership, merges with another winery, or makes better wine, it will still be judged primarily on its name and classification. By comparison, wines in Burgundy are evaluated on their vineyards instead of the name on the label. Here’s another way to think about it: the most revered châteaux today are largely the same as the ones in 1855. For buyers, that means one thing: predictability. They can rely on steady performance from Left Bank châteaux over the long run, with ups or downs depending on the vintage. The Right Bank uses a different classification system that is a little less permanent, but the benefits for top estates are no less impactful. The one wild card is the weather. For the most part, Bordeaux has a mild maritime climate. Summers rarely exceed 86°F (30°C), and winters seldom dip below freezing. However, frost and mildew can topple the grape cart. Bordeaux’s proximity to the Atlantic Ocean means winter air may become trapped in the vineyards and decimate a harvest. Small annual weather differences contribute to significant vintage variations, making Bordeaux a fascinating region to follow. Case and point: Bordeaux’s en primeur campaign, also known as wine futures. Each year, people can invest in a wine vintage while it is still in the barrel. The campaign gives châteaux an influx of capital and wine enthusiasts the possibility of buying wine below market value. Because the château names and classifications remain static, people often turn to the vintage quality and critic scores to determine investment-worthiness. It should come as no surprise that excellent vintages like 2008 and 2019 have handsomely rewarded those who invested en primeur.

What's the Latest

Once upon a time, Bordeaux had a stranglehold on the wine industry. According to Liv-ex, it accounted for more than 96 of the wine traded by value on the secondary market. That stranglehold has loosened in recent years. In 2021, Bordeaux’s trade share slipped below 40 for the first time. The following year, it hit 32. Tuscany and Napa Valley have gained ground in that time. However, Burgundy remains the biggest threat to Bordeaux’s crown, eclipsing Bordeaux in price performance and the number of unique wines traded per year. Don’t feel too bad for Bordeaux. It’s still thriving at auctions. In March 2019, a seven-hour auction of Château Lafite Rothschild brought in $7.86 million. A few days later, bottles of Bordeaux and Burgundy wines sold for $30 million, setting the record for the most expensive private wine collection. That’s not all. Demand is growing well beyond its biggest and brightest names. In 2010, first growths made up 61.9 of Bordeaux’s total market share. As of 2022, that number has dropped to 32.6. In that time, the number of Bordeaux wines traded on the secondary market has doubled, allowing lower-tier Bordeaux wines with attractive prices to share in the spotlight.

Looking Forward

Even amid economic headwinds, Bordeaux delivers exactly what consumers want - high-quality wines, sufficient volume, and (mostly) reasonable prices. While the region wouldn’t deliver instant returns aside from a fortuitous en primeur campaign, top tier châteaux have a long track record of enriching patient collectors. Any portfolio with Bordeaux can expect an unmatched combination of liquidity, brand strength, and quality. The region is ideal for anyone looking to minimize risk over the long term. Even with competitors coming for its throne, Bordeaux should maintain its status as a portfolio cornerstone for years to come.