Chateau Margaux 1979-2005 25 Bottle Vertical Collector's Set (Excl. 2000 & 2001), 750 ml CA ONLY (PRE-SALE)

This is Pre-Sale only.  Please contact the buying staff to arrange order and pickup.  You will be charged at the time of placing the order.  This item is not refundable. This item will need to be picked up at Costco Burbank Business Center, 11428 Sherman Way, North Hollywood, CA.  For more details email abrahamgutierrez@costco.com and myi@costco.com

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History
This 25 bottle collection is a limited release from Chateau Margaux and is a unique opportunity to acquire a plethora of consecutive vintages all at once! The set contains 1 x 750ml bottle of each vintage (excluding 2000 and 2001).
Chateau Margaux is one of the most prestigious and renowned wine estates in the world. Located in the Bordeaux region of France, it produces some of the finest and most expensive wines, such as the famous red wine of the same name. Chateau Margaux has a long and rich history, dating back to the 12th century, when it was owned by the Lestonnac family. The estate has undergone several changes of ownership and improvements over the centuries, and has been classified as a First Growth in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification. Chateau Margaux is known for its elegant and complex wines, which reflect the terroir and the expertise of its winemakers.

Since the 17th Century, the first wine of Château Margaux has been recognized as being one of the greatest wines in the entire world. It owes its unique qualities to the genius of its terroir as well as to the passionate work of a succession of generations. It’s a remarkable wine that comes from a combination of characteristics that are only rarely found: finesse, elegance, complexity, density, intensity, length and freshness. Although its tannic concentration may be exceptional, it’s rare to detect astringency. The great vintages are distinguished by their formidable ability to move us. The lesser vintages give pleasure to wise enthusiasts. They offer the advantage of evolving very rapidly and reveal, after a few years, instead of power, this subtlety that is the prerogative of great terroirs. Château Margaux has an extraordinary ability to evolve. Over the years, it has developed a finesse, an aromatic complexity and a remarkable presence on the palate.

Collection


(1x) Château Margaux 1979 750ml - 93 Robert Parker
Notes from the Chateau: A very fine vintage whose style has often been compared with the 1978; it seemed to us that when one of them opened up, the other started to close again, and vice versa... But the tannins have always been more tender and soft than the 1978.  It will not likely improve with time and so, we suggest to start drinking it now or not holding it for much longer. (October 2018)

(1x) Château Margaux 1980 750ml
Notes from the Chateau: Château Margaux's success in this vintage was acknowledged by all. We were lucky to have harvested very late, after the rain, and to have done so in excellent harvesting conditions. Nevertheless, 1980 is not a great vintage: the wine has always been supple, aromatic, fine and well balanced, but it lacks power. It has developed beyond our expectations, but it is starting to dry out a bit. You should drink this wine soon. (October 2018)

(1x) Château Margaux 1981 750ml - 91 Robert Parker
Notes from the Chateau: A very good vintage, which today has perhaps turned out to be superior to 1978 and 1979. The nose displays a lot of finesse, distinction, elegance and classicism. The balance on the palate is perfect and the finish is soft and long. To be enjoyed now.before risking that the tannins will dry out. (October 2018)

(1x) Château Margaux 1982 750ml - 100 Decanter / 99 Jeb Dunnuck 
Notes from the Chateau: This wine has opened up considerably in the last 10 years and when we have the chance to compare it to the 1983, it seems slowly, but surely to take the lead, even when taking bottle variation into consideration. Château Margaux 1982 is a very powerful, fleshy and complex wine. The bouquet is already outstandingly rich and dense. The impression on the palate is at once of great power, roundness and suppleness. Such a balance is rare. A sublime wine.You can start drinking it now, but there is really no hurry... (October 2018)

(1x) Château Margaux 1983 750ml - 98 Decanter / 96 Wine Advocate
Notes from the Chateau: The spectacular success of the Margaux appellation in this vintage partly remains an enigma, which goes to show how limited our knowledge is about what makes a vintage successful… It would appear that the stormy rain showers in August were less heavy in Margaux than in other regions around Bordeaux. The 1983 Château Margaux is a very fine wine that certain tasters find better than the 1982 vintage. We have followed this pair of vintages since the beginning with curiosity and sheer pleasure without ever making a definitive judgment as to their respective qualities. Over the years, one tasted better than the other and vice-versa…

(1x) Château Margaux 1984 750ml
Notes from the Chateau: The very low percentage of Merlot in the blend and the hard-won ripening of the Cabernet Sauvignon gave this vintage, from the outset, a certain austerity and a characteristic firmness on the finish. Fortunately, the development in bottle has helped to soften the tannins. Today, the palate is softer and the nose quite remarkable.This wine is a great success for the vintage and today at its peak. (October 2018)

