Margaux is a massive appellation with 1,355 hectares under vine. So, as you might expect, their is a diverse array of terroirs and wine style. 2023 Margaux is not going to win an award for consistency. But there are numerous success stories with the vintage. The best wines provide text-book Margaux character with strong, floral aromatics and refined, elegant textures, along with purity, lift, and energy.
For a detailed overview and analysis of the vintage’s growing season, harvest, overall attributes and faults, producer quotes, as well as links to all of our 2023 Bordeaux appellation reports 2023 Bordeaux Vintage Report and Analysis
All of the following 2023 Margaux wines were tasted in my home office in early 2026 in non-blind conditions.
2023 Margaux Reviews and Ratings…
2023 Brane Cantenac – Margaux – The complex set of aromatics displays flowers, cocoa, espresso, cigar box, and red fruits. On the palate, the wine is just as good, if not better, with its elegant, soft, refined profile, the perfect backdrop for its sweet, ripe red fruits that linger long after the wine has left your glass. This is another vintage that Brane Cantenac lovers should have in their cellars. The wine blends 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 1% Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Carmenere. Drink from 2029-2047. 96 Pts
2023 Brane Cantenac Baron de Brane – Margaux – Spearmint, cocoa, cedar, red berry, and tobacco aromas create the perfume. On the palate, the wine is soft, elegant, ripe, round, and is already delivering pleasure. So, you can safely enjoy this with ease while waiting for the Grand Vin to develop. The wine blends 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 1% Carmenere, and 1% Petit Verdot. 2026-2036. 91 Pts
2023 Brane Cantenac Blanc – Bordeaux – White flowers, spice, green apples, pomelo, and a touch of vanilla show in the perfume. The palate is juicy, sweet, and fresh, leaving with a shot of crisp, waxy lemons, orange rind, and spice in the finish. Drink from 2025-2032. 92 Pts
2023 Cantenac Brown – Margaux – Deep, full-bodied, and round, the wine is packed with black cherries, smoke, licorice, blackberry, espresso, and flowers. Sporting a dark hue, the intense aromatic profile is just the start. The palate is opulent, powerful, rich, and intense, yet remains light on its feet thanks to its freshness and lift. The finish is long, intense, energetic, and rich, with layers of sweet, polished, luscious fruits. 2023 is the first vintage produced in the new, state-of-the-art gravity cellars, which really made a difference this year. The wine is a blend of 71.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, and 1.5% Petit Verdot. Drink from 2029-2055. 95 Pts
2023 DArsac – Margaux – Flowers and dark red fruits define the perfume. On the palate, the wine is fresh, forward, and packed with vibrant red berries, currants and freshness, with a nice sweetness, along with a touch of spice to the red fruits on the palate, and in the finish. Drink from 2027-2040 90 Pts
2023 DIssan – Margaux – Mint, cedar chest, forest leaf, and spicy red fruits define the nose. The medium-bodied palate is silky and fresh, with a refined, cherry-packed finish that sticks with you. I like that the purity in the mid-palate extends through to the elegant finish. The wine is made from a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 2.5% Cabernet Franc, and 2.5% Petit Verdot. Drink from 2029-2050. 95 Pts
2023 DIssan Blason d’Issan – Margaux – Mint, flowers, herbs, and red berries create the main focus of the wine here. Medium-bodied and fresh, with soft, elegant textures, the finish displays ample red cherries with vibrancy. This is perfect for near-term drinking while waiting for the Grand Vin to develop. Drink from 2026-2036. 90 Pts
2023 Dauzac – Margaux – Elegant, soft, and refined, the wine pops with its floral edge. From there, the ripe, sweet cherries, hint of espresso, licorice, and juicy berries in the finish really linger. Drink from 2028-2045. 93 Pts
2023 Desmirail – Margaux – Licorice, flowers, red fruits, espresso, and forest leaves pop in the perfume. The medium-bodied palate matches the nose with its soft, fresh, and vibrant red fruit character, finishing with a refreshing hit of spearmint and spice, which shows up at the end of a savory-edged finish. Drink from 2027-2042. 92 Pts
