At a glance

Producer

Château du Tertre

Region

Margaux, Bordeaux, France

Grape variety

Bordeaux Blend (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot)

Wine type

Red

Body

Medium-bodied and Earthy

Sweetness

Dry

Typical price

$85-$140 (USD retail auction/secondary market, condition and provenance dependent)

Tasting profile

Mature bouquet of dried currants, leather, cedar, truffle, sous-bois, faint violets, fading red and black fruits, supple earth-driven palate, resolved tannins, gentle finish.

Evolution: Primary fruit flavors receding, secondary notes (cedar, pencil shavings, dried herbs) and tertiary development (mushroom, earth, tobacco/leafy notes)

At peak: At peak 2012-2016: vibrant fruit + classical Margaux florals, now showing soft tertiary charm but in graceful decline

Structure

Acidity

Moderate; giving good freshness without sharpness, holding balance with aging

Tannins

Softening, integrated; were moderately firm in youth, now resolved

Alcohol

12.5% ABV (typical for the estate/vintage)

Aging potential

Waning; structure still present but fruit now fading—drink now through 2026 at latest

Drinking window

Peak drinking

2011 to 2020

Optimal window

2007 to 2023

Current status

Late in the optimal window

Current condition

Mature, tertiary notes developing, should be consumed soon for best quality

The 2001 vintage for Margaux is classic, not as powerful as 2000 but elegant and well-structured. Château du Tertre excels with finesse and harmony; the wine reached full maturity several years ago and is now showing mature complexity typical for well-stored Bordeaux from this period.

Food pairing

Roast lamb, duck breast, mushroom dishes, truffle risotto, aged Comté, roast chicken with herbs.

Serving

Serving temperature

16-18°C / 61-64°F

Decant

Yes (30-60 minutes) — To allow sediment to settle and release mature aromatics; not for tannin softening

Sustainability

Sustainability score: 5/10

Conventional agriculture in 2001; vineyard management has since improved, but this vintage pre-dates most sustainability initiatives. Moderate chemical input likely, limited focus on energy/water conservation or eco-packaging for this release.

Château du Tertre, like many Bordeaux estates in 2001, followed traditional/conventional practices without certifications or strong sustainability initiatives. Progress toward sustainable viticulture at this estate began about a decade later. This wine’s production and packaging practices were standard for the era, with likely moderate chemical usage, no eco-certification, and standard (not lightweight) glass bottles. International transport from Bordeaux adds carbon footprint for non-EU purchasers. Improvements in sustainability at this estate are notable in more recent vintages, but for 2001, the wine rates as average (score: 5) for its time in terms of sustainability.