As well as Margaux itself, the appellation includes the villages of Cantenac, Arsac, Soussans and Labarde.[2] It is on the left bank of the Gironde. It is the southernmost appellation in the Médoc (the haut in Haut-Médoc refers to the fact that it lies upstream), not far north of Bordeaux itself.[3] To the east is the Landes forest. The soil is the thinnest in the Médoc, with the highest proportion of gravel.[4] (The generally perceived opinion being that poor soil makes good wine.[5]) The gravel provides good drainage.[6] The forest to the west shelters the vines from Atlantic breezes.[7] Margaux contains 1,413 hectares (3,490 acres) of vineyards, making it the second largest appellation in the Haut-Médoc (after Saint-Estèphe).[8] The châteaux are concentrated in the village, and the vineyards are more intermingled than elsewhere.[9] The vines ripen 7–10 days before the rest of the Médoc.[10]
Wine
Cabernet Sauvignon is the predominant grape, but it is invariably blended with other grapes. As with all red Bordeaux, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Carmenère, and Malbec may also be included in the blend (although wines will not necessarily include all six grapes).[11] The wine is known for its perfumed fragrance. The dominant fruit flavour is blackcurrant. The wine from the southern part of the appellation (i.e. Cantenac, Arsac and Labarde) tends to be more powerful but less fragrant, and leans more towards plum.[12]
Wine from Margaux may be labelled as Haut-Médoc (usually wine which the château considers inferior to its main offering and wishes to market under a different label).[13] It would also be possible (though unusual) for the wine to be labelled using the Médoc AOC or one of the Regional Bordeaux AOCs.