2023 Deyrem Valentin – Margaux – Even better in the bottle than it was in the barrel, initially, you notice the bouquet of mixed flowers before delving into the sweet, red fruits in the perfume. Soft, elegant, and refined, with a nice sweetness to the lifted, clean red berries on the palate and in the finish. This will be easy-to-enjoy with pleasure just about on release, and for 15 or more years after that. Drink from 2027-2042. 93 Pts
2023 Du Tertre – Margaux – Flowers, cocoa, raspberries, and spearmint nuances show in the perfume. Medium-bodied, soft, fruity, and fresh, this charmer is not shy about already starting to let you enjoy its black, and red fruit-filled, creamy-textured mid-palate, and finish. Drink from 2027-2045. 93 Pts
2023 Du Tertre Les Haut – Margaux – Medium-bodied, forward, savory-edged red fruits are on display in the nose, and on the palate. This will be easy to drink and enjoy on release. Drink from 2026-2033. 89 Pts
2023 Gallen de Château Meyre – Margaux – Fresh, vibrant, flowers, herbs, and red currants are on display in the perfume. Medium-bodied, sweet, lofted red fruits with a hint of dried herbs fill the palate and the finish. Drink from 2027-2035. 90 Pts
2023 Giscours – Margaux – One of the better wines from the appellation kicks off with an aromatic display of flowers, smoke, truffle, blackberries, cherries, and forest leaves. Elegant, refined, and vibrant, there is a gorgeous sense of purity to the sweet, red berries with just a hint of cocoa that shows up at the end of the finish. The wine is a blend of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, and 6% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2028-2047. 96 Pts
2023 Giscours La Sirene de Giscours – Margaux – Medium-bodied, fresh, vibrant, and fruity with a floral edge, the wine is soft, elegant, refined and ready-to-go with plenty of early drinking pleasure. This is perfect for enjoyment on release while waiting for the Grand Vin to develop. Drink from 2026-2035. 91 Pts
2023 Haut Breton Larigaudière – Margaux – Quite herbaceous on the nose. Medium-bodied, savory, bright, with red fruits that are on the semi-tart side, cranberries, and strawberries, the finish is herbal with a drying endnote. Drink from 2027-2034. 85 Pts
2023 La Bessane – Margaux – Black fruits, lead pencil, and herbs form the core of this medium-bodied, bright, crisp, fresh, savory, chewy wine. The finish is a bit dry, so give it a year or two to develop and it should soften a bit. Drink from 2027-2035. 88 Pts
2023 La Fortune – Margaux – Flowers, tobacco, and herbs show before you find the red pit fruits in the nose and palate. Medium-bodied, fresh, lively, medium-bodied, soft-textured, forward, and ready for early drinking please. Drink from 2026-2038. 90 Pts
2023 La Tour de Bessan – Margaux – Herbal with earthy red fruits create the nose. The palate is medium-bodied, with an olive and chewy, with a drying dark berry finish. Drink from 2027-2035. 85 Pts
2023 La Tour de Mons – Margaux – Forest leaves, tobacco, mint, and red fruits create the perfume. Medium-bodied, soft, sweet, round, and juicy, allow it just a year or two to age, and it will fill out and soften quite nicely. The wine blends 57% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot, and 4% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2027-2040. 91 Pts
2023 Labegorce – Margaux – Black cherries, flowers, licorice, red cherries, and blackberries pop in the aromatics. Soft, fresh, and sweet, with charm and refinement, this is already showing well, and is only going to get better from here. The wine blends 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, and 3% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2028-2050. 93 Pts
2023 Larruau – Margaux – Medium-bodied, high-toned, raspberry, strawberries, and crisp red currants form the core of this savory-edged wine. Drink from 2026-2034. 85 Pts
2023 Lascombes – Margaux – The first vintage with the new owners, with Axel Heinz calling the shots, starts off with a bouquet of flowers before moving to notes of sweet red fruits, cedar, and a touch of orange rind shine in the nose. There is a soft, creamy character to the sweet, red berries on the palate, with a hint of crushed rocks, and a refreshing touch of chocolate-mint that shows up at the end of the finish. The wine blends 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, and an even mix of Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. Drink from 2028-2050. 94 Pts
