Margaux French wine appellation guide: location, history, wines, climate & soil
Margaux is one of the most prestigious appellations of the Médoc in Bordeaux, celebrated for the perfume, finesse and silky elegance of its Cabernet Sauvignon-based reds.
More info about Margaux
Geographic position
Southwestern France, in the Gironde, on the left bank of the Gironde estuary about 25 km north of Bordeaux, covering Margaux-Cantenac, Soussans, Arsac and Labarde, the southernmost of the Médoc's great communal appellations.
Origin & history
Vines have been cultivated here since the Middle Ages, and Château Margaux was already famous in the 18th century, when Thomas Jefferson praised it. Margaux has 21 châteaux in the 1855 Classification, more than any other Médoc appellation, including the First Growth Château Margaux. The AOC was created in 1954.
Wines & grape varieties
Red wine only, mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Expect blackcurrant, violet, rose, cedar and fine-grained tannins.
Climate & soil
Temperate oceanic climate moderated by the estuary. The thinnest, most gravelly soils of the Médoc, with white quartz gravel over clay and limestone.
Wine region: Bordeaux
Grape varieties: Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot