Vinous – 94.5

The 2012 Chateau Margaux is a wine that, based on this showing, is a little closed at the moment and needs the most coaxing from the glass. Plenty of black fruit in situ, although it does not really blossom. It is very well-balanced, quite deep and powerful, but it needs time to develop refinement on the finish. Cellar for another few years. Tasted blind in Bordeaux. [Neal Martin, 26/01/2023]

Anticipated maturity: 2027-2050

JancisRobinson.com – 17.5+

Looks much more evolved than Lafite tasted alongside. Neat and well balanced but so well mannered it could easily be overlooked. Not that much flesh at the moment. [05/03/2022]

Anticipated maturity: 2024-2042

Robert Parker – 96

Tasted blind at the 2012 Southwold tasting, the 2012 Chateau Margaux has a taut, linear, pencil lead-infused bouquet with pure blackberry and boysenberry scents, an undercurrent of tobacco that surfaces after five minutes in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, crisp acidity, a life-affirming sense of balance with well-integrated new oak towards the finish. I concur with Robert Parker that his has become more structured and masculine in bottle, yet there is pedigree here from start to finish, a sense of effortlessness that is seductive. This is a top-class wine from the late Paul Pontallier and his team. Tasted January 2016. [Neal Martin, 28/09/2017]

Anticipated maturity: 2022-2050