2023 Le Coteau – Margaux – Red fruits and flowers fill the nose. The wine is medium-bodied, with a vibrancy and freshness to the raspberries and cherries in the mid-palate and finish. This easy-drinking wine will be great on release. 2026-2036. 89 Pts
2023 Marquis dAlesme – Margaux – Flowers, black cherries, chocolate, blackberries, and mint leaf create the aromatics. The palate is even better with its lush, creamy, elegant waves of sweet, ripe, dark red pit fruits and chocolate. The wine blends 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, and 5% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2028-2045. 94 Pts
2023 Marquis de Terme – Margaux – Flowers, black cherries, espresso, cocoa, mint, and licorice create the perfume. On the palate, the wine is round, ripe, and creamy with a long, fruit, espresso, and cocoa note that carries from the mid-palate through to the finish. The wine will only improve with aging. Drink from 2027-2050. 93 Pts
2023 Marquis de Terme Cuvee 1762 – Margaux – Forward, fresh, fruity and produced for early drinking pleasure, the wine offers a lot of soft, ripe, red fruits right out of the gate. You can enjoy this with pleasure on release. Drink from 2027-2032. 88 Pts
2023 Mongravey – Margaux – Flowers, tobacco, and bright, red fruits with an expresso accent hit the nose. Medium-bodied, soft, fresh, and high-toned, this crisp red berry oriented wine will drink well on release. Drink from 2026-2032. 87 Pts
2023 Moutte Blanc – Margaux – Fresh, bright, and fruity, this medium-bodied, early-drinking, easy-going wine delivers its core of strawberries and red cherries with ease. You should be able to enjoy this on release and over the next decade or so. Drink from 2026-2035. 88 Pts
2023 Paveil de Luze – Margaux – Tobacco, earthy cherries and currants, and cedar pop in the aromatic profile. Medium-bodied, crisp, and fresh, the palate delivers its soft, vibrant. charming, red berry essence with ease. Drink from 2028-2040. 90 Pts
2023 Piche-Leibre – Margaux – One of the few Bordeaux wines made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon starts off with mint, tobacco, flowers, and red currants in the perfume. Medium-bodied, with fresh, bright, chewy red fruits on the palate, and in the finish. This will probably be best in its youth. Drink from 2026-2036. 88 Pts
2023 Prieure-Lichine – Margaux – The floral bouquet is what you initially notice before getting to the cherries, cocoa, licorice and hint of spice in the nose. On the palate, the wine is soft, silky, and fresh. The finish, with its lift, and energy is the perfect setting for all of the licorice, chocolate, mint, and black cherries. The wine blends 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot. Drink from 2028-2050. 93 Pts
2023 Rauzan Segla – Margaux – Violets, lilacs, and roses are not all that you notice. You also discover red and black fruits, tobacco, cedar, chocolate, licorice, and mint leaves in the perfume. The palate is even better, with an energetic, silky, fresh display of ripe red and black fruits. What I really like here is the purity, paired with opulence in the long, velvet-textured, polished, expansive, luxurious finish. The wine is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13.5% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot. Drink from 2029-2055. 97 Pts
2023 Rauzan Segla Segla – Margaux – Dark cherries, black currants, spearmint, and floral aromatics focus you on what is to come. The fresh, vibrant palate offers sweet black cherries, smoke, licorice, and spice all the way through to a creamy, soft, and supple finish. This will be fabulous to enjoy on release while waiting for the Grand Vin to develop. The wine blends 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, and 4% Petit Verdot, setting a record for the highest proportion of Cabernet ever used in the blend. Drink from 2026-2040. 92 Pts
2023 Siran – Margaux – Smoke, flowers, licorice, and black raspberries pop in the perfume, while the soft, elegant, sweet, fruity palate seals the deal. Drink from 2028-2042. 93 Pts
2023 Tayac – Margaux – With a perfume of espresso, cherries, and flowers, the wine opens on the medium-bodied palate with sweet, red fruits offering a light, soft touch. This will be easy to enjoy on release. Drink from 2027-2034. 90 Pts
Up next, we continue our look at 2023 Bordeaux with 2023 Pessac Leognan/Graveshttps://www.thewinecellarinsider.com/2026/03/2023-st-julien-wine-report-with-guide-to-all-the-best-wines and in case you missed it, 2023 St. Julien
