Château Margaux Competitors

Fondé en 1832 et situé à Saint-Emilion, mais limitrophe de Pomerol, le vignoble d'un seul tenant de Château Cheval Blanc est resté pratiquement identique depuis 1871. Cette continuité se retrouve également dans la proportion des cépages, merlot et cabernet franc. En 1911, la part du cabernet franc était déjà proche de 50%. Le domaine est constitué de 40 hectares répartis en 53 parcelles. Chacune est, en quelque sorte, traitée comme un vignoble à part entière en raison de son identité unique. La combinaison de ces nombreuses facettes explique la grande complexité et le caractère unique de Cheval Blanc. La particularité de Cheval Blanc réside dans la présence de trois grands types de terroirs sur un même domaine : des sols à texture fine avec de l'argile, des sols à texture plus grossière avec des graviers, et des gros graviers avec du sable, constituant un véritable patchwork, tous basés sur un sous-sol argileux. La vinification de Cheval Blanc est une affaire de tradition, qui s'inscrit dans une recherche perpétuelle d'harmonie et d'équilibre.

Among the mythic wines of the Margaux Appellation, Château Palmer has always stood apart, as instantly recognisable for its midnight blue label as for its inimitable bouquet, an uncommon blend of power and delicacy. It’s a strength of character drawn from a fabled terroir, and from an ensemble of vibrant personalities who have forged the estate’s identity through history. Emerging in the 17th century, the estate only became Château Palmer in 1814, when it was acquired by Charles Palmer, a dashing British Major General who instilled his namesake with enough éclat and glamour to see it become renowned throughout London’s aristocratic circles. In 1853, the Péreire brothers, among the preeminent financiers of Napoleon III’s France, brought the rigour and vision needed for Château Palmer to be ranked among the most prestigious classified growths of the 1855 classification. In 1938, a consortium of four leading families in the Bordeaux wine trade acquired the estate, heralding an era of momentous vintages and deep-rooted stability – indeed, Palmer is still owned by the descendants of two of these families. Today, the men and women leading Château Palmer into the 21st century are rhyming tradition with innovation in their passionate pursuit to capture the subtleties of one of the world’s most legendary terroirs. Palmer’s eminently complex wines, combining aromatic richness and extraordinary elegance with a beguiling velvet texture and remarkable ageing potential, are reflections of those spirited efforts and all that distinguishes this 66 ha estate. A veritable mosaic of soils, a unique vineyard planting of equal parts Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon subtly enriched with Petit Verdot, and pioneering farming techniques that respect nature’s exquisite equilibrium, together make these wines transcendent expressions of the Margaux appellation.

Château Montrose is a wine and spirits company based out of France. Established as a Second Growth in the 1855 classification, Château Montrose enjoys an exceptional geographical situation in Saint-Estèphe, facing the Gironde estuary. Its 95-hectare (235-acre) vineyard thus benefits from the influence of the vast expanse of water nearby, moderating temperatures during very hot summers and frosty springs. Its unsegmented terroir is a rare and priceless advantage in the region. The soil, made up of deep gravel over a clay sub-soil, favours natural drainage and allows for slow and regular water supply to the vine from underground reserves. An extensive renovation programme with very strict environmental objectives has been carried out at the estate since it was acquired by Martin and Olivier Bouygues in 2006, reflecting the new owners’ determination to preserve the natural riches of Montrose, perpetuate the quality of this Grand Cru Classé and make it a model for wine-production techniques and sustainable development. This forward-looking global approach is particularly reflected in the practice of sustainable viticulture throughout the vineyard, respecting the terroir, the environment and people. It is also expressed through a set of green measures promoting the biodiversity of the estate and the systematic recycling of all it produces, from the vineyard to the cellar. Under the direction of Hervé Berland since 2012, the property has 75 employees, all sharing the same philosophy in their daily work: respect for the terroir and a constant quest for excellence. This is reflected in the meticulous working of the soil, very precise plot selection at harvest, and blending the best of the crop for the first wine, Château Montrose. With the same rigour, the subsequent selections are used to make La Dame de Montrose, and then Le Tertio de Montrose. Alcohol abuse is dangerous for your health. Consume in moderation.