Chateau Margaux

1855 Grand Cru Classe – 1st Growth

The area surrounding the present Chateau Margaux was known from the 12th century when it was called La Mothe de Margaux, or the Margaux Mound.

The middle of the 16th century marks the birth of Chateau Margaux as a notable producer of clairet wine. The owner, Pierre de Lestonnac restructured the property and favored vines to cereal growing.

The 18th century brought fame to Margois in England. The wines of Chateau Margaux first crossed the Atlantic and Thomas Jefferson, then US Ambassador to France wrote “There couldn’t be a better Bordeaux bottle” on his 1784 order of Chateau Margaux wines.

The golden age of Bordeaux wines ended during the French revolution. The chateau and its vines were auctioned by the revolutionaries as a national possession, which brought the estate to despair.

The current building of Chateau Margaux known as Versailles de Medoc was constructed in the early 19th century under Bertrand Douat who was a Basque ship owner.

The chateaux changed hands a few times until 1977, when André Mentzelopoulos, a businessman of Greek origin who made his fortune importing and exporting cereals, bought the property to the surprise of the French wine community.

Mentzelopoulos reconstructed the vineyard and the chateau, including building the first underground cellar in the Medoc, and reclaimed the prestige of the chateau.

Today, his daughter, Corinne Mentzelopoulos runs Chateau Margaux.