# Château Margaux 2009

**Subtitle:** Premier Grand Cru Classé red Bordeaux from the commune of Margaux

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### Brand

Château Margaux

### Varieties / Composition

Typical 2009 blend:

* Cabernet Sauvignon (~87%)

* Merlot (~9%)

* Cabernet Franc (~2%)

* Petit Verdot (~2%)

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# Origin

### Country / Origin

France

### Regions

* Bordeaux

* Médoc

* Margaux

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# Introduction / Description

**Château Margaux 2009** is one of the most celebrated vintages produced by the historic First Growth estate Château Margaux. Classified in the **1855 Bordeaux Classification**, the wine represents the pinnacle of Left Bank Bordeaux winemaking, emphasizing **Cabernet Sauvignon structure, aromatic refinement, and long ageing potential**.

The 2009 vintage in Bordeaux was exceptionally warm and dry, producing wines with **remarkable ripeness, concentration, and silky tannins**, while still maintaining the estate's hallmark elegance and floral complexity.

The wine is produced under the direction of renowned winemaker **Paul Pontallier**, who led the estate's winemaking from 1983 until 2016.

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# Style(s)

* Premium red Bordeaux blend

* Cabernet Sauvignon–dominant Left Bank style

* Long-ageing collectible wine

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# Reference(s)

* Institut National de l'Origine et de la Qualité

* Organisation Internationale de la Vigne et du Vin

* Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855

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# Producer(s)

Primary estate:

* Château Margaux

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# Alcohol Level (ABV)

Approximately **13.5–14.0%**

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# Ageing

* Aged **18–24 months in French oak barrels**

* About **100% new oak**

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# Vintage

**2009**

Vintage conditions: warm growing season with optimal ripening.

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# Sugar (g/L)

Dry wine

~ **1–3 g/L**

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# Acidity (g/L)

~ **5–6 g/L** (tartaric acid equivalent)

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# pH

Approximately **3.6–3.7**

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# Classification(s)

* **Premier Grand Cru Classé (First Growth)**

* Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855

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# Designation(s)

* AOC Margaux

* Grand Vin of Château Margaux

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# Color

Red

### Tint

Deep ruby → garnet with age

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# Characteristics of Taste and Aroma

Typical aromatic spectrum:

Primary

* blackcurrant

* blackberry

* violet

Secondary

* cedar

* vanilla

* toasted oak

Tertiary (with age)

* truffle

* leather

* cigar box

* forest floor

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# Type

Still wine

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# Is Kosher

No (standard production)

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# Winemaker Note

The estate described the 2009 vintage as **one of the richest yet most harmonious wines produced at Château Margaux**, combining extraordinary concentration with classical elegance.

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# Technology

Traditional Bordeaux vinification:

* parcel-by-parcel fermentation

* temperature-controlled vats

* manual grape sorting

* extensive barrel ageing

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# Ageing Potential

**30–50+ years**

Peak maturity expected roughly **2025–2055**.

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# Maceration

Approximately **20–28 days** depending on parcel.

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# Fermentation

* Alcoholic fermentation in **stainless steel and oak vats**

* Malolactic fermentation in barrels.

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# Harvest

Hand harvested

**Harvest period:**

Late September – early October 2009.

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# Price

Approximate market range:

* **$900 – $2000+ per bottle** depending on condition and provenance.

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# Category

Wine

### Parent Category

Red Bordeaux wine

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# Tasting Evaluation

### Limpidity

Brilliant, clear

### Color Intensity

Deep

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# Aroma(s)

* blackcurrant

* violet

* graphite

* cedar

* tobacco

* truffle

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### Condition

Excellent

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### Aroma Intensity

Pronounced

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### Development

Developing → early tertiary stage

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# Taste(s)

* cassis

* plum

* dark chocolate

* cedar

* spice

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### Taste Intensity

High

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### Body

Full

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### Astringency

High but very refined tannins

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### Sweetness

Dry

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### Sourness

Medium acidity

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### Mousse

None

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### Readiness

Approachable but still improving with ageing.

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### Quality

Outstanding / Iconic vintage.

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### Balance

Exceptional balance of fruit, tannin, acidity, and oak.

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### Finish

Very long (60+ seconds perception).

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# Packaging

Traditional **Bordeaux bottle**

750 ml standard.

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# Serving

Temperature: **16–18°C**

Recommended:

* **1–2 hours decanting**

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# Rating(s)

Critics scores include:

* **100 points** – Robert Parker

* **99 points** – James Suckling

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# Awards

Widely recognized as one of the **great Bordeaux vintages of the 21st century**.

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# Food Pairing

Ideal with:

* roasted lamb

* Wagyu or prime beef

* venison

* truffle dishes

* aged hard cheeses

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If you want, I can also produce a **much deeper technical dossier of Château Margaux 2009**, including:

* **complete vineyard parcel composition**

* **exact fermentation vessel distribution**

* **soil map of the Margaux estate**

* **vertical comparison: 2005 vs 2009 vs 2010 vs 2015** (very useful for a wine atlas database).