The wine world, which had been so alarmed by the arrival of a 'Greek in the Médoc', suddenly became greatly worried when André Mentzelopoulos died in December 1980.

This irony can be explained by the fact that André Mentzelopoulos had won the confidence of even his greatest doubters through his energy and vision, which he passionately invested in Château Margaux, and which re-established the quality of the wine and the reputation of the estate at an almost spectacular speed.

His daughter, Corinne Mentzelopoulos, was also to take up the challenge. After a degree in Classics and the diploma of the Institute of Political Studies (Sciences-Po) in Paris, Corinne began as a product manager at the Havas agency. At the death of her father, she had by that time joined the family business as a controller at Primistères, the company which managed the Félix Potin shops. Her young age perhaps prevented her from fully appreciating the size of the task which was awaiting her. But this challenge was fortunately taken up and shared by the whole of the team at Margaux, which was managed at that time by Philippe Barré. He had been taken on by André Mentzelopoulos and knew that every effort had to be made to maintain the formidable momentum started by Corinne's father. Supported by the whole team at the estate, as well as the oenologist, Emile Peynaud (who also treasured fond memories of André Mentzelopoulos and knew that he couldn't disappoint the wine world, which was now watching his every move), Corinne set about her work, without any career training to prepare her for working in wine, and immediately took passionately to the cause of Margaux.

In 1983, Paul Pontallier, an agricultural engineer with a doctorate in oenology, joined the Margaux team (and the professional world at the same time), becoming the director in the place of Philippe Barré, who was leaving Margaux to retire. The investment programme set up by André Mentzelopoulos was pursued, so that very soon, Margaux was able to take up a new challenge -the incredible explosion in demand for Bordeaux wine from 1982 on.

The Americans were the first to demonstrate a new enthusiasm for the Great Classified Growths, followed by the more traditional connoisseur markets in Great Britain and Germany, then Japan joined the rush, along with wine enthusiasts in Hong Kong and Singapore as well as buyers in the ex-Soviet Union countries, China and so on.

The wines of Bordeaux may have been appreciated for many centuries, but they had never experienced success like this before; wine lovers arrived from all over the world to tour the châteaux, participate in tastings, compare and make notes and enjoy the wine.

Bordeaux was blessed with an amazing run of great vintages, which reached its summit with the 2000. Meanwhile, the Félix Potin company was being transformed, under the management of Jacques Vincent, who had partnered André Mentzelopoulos for 30 years. The shops were sold, the prestigious real estate was developed, and the group - now called Exor - became the most famous shareholder of Perrier, the top mineral water company in the world at that time. Corinne Mentzelopoulos therefore had to find backing in developing a group that seemed unwise to manage alone, especially at a time when Jacques Vincent was soon going to retire. At the beginning of the 1990s, an exchange of shares was negotiated between Exor and Ifint, the international investment holding company, controlled by the Agnelli family and directed by Gianni Agnelli, the chairman of the Fiat motor company. This partnership, in which the majority of the capital of Château Margaux was handed to a company controlled by the Agnellis, in fact allowed Corinne to devote most of her time to what interested her most passionately -the managing of the estate (of which she was also still a shareholder), whereas the rest of her assets were managed by friends and partners. This harmonious partnership lasted for 10 years, until 2003, when the Agnelli group decided to sell the shares they held in the capital of Château Margaux. Corinne Mentzelopoulos bought them back immediately, therefore becoming the sole shareholder of the domain.

It is more a question of being worthy of the heritage of Château Margaux, whilst constantly bringing what we do into question so as to improve, to perfect what still can be made more perfect, in keeping with this unique heritage, which is Château Margaux.

The strengthening of the estate management team in 1990 with the arrival of Philippe Bascaules, an agricultural engineeer, like Paul Pontallier, and the creation in 2000 of a post for research and development, are moves in this direction : to be worthy of the history of Château Margaux whilst progressing in the minutest details, so as never to disappoint wine enthusiasts anywhere in the world. You who have come onto our website to read these pages, or you who have some bottles of Château Margaux in your cellar : we want you to know that you give us our stimulation.

Thank you.