(1x) Château Margaux 1985 750ml - 95 Wine Advocate / 95 Decanter
Notes from the Chateau: 1985 is an outstanding vintage, as much in terms of quality as in quantity. It has always been very pleasant to drink, almost right from the end of the fermentation. The nose is still astonishingly fruity, fine and elegant and has become more developed and very complex. On the palate, we are first struck by the delicacy and charm of the particularly round and silky tannins, but the length and finish also display a great concentration. 1985 today is one of our most appealing vintages and it seems to be at its peak, even if it is likely to surprise us again in the coming decades. (October 2018)

(1x) Château Margaux 1986 750ml - 98+ Vinous / 97 Wine Advocate
Notes from the Chateau: Another outstanding vintage, immediately after 1985. But as much as 1985 was full of charm, 1986 was austere. Seldom has a vintage (until the 2005 and the 2010) been from the start as powerful and concentrated. We would have to go back to the legendary 1961 to find a previous vintage with such richness and such balance.  1986 is an astonishing vintage; its very slow development in a way reminds us of the previous generation's wines. Its tannic structure is very tight-knit, very dense and softens only very slightly from year to year. The bouquet is starting to open up; however, we feel that it is still only showing a limited part of its enormous potential. It is full and rich on the palate, still a little bit firm. Should we drink it?...A great vintage, but which seems to belong to another, older era. (October 2018)

(1x) Château Margaux 1987 750ml
Notes from the Chateau: The greatest terroirs always show through when conditions are at their worst. Château Margaux 1987 displays a lot of finesse and aromatic complexity. It probably lacks the fatness and opulence of a great vintage, but the distinction and breed of a great wine are in evidence. It is now reaching its peak and we can start drinking it, but there is no rush. (October 2018)

(1x) Château Margaux 1988 750ml - 93 Wine Advocate / 93 James Suckling
Notes from the Chateau: The very deep color, the rich, intense nose and the magnificent structure on the palate are very reminiscent of 1986. They have the same powerful, ripe tannins, with perhaps a little less concentration, but also less austerity. Unlike 1986, in fact, 1988 is starting to open out; we can therefore drink it, but there is no rush.(October 2018)

(1x) Château Margaux 1989 750ml - 97 Decanter
Notes from the Chateau: The harvest in 1989 was the earliest since 1893, when it started on August 17th at Château Margaux… Merlot, Cabernets, and Petit Verdot reached an exceptional level of ripeness, which brought back memories of the legendary 1982. The sugar levels were even higher in 1989. The development of the wine in bottle has confirmed the great expectations we immediately had at the harvest. Richness, complexity and opulence could be the key words to describe this outstanding wine. We felt it was a wine which was already nice to drink from the day it was made; it was actually the great ripeness of the grapes which gave the tannins that smoothness which is only normally acquired after a long period in bottle. A grand wine which you can start to open now, but don't feel the need to rush. (October 2018)

(1x) Château Margaux 1990 750ml - 100 Wine Advocate
Notes from the Chateau: The harvest lasted almost a month, as the Cabernets ripened much later than the Merlot. We even interrupted the picking for 10 days at the end of September to let the Cabernet finish ripening. Luck was on our side, as the weather was exceptionally good. 1990 was the third in a run of very fine vintages, with 1988 and 1989. After the classic 1988 and the rich, opulent 1989, the 1990 immediately caused great excitement with its charm and great finesse. It is hard to believe that two years with quite similar vine growing conditions produced two wines with such different characteristics! But maybe these conditions were not as similar as they appeared. Who knows what influence a few days’ heatwave may have, or what an apparently unwelcome shower or a lengthy period of drought can do? The wines of the 1990 vintage, whether Merlot, Cabernets or Petit Verdot, were immediately outstandingly attractive, rich and tender, tight-grained but soft, with enticing fruit flavors. Today, all the aromas and flavors already mingle sweetly together into this wine, whose perfect harmony conceals a power comparable with 1989. It is enjoyable now, as it was, in fact, shortly after its bottling. It will surely continue to be so over the next twenty or thirty years. What more can we ask? (October 2018)

(1x) Château Margaux 1991 750ml
Notes from the Chateau: The frost on April 21st struck the vineyard in some parts more than in others. The Merlot which grows mostly on the limestone and clay soils on the lower part of the property, closer to the river, was 100% frozen. Fortunately our top Cabernet Sauvignon on the gravelly slopes which "look out over the river" was partly spared. But in the majority of cases, all the bunches that came from second generation buds that had grown a few weeks after the frost had to be removed at veraison. Right up to the harvest we hoped that these conditions, which were looking very similar to those of 1945 and 1961, would also produce a great vintage, but at the last moment our hopes were dashed by the rain. Château Margaux 1991 is an amazingly dense and young wine, still almost a little austere. There is no rush to drink it as we believe it will develop further. (October 2018)

