Margaux is the southernmost commune in the Haut-Medoc, on the left bank of the Gironde. It is the second-largest of the Medoc communes, after Saint-Estephe, but it has 21 Cru Classe chateaux, more than any other. The First Growth, Chateau Margaux, is the leading estate and one of the most coveted wines in the world.

Soils in Margaux are the thinnest in the Medoc, with the highest proportion of gravel. Harvest here is typically completed a week earlier than in the other communes, which can prove the deciding factor in the event of rain at harvest. This means that Margaux will outperform the other communes in vintages where rains strike in that critical week.

Cabernet Sauvignon dominates the blend here, as in the rest of the Medoc, but the wines are recognized as being the most perfumed and accessible of the named communes. (Wine/Appellations)