Owned by Edward III of England, the Albret and then the Montferrand families, the property served as a military base until 1802, when the Marquis de la Clonilla knocked down the fortress and built the residence that stands today. Until the 1960s the wins were usually excellent and sometimes grandiose. The legendary 1900 vintage was one of the most renown wines of the century. The property experienced a difficult period between 1963 and 1977, when due to a lack of investment, the quality of the wines declined. With the arrival of the Mentzelopoulos family, and thanks to the talents of Emile Peynaud, the wines regained their premier grand cru classé quality. 1978 saw the beginning of a succession of grandiose vintages. Château Margaux has a single block of vines, mostly planted on gravelly, sometimes clayey soil with a high proportion of limestone. The wines are characterized by a dark colour and complex seductive aromas of blackcurrants, cherries and violets. Recent vintages have presented an exceptional potential to age. Very rarely for the Médoc, the property also produces a superb, fruity, powerful white wine.