It is hard to imagine today the excitement caused by this vintage whose abundance and generosity seemed all the more remarkable given how truly dreadful the two previous vintages—1968 and 1969—had been.

Most of the wines produced in the Médoc remained closed and rather austere for a long time. As with the 1975 vintage, it could have been a question of the cabernet sauvignon not being ripe enough when it was picked. In many estates, even in the greatest, the vat cellar equipment—in particular the number of vats—was not suited to such a large crop. Vinification conditions therefore were not ideal. It was the case at Château Margaux, where the 1970 reflected the quality of the vintage very well, but lacked a little concentration and flesh. The nose is complex, well developed, deep, and quite harmonious. On the palate, the impression is fine and pleasant, though a little short and dry on the finish. We believe this wine is ready to drink now, but it undoubtedly has good potential for ageing and even improvement as it tends to open up and improve in the glass. (July 2025)