(1x) Château Margaux 1992 750ml
Notes from the Chateau: Considerable work was necessary in the vines to compensate for the effects of the adverse weather conditions; first, to protect the vines, then to thin the crop which promised to be large, and finally a very careful sorting during the harvest. A lot of distinction and finesse can be found in this relatively modest but nevertheless very harmonious wine. We had not really expected to achieve a good enough ripeness of tannins in this vintage, but their softness and roundness once again prove the genius of the terroir. The 1992 Château Margaux today displays a lot of charm and finesse on the nose; the bouquet is mature, complex; in fact, very typical. On the palate, it is tender, fine and finishes on a very soft note. This wine may not impress, but it can be enjoyed with great pleasure. You can start to drink the wine now, but there is no rush. (October 2018)

(1x) Château Margaux 1993 750ml
Notes from the Chateau: The bad weather during the harvest only slightly lessened our expectations of superb quality. Generally speaking, the month that really counts in determining the quality of a wine is August, or as the French say, "August makes the must". This wine possesses the finesse, subtlety and charm of the greatest very good vintages as well as good overall balance, but it does not have the density or the depth. It is very pleasant to drink now, but there is no hurry. (October 2018)

(1x) Château Margaux 1994 750ml
Notes from the Chateau: Perhaps in 1994 the Cabernet Sauvignon lacked, in the end, a few extra days of sunshine. It produced very concentrated, tannic wines with a slightly hard finish. Château Margaux 1994 is a dense and powerful wine, but is still a little austere. It has a close-knit tannic structure which has softened more than we had expected at the time of blending. Today, the bouquet is developing well. The charm is slowly starting to replace the power and you can start to drink it. (October 2018)

(1x) Château Margaux 1995 750ml - 99 Decanter
Notes from the Chateau: 1995 is a truly great vintage with all the hallmark characteristics: power, depth, richness, complexity, but also delicacy, subtlety and harmony. Today the nose is not really closed, but still rather restrained. All the aromas are there, but a bit masked. On the palate, it is obviously the power that dominates; the tannic structure is dense, tight and firm without being hard.Ideally, you should wait a few more years before starting to drink this superb wine whose balance will assure a very harmonious evolution. (October 2018)

(1x) Château Margaux 1996 750ml - 100 Wine Advocate / 100 Decanter
Notes from the Chateau: This complicated year taught us many lessons, as it differed completely from the usual, very probably too simple, pattern of the great vintages. It may well be that the heavy rain which came at the end of September was, in fact, a help to the ripening of the Cabernet Sauvignon, as was likely the case in 1995, rather than having the opposite effect as we had feared. Whatever the explanation, this vintage ended up producing a wine which will go down in history for its classicism and purity. The Cabernet Sauvignon has seldom achieved such a perfection of style and such good balance. What is even rarer perhaps, is to find in a young wine, only just after its blending, the ability to impress and move us at once through the purity of its fruit, the density of its structure and the harmony of its shape. It is a dream of a Margaux which is difficult to resist now, but has a huge potential to age. (October 2018)

(1x) Château Margaux 1997 750ml
Notes from the Chateau: The generally adverse weather conditions during the month of August prevented the grapes from acquiring the concentration achieved in great vintages. However, the exceptional weather in September and during the harvest helped to produce an excellent level of ripeness. The Château Margaux 1997 is remarkable for its great elegance and aromatic finesse, which are worthy of the great vintages, and also 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 in order to be a true great vintage. This wine is already so enjoyable, it can be drunk now, but there is no rush, quite the contrary. This is a real success in a vintage often considered complicated. (October 2018)

(1x) Château Margaux 1998 750ml
Notes from the Chateau: We came very close to making a great vintage. It was a question of a few showers at the beginning of the harvest... From the beginning, the wines, whether Merlot or Cabernet, had astonishing concentration, recalling the 1995 and 1996 vintages. At first, they tended to be a little firm and austere, but with barrel aging they gained a lot of roundness and harmony. Today, Château Margaux 1998 displays aromas of great freshness in which fruit, particularly red berry fruit, is to the fore and in which lingering hints of vanilla and roasted coffee beans mingle slowly into the wine. The impression on the palate is of great power with fresh, firm but fat tannins, which give this wine a very classic dimension. 1998 is undeniably a long-aging wine and should ideally be held for several more years before drinking. (October 2018)

(1x) Château Margaux 1999 750ml - 94 Wine Advocate
Notes from the Chateau: Practically the same scenario as in 1998 was produced in 1999: an exceptional spell of fine weather during August, followed by a beginning of September which took the grapes to near-perfect ripeness levels, then heavy rain at the end of September which, by a few days, prevented the grapes from reaching the ripeness levels of great vintages and, like in 1998, caused a slight dilution. That was the case in 1999. In both cases, the wines were "almost" great vintages. It is clear that a period of fine weather in August is of crucial importance, whereas rain, even heavy rain, during the harvest is not necessarily a handicap. Château Margaux 1999 shows great finesse, intensity and aromatic complexity. The nose has both great purity and great classicism. On the palate, it has firstly delicacy and suppleness, then fatness and density, before finishing with great length, displaying the real power of the wine. An extremely charming Château Margaux which is difficult to resist today, but has not yet finished surprising us. A great success. (October 2018)

(1x) Château Margaux 2002 750ml - 93 Wine Advocate
Notes from the Chateau: The Merlot yields, especially those from old vines, were seriously affected by the onset of coulure and particularly millerandage. We might have thought that a relatively low production would have enabled the grapes to reach better ripeness levels; however, the fine weather arrived too late for the Merlot, whose ripeness was too far behind to catch up. The quality of the Merlot was, on the whole, disappointing. On the other hand, the Cabernets and the Petit Verdot took full advantage of this Indian summer, which so often produces very good, even great vintages in Bordeaux. Their quality was, on the whole, remarkable. Our final blend, therefore, includes very little Merlot (it may even be the lowest ever proportion in history at Château Margaux). So it is essentially a wine made up of fine, pure, rich, tight-knit and tender Cabernet Sauvignon. It may lack some complexity and depth in order to be considered a great vintage. Very fine September weather can certainly make up most of the lost ground, but it cannot totally replace the ripeness that is attained during a glorious August. After the bottling, Château Margaux 2002 had acquired even more finesse, without losing any of that classic tight-knit tannic structure which bodes so well for excellent aging. We recommend, ideally, waiting for a few more years even if it already gives a lot of pleasure. (October 2018)

(1x) Château Margaux 2003 750ml - 97 JS / 96 Wine Enthusiast
Notes from the Chateau: We could have expected, given the extreme weather conditions, some alcoholic warmth in the nose, marked by aromas of very ripe or even roasted black fruits. However, what we actually have, literally jumping out of the glass, are red berry fruit aromas, freshness and purity. We can even find, as in 1996 and 2000, a mingling of floral and slightly spicy notes coming through delightfully in this very complex cocktail, in which the new oak has already been totally integrated, as if it had been “digested” by the body of the wine. And what body! We knew, of course, that all the wines were extremely concentrated. It has to be said that when you add, so to speak, a very low yield to the hot weather conditions in the summer, plus the blending in which there was an excellent press wine, the result is a wine which possesses a density which has been almost unparalleled in recent vintages. This density gives the wine not just power and strength, but depth and length too ; and above all, a tannic structure which is so tightly-knit that its texture has taken on a silky feel. A lot had been said that year about acidity and its mysteries. It is true that grapes had rarely been picked at such low levels of acidity as in 2003. And yet, through the combination of the acids being produced during the fermentation process, a lesser tartaric acid precipitation and a low malic acid content, we actually ended up with a total acidity which was exactly the average of the last 20 vintages. This vintage, with its extreme weather conditions (as we thought), in fact gave birth to a great classic claret! Although destined for a superb future, we can already start to open the first bottles provided that they are decanted. (October 2019)

(1x) Château Margaux 2004 750ml - 96 Wine Enthusiast / 96 Decanter
Notes from the Chateau: 2004 was born in conditions closely resembling those of 1996: the same unsettled summer weather, the same lovely early autumn, the same rainy harvest… Last minute rain though in no way modifies the body of a wine, nor weakens its muscle; it only takes away a bit of fatness, which gives it a finer silhouette. Château Margaux 2004 is therefore a great classic vintage. There is great finesse and above all purity on the nose in this subtle combination of floral, fruit and spice aromas; all are clearly present, but no single aroma dominates. On the palate, the tannic structure is tight-knit, fine and tender. The general impression is firstly balance, precision, freshness and finally an air-light grace which can only be found in great Margaux. We can start drinking it now even though it has a bright future ahead of it. (October 2018)

(1x) Château Margaux 2005 750ml - 100 James Suckling / 98+ Wine Advocate
Notes from the Chateau: 2005 is a truly great, pure Château Margaux vintage! First of all, it has all of its class: that incomparable nose of finesse, grace and depth that belongs solely to its terroir and is only found in a few dream vintages. It also has its power: its concentration is exceptional, superior to 2000 and even 2003. It comes through first in the color, which has unprecedented intensity, and on the palate with extraordinary density and length. And yet its power does not have the last word; voluptuousness and harmony are also the hallmarks of this vintage. The Cabernet Sauvignon (85% of the blend) is of course largely responsible for this balance as it reached perfect ripeness without the degree of alcohol going over 13. The only Merlot which joined it (8% of the blend) is the only batch which didn’t reach 14°. Built for eternity, we recommend waiting a few more years before opening the first bottles. (October 2018)