Pavillon Rouge 2023

Pure-fruited, clear, with cassis, cherry, liquorice, iris; slender attack, remarkably delicate fruit, silky tannins, showing elegance and finesse, long finish. An excellent Pavillon Rouge.

Subtle aromatics, dried flowers, pot pourri, rose, blackcurrant and raspberry. Deep purple colour to the rim, vibrant but intense, some graphite and herbal Cabernet notes on the nose too. Bright and sharp, quite linear and a touch austere at this point, lean and straight - well defined and focused with lovely fruit intensity and purity. Not fleshy, but there's lots of energy and precision to this. Very classic and will round out nicely. 14% press wine. 60% new oak. 2% Cabernet Franc completes the blend. 68 IPT, 3.6 pH, 30% second wine production.

Flowers and spice, along with black cherries, a tobacco wrapper, and plums spring from the glass. Elegant, refined, soft-textured, and fresh, the silky-textured cherries are vibrant, bright, and lifted, with length and purity. The wine was made from blending 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, and 3% Cabernet Franc. 13.3% ABV. Drink from 2027-2043. 92-94 pts.

Dark ruby, purple reflections, delicate edge brightening. Delicate herbal savouriness, a hint of clove and cardamom, dark cherry fruit, blackberry, fresh mandarin zest in the background. Juicy, delicate fruit sweetness, fine tannins, good freshness, elegant and persistent, a finesse-rich food companion, mineral-salty finish.

79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot: 30% of the harvest represents this wine. Perfumed opening, red and blue berries, beguiling violet and iris aromas, and cassis drops. On the sublime palate, silky texture, tight-knit tannic framework, balanced verve, and medium body. In the focused, aromatic finish: blackcurrant, cooled wild-berry tea, and fine-grained astringency.

A lovely fresh, elegant nose offering fine definition and grain, delicate intensity and a refined textured side. It expresses notes of vibrant cassis, bright small red berries and, more subtly, bright small red fruits, combined with fine hints of racy minerality, subtle touches of star anise and a hint of infusion, toasted/fresh nuances and a very discreet hint of vanilla. The palate is beautifully guided, fresh and balanced, with a zesty backbone, brightness, good definition, a touch of pulpiness, a subtle spherical feel, a touch of roundness, indulgence and purity, almost a crystalline edge. It shows notes of pulpy/juicy blackberry, creamy cassis and, more subtly, bright/roasted raspberry, combined with touches of cornflower, star anise, infusion, as well as a subtle almost Ceylon tea hint and fine toasted notes, toasted almond, and a mineral, finely saline touch. The tannins are sapid, saline and fresh. A fresh, airy and voluptuous wine. Lovely texture and a subtle touch of pleasant bitterness on the finish/persistence.

95-97. Barrel Sample. A red-fruit aroma and rich tannins and black-currant flavors give this second wine of Château Margaux its complexity and structure. With more Cabernet Sauvignon than usual in the blend, the wine is sure to age well.