Wine Advisor
Pavillon Rouge du Chateau Margaux 2020
View analysis
Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2020 Pavillon Rouge is just as gorgeous from bottle as it was from barrel. Rich and sumptuous, with no hard edges, the Pavillon Rouge captures the combination of fruit richness and energy that is such a signature of the year. Bright red-toned fruit, blood orange, cinnamon and mint are all beautifully delineated. Lively acids, sweet floral and vibrant saline notes extend the effortless finish. The 2020 is a gorgeous Pavillon Rouge.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2020 Pavillon Rouge shows just how compelling the vintage is. Rich red berry fruit, red plum, cedar, spice and licorice meld together in a sumptuous, racy yet impeccably balanced wine that is flat-out delicious. It displays tremendous reserve, freshness and nuance, and clean veins of salinity that refresh the finish. The blend is 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc. The Pavillon Rouge represents 31% of the harvest.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2020 Pavillon Rouge has a delightful bouquet that unfurls beautifully in the glass: pure dark cherries, bilberry fruit, red plum and light damp mulch scents. Lovely delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins. Very smooth in texture, quite plump, just a slight savory/dark chocolate note emerges towards the piquant finish. This is going to be one of the more approachable Pavillon Rouge - just needs two or three years.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2020 Pavillon Rouge de Château Margaux has an understated nose at first, gradually opening to offer raspberry and wild strawberry and subtle iodine scents in the background, precise but not wishing to create too much of a fuss. The palate is medium-bodied with a pliant opening. There is a discreet lushness conveyed by this Pavillon Rouge. At its core is brambly red fruit laced with white pepper and sour cherry, and just a faint pencil lead and black olive note right on the finish. I suspect that this will be a more approachable Pavillon Rouge compared to the 2018 and 2019, but it will certainly not shortchange anyone in terms of elegance.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2020 Pavillon Rouge du Château Margaux has a wonderfully delineated, utterly charming bouquet—pure and floral with enticing violets infusing the black fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with very pliant, finessed tannins. A gentle grip disguises the power of this Margaux, which is persistent and caressing on the finish—outstanding. This shoots well above my expectations! Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.
Reviewed by: James Suckling
Blackberry and graphite with dark fruit and violets on the nose. Very complex. Full-bodied with lovely, fine tannins that are lightly chewy. Extremely long and polished. Really refined. Integrated tannins. Wonderful length.
Reviewed by: James Suckling
Subtle and attractive aromas of blackcurrants and flowers with hints of spices. Black truffles as well. Medium to full body, with fine tannins that are nicely integrated and racy. Succulent at the end. Umami, too. Drinkable but better after 2027.
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)2012(11)2013(9)2014(18)2015(18)2016(18)2017(16)2018(23)2019(27)
Package Size
