This vintage which was immediately acknowledged in Bordeaux as a great success, developed very slowly in bottle, especially for wines based on cabernet sauvignon, as is the case at Château Margaux. Since then, questions have been raised as to whether the cabernets were harvested at full maturity, given that the tannins remained very firm, even hard, for so many years. It is very likely that today such a vintage would produce a different wine, certainly just as concentrated but more accessible. 1975 came after three particularly difficult years (1972, 1973 and 1974). Perhaps the potential of this vintage was overestimated through understandable enthusiasm.

Château Margaux 1975 was not a great success. At the time, the estate— then owned by the Ginestet family—was about to be sold and certainly did not benefit from the same care as in the 1960s.

Today, however, the tannins have softened, the acidity has evolved into freshness, and some bottles surprise us with their complexity and finesse. (February 2025)