Château Margaux — Château Margaux 1978

The Château Margaux 1978 Grand Vin – an unusually Cabernet-dominant blend even by Margaux standards, with 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot – had a captivating nose with pepper and cassis notes, but the palate was still quite harsh. Unfortunately, the ullage on this bottle was not ideal, which likely affected the overall experience. At 89 points, it remains a very good wine, though one suspects a perfectly stored bottle might have shown even more of what this celebrated estate can deliver from the cool 1978 vintage.