Peace year Ch Margaux, 1945

1945 Château Margaux;

It's always very special to try a wine from 1945. Again, a bit worried about the mid shoulder fill. Ruby, with brick rim, very mature, leather, apples, plums, takes about ten to fifteen minutes before the floral and violet notes arrive, figs, fine black tea, think the tea department at Fortnum & Mason in Piccadilly, some volatile high-notes in the back, not quite the 61 but a beauty. Minerals. Fresh acidity, elegant texture, ripe tannins, elegant body as well, not too intense on the palate, all about layers and elegance, not power and fruit, long finish. 93

Broadbent: A magnificent wine. Nothing fragile and feminine about this 45, at least not in its early years. From start, very deep in colour with a beautiful richness and intensity; in the 1970s with Latour-like massiveness and tannin. Its fragrance, the hallmark of Margaux, being variously described as ripe mulberry, crystallized violets, cedar, cigar box, creamy- and always glorious. On the palate its initial tannins ameliorating, now soft and velvety. 2000 *****

Some change during the last ten years it seems in the style, but I have a feeling that our bottle was not a perfect one.

And a few words from Ch Margaux:

1945 Château Margaux

1945 is a legendary year! In symbolic fashion, a great vintage came along to celebrate the end of the Second World War… Château Margaux 1945 is a very powerful, concentrated, mature wine, with a fine, complex bouquet, which is more elegant than the 1947 and 1949, which seem to have been more affected by the extreme heat of the summer. This wine possesses all the attributes of an outstandingly great vintage of its generation. The tannic freshness remains present on the palate and will very probably enable it to age even longer. (September 2002)