Freddy R. Troya

9.4

Château du Tertre, Red Blend – 2018
AOC Margaux – Bordeaux, France 🇫🇷
5th Growth, Grand Cru Classé en 1855

Overview
A historic Margaux estate, Château du Tertre sits on a prominent gravel “tertre” (hillock) that gives the château its name. The 2018 vintage was a warm and generous year, producing wines with depth, richness, and polished tannins. The estate’s blend for the V.18 crafted Cabernet Sauvignon 40%, Merlot 30%, Cabernet Franc 25%, and Petit Verdot 5%, delivering the quintessential Margaux elegance.

Aromas & Flavors
Blackcurrant, blackberry, and ripe plum layered with graphite, cedar, and cigar box. Hints of violets, licorice, and cocoa weave through the bouquet, adding complexity.

Mouthfeel
Elegant yet bold: medium to full-bodied with polished and structured tannins, a silky mid-palate, and a long, harmonious finish. A wine showing its prime with youthful vibrancy and well-integrated oak.

Food Pairings
Roast lamb with herbs, beef Wellington, duck breast, Truffle risotto, porcini pasta, mushroom burgers, aged Gruyère, Manchego, or Brie de Meaux.

Verdict
The 2018 vintage is a standout for Margaux, and Château du Tertre shines with a balance of power and finesse. Dark-fruited, silky, and aromatic, this wine embodies the elegance that Margaux is celebrated for, approachable now, yet cellar-worthy for another decade.

Did You Know?
Château du Tertre shares historical ties with Château Giscours (also in Margaux), once under the same ownership. Its elevated gravel terroir provides excellent drainage, making it ideal for Cabernet Sauvignon’s deep root systems.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight: For me, the 2018 du Tertre is the sweet spot, Margaux elegance meets ripe, modern Bordeaux style, without sacrificing finesse and within a reasonable price point. Cheers! — 11 days ago

Michael Amoruso

9.2

2009 vintage. Drinking just in time. Still lots of spicey black fruits. Cedar and old tobacco. Cacao notes also. — 6 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

A blend of mostly Merlot with a little Cabernet Franc, deep ruby red color with a bouquet of dark black fruit, and a slight herb nose, aged for 12 months in oak. On the palate flavors of blackberry, currant and cherry, with licorice and herbs. Fine grainy tannins, long finish ending with fruit, spice and a touch of earthy mineral notes. — 6 months ago

Lauren Golanty

9.0

Good! Medium weight but felt substantial. Black cherries. — 2 months ago

Carey Krebs

9.0

Very dry. Lb likes — 3 months ago

"Odedi"

9.4

#AgedWineTuesday

Beautiful color of dark ruby with a wide reddish rim.

Strong nose of black currants, black plums, cooked cherries, dried fruits, cedar, vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, tobacco and herbs.

Full bodied and soft, with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate and fruit forward with blackberries, black currants, black plums, cherries, cedar, spices, dark chocolates, licorice, coffee, peppercorn, light eucalyptus, herbs, light vegetables, earth and black tea.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This 20 year old Merlot from Saint Emilion is absolutely fantastic now. Elegant, chocolatey and rich.

Drinking beautifully right out of the bottle, extracted and complex. Nicely balanced and powerful, with a great mouthfeel.

Wine Advocate 98 points.

Drinking it with the wine maker, from his personal cellar, makes it even more special for me.

Drinking at its peak, and will continue to drink nicely in the next 10 years.

Fruit forward and good by itself as a sipping wine.

A blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. Aged in New French oak barrels for 18 months.

94 points.

$350. — 5 months ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.0

Blend of Merlot (70%), Cabernet Franc (15%), Cabernet Sauvignon (14%) and Malbec (1%). Medium ruby core that turns more garnet closer to the rim. Aromas of ripe red and black fruit with hints of tar and roasted coffee. Flavors of red cherry, raspberry, black currant, figs,and mocha. Just a touch of baking spices on the long finish. Satiny texture and very fine tannins. Medium bodied and very soft. Good example of where proper aging can benefit a wine. Solid. Thanks for sharing, Chris B. — 3 months ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.1

Vintage 2016 | — 4 months ago

Tree Kilpatrick

9.4

Basic label. Smells like cherry coke and wood oil. Flavors are complex and chewy. Cherry cola in flavors. Licorice too. Age-d. — 6 months ago

Rick Phillips

9.1

Nice little wine for a hotel lounge! — 6 months ago

with Letha