2005 Château Marojallia

Château Marojallia is a Medoc “garagiste” wine that in its short history has developed a cult following. Though it is located in the Margaux appellation, the nine-acre estate is not part of the historic 1855 classification given that Marojallia was established only in 1999 by Philippe Porcheron. Porcheron also runs Château Bouqueyran at Moulis. The newly created estate caused “quite an uproar on the Bordeaux left bank” according to Robert M. Parker Jr. Yet its wines have received praise from reviewers and collectors. The estate’s winemakers are Jean-Luc and Murielle Thunevin. Parker has given several vintages ratings in the high 90s, and called them “stunning.” He notes that Château Marojallia “has second-growth quality written all over it.” About 6,000 bottles are made a year. The second wine is Clos Margalaine.

Margaux is one of Bordeaux’s most famous appellations and also one of its largest, with about 3,400 acres of vineyards. Located on the Left Bank of the Gironde River, Margaux has the greatest number of classified-growth châteaux (or crus classé) according to the 1855 classification. There are twenty-one crus classé, including the most famous estate, the first growth Château Margaux. The Margaux appellation includes vineyards around the village of Margaux and the villages of Arsac, Cantenac, d’Issan, Labarde and Soussans. Wines from the best Margaux châteaux and vintages are prized for their perfumey fragrance and elegant, silky mouthfeel. Margaux wines are predominately Cabernet Sauvignon blended with Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc.