Pencil lead, roses, cassis, bleuberry, tea, gunsmoke, fine and supple tannins that stretch out through the palate, this is an amazing quality 2017 that shows the potential of the vintage in the right hands. The vineyards of Château Margaux are almost exactly the same size as in 1855 at 80ha. Three-quarters of the vines are on deep and extremely poor gravel soils, and others with clay and limestone bedrock, covered by fine gravels of terraces 3 and 4. Philippe Bascaules technical director, Corinne Menzelopoulos owner at the time (it was recently announced in 2023 that she has now handed over to her son Alexis). 97 points