Wine Advisor
Pavillon Blanc du Chateau Margaux 2006
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
(15.2% alcohol) Very pale color. Crystallized ginger, candied grapefruit, lime skin, melon and mint on the nose. Rich and quite primary, combining very ripe yellow fruit notes with more bracing licorice and mint. Very dense and quite dry, even a bit youthfully aggressive today. (This actually has 2.2 grams per liter of residual sugar, which is a definite positive for the balance of this outsized wine.) Conveys a tactile sense of mineral dust. The yield here was just 12 hectoliters per hectare due to spring frost, according to estate manager Paul Pontallier, and some lots came in with 16% potential alcohol. Very concentrated, palate-staining with a long pineappley finish that leaves the mouth feeling fresh.
About the Producer
Sold in the 19th century as "Château Margaux vin de sauvignon", it has existed under the brand name "Pavillon Blanc du Château Margaux" since 1920, and its label has not changed since then. This 11 hectare vineyard is planted exclusively to Sauvignon Blanc. It is located on a very old plot of the estate, planted long ago with red vines which were later dug up because of the high risk of spring frosts. Since 2009/2010, a complete review of production techniques and selection has been carried out in order to reach a higher level; only 1/3 of the harvest is bottled and the remaining 2/3 is sold in bulk. As a result, the quantity of white wine has been considerably reduced to no more than a thousand cases. Today, it benefits from the ultra-modern installation of the new cellar designed by Norman Foster. The finesse, complexity, richness and length of entry of the white wines are unparalleled for wines made from 100% Sauvignon Blanc. Recent vintages, notably the 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014, have broken new ground in terms of quality, ageing capacity and style, becoming more mineral and more complex. A large proportion of the harvest was bottled in magnums, creating optimal ageing conditions.
1959(1)1987(2)1992(1)1998(1)2004(2)2005(3)
Package Size
12 x 75cl
