Margaux.
79% cabernet sauvignon, 14% merlot, 5% petit verdot and 2% cabernet franc.
Second wine of Château Margaux. Château Margaux, one of the most iconic and esteemed wine estates in Bordeaux, France, is located in the Margaux appellation. This historic château, classified as a First Growth in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification, has a legacy that dates back to the 12th century. Covering 262 hectares, of which 87 hectares are dedicated to vineyards, Château Margaux benefits from its exceptional terroir, characterized by deep gravel soils that are ideal for cultivating Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc.
James Suckling: 96-97/100
Very Chateau Margaux, with perfumed violets, currants and other berries, as well as oranges. Medium body with fine, caressing tannins that are tight and vivid. Racy and refined. Brightness and beauty to this second wine. Succulent. Refined. One of the best Pavillon Rouges in a while. 30% of the production. 79% cabernet sauvignon, 14% merlot, 5% petit verdot and 2% cabernet franc.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown - Wine Independent: 92-94+/100
The 2023 Pavillon Rouge du Chateau Margaux accounts for 30% of this year's production. Deep garnet-purple in color, it pops from the glass with vibrant notes of red and black currants followed by hints of rosebud tea, crushed rocks, dried Provence herbs, and Sichuan pepper. The medium-bodied palate delivers an impressive mid-palate of ripe, juicy red and black berry flavors with soft fine-grained tannins and well-knit freshness, finishing with a spicy lift. The blend is 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, and 2% Cabernet Franc, with pH 3.60.
Jane Anson: 93/100
An aromatic punch of white and red roses, feels very much in the DNA of the estate, with perfume, richly nuanced cassis, bilberry, tobacco leaf, cigar box. Fine tannins, with energy and clear - and this is a 2nd wine that elevates the possibilities of the 2023 vintage. September 11 through to October 5 for harvest, 30% of the production in Pavillon.
William Kelley - Wine Advocate: 92-94/100
Somewhat reminiscent of a cooler-fruited version of the lovely 2019, Château Margaux's 2023 Pavillon Rouge wafts from the glass with aromas of cassis, raspberries, licorice and pipe tobacco, deftly framed by creamy new oak. Medium to full-bodied, ample and fleshy, with a sweet core of fruit, ripe tannins and a lively, succulent profile, it's a blend 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc that attained 13.3% alcohol.
Philippe Bascaules describes the 2023 vintage as "another hot, dry year" at Château Margaux but one characterized by regular rains and comparatively overcast skies. Picking began on September 11 and concluded on October 5. Some fruit was lost to sunburn in the late-season heat wave, and removing those berries during harvest took time (sorting remains entirely manual at this estate, performed by the pickers in the vineyards). Some lots, especially Merlot, were very rich in juice and thus saw a saignée of up to 15%. It's also the first vintage in organic conversion at this address.