Wine Advisor
Pavillon Rouge du Chateau Margaux 2012
View analysis
Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2012 Pavillon Rouge is soft, supple and open knit, with plenty of dark red cherry, cherry pit, tobacco and brambly flavors. Initially a bit brooding, the 2012 becomes more finessed with time in the glass. Sweet floral and minty notes add freshness on the finish. The tannins are silky and polished throughout. Drink this supple, forward Pavillon Rouge over the next decade or so.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2012 Pavillon Rouge de Château Margaux has a pretty nose with well-defined, predominantly red fruit mixed with rose petals and scents of bergamot tea. Understated yet focused and delineated. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins. Quite spicy with a generous dollop of black pepper mingling with tobacco notes towards the structured finish. This has held up well, though it is difficult to envisage further melioration in bottle. Tasted twice at Bordeaux Index's Ten Year-On tasting and blind at the Southwold Ten-Year On tasting.
Reviewed by: James Suckling
A pleasant finish of ripe tannins and fresh fruit with minerals and chocolate. Full body. Slightly hollow middle-palate.
Reviewed by: James Suckling
A gorgeous red now with chocolate, berry and light mineral character. Full body, round and velvety tannins. So drinkable now and yummy. A blend of 63% cabernet sauvignon, 33% merlot, 1% cabernet franc and 3% petit verdot. Drink or hold.
About the Producer
Sold under the name of “Château Margaux 2nd wine”, it took its permanent name of Pavillon Rouge du Château Margaux in 1908. After an eclipse between the thirties and the mid-seventies, its production restarted on the arrival of André Mentzelopoulos in 1977 and at first greatly increased in order to improve the quality of the first wine. From the mid – 1990s, the creation of a third wine in its turn, allowed for a more and more rigorous selection for Pavillon Rouge. For a few years now, a third of the harvest has gone into the first wine, barely 30% into the Pavillon Rouge, and the remainder is divided between the third and fourth wines. The quality of Pavillon Rouge has become very close to that of the first wine because all the plots involved contributed to the blending of Château Margaux not so long ago. Of course there isn’t the same complexity, the same depth, the same “magic” but the flavours are close and the balance in the mouth leads to the same subtle senses of power and softness. In general it is ready to drink a little earlier whilst retaining an excellent potential to age largely beyond 30 or 40 years.
1977(1)1983(3)1984(1)1985(3)1986(2)1988(1)1990(2)1991(3)1994(3)1995(5)1996(9)1997(1)1998(6)1999(5)2000(8)2001(8)2002(5)2003(12)2004(3)2005(9)2006(4)2007(6)2008(12)2009(5)2010(12)2011(7)
Package Size
