Château Margaux presents organic wines with screw cap

During a presentation of alternatively cultivated wines, Paul Pontallier, CEO at the Château Margaux, explained the future direction: “It has not remained hidden to us that biologically dynamic viticulture is internationally higher estimated by traders as well as by consumers than conventional viticulture. After years of experimenting, we will orientate towards ecologic viticulture in the future. It will take some years until ecologic wines will be accepted but other Bordeaux-based estates, too, will set this course.”

In parallel to its ecological orientation, Château Margaux is as well experimenting with alternative caps. This is particularly important for the second wine of the Pavillon Rouge, a Premier Cru estate, which is to be closed with screw cap in the future. “Like other producers, we have problems with natural cork from time to time. Synthetic corks are out of question for us. Studies about that have shown unacceptable results. In tests with screw caps, however, we have had good experiences.”

So, the Château Margaux estate closed a series of red wines from the 2003 vintage partially with permeable screw cap, partially with impermeable screw cap, sealed and introduced at the wine presentation. The taster unambiguously preferred the wines with impermeable screw cap. “This is as well in agreement with our own tests in the winery”, Mr. Pontallier commented the result of the tasting, not surprised at all.

The same test with Margaux white wines from the 2004 vintage yielded a less unambiguous result. Here, the tasters as well as Mr. Pontallier preferred the wines with natural cork. “It is really difficult to draw the right conclusions”, Mr. Pontallier summarizes. But when we’ll see the screw cap to continue yielding good results, there are no more obstacles to a change of certain wine categories from our premises.” (red.yoopress)