Pavillon Rouge 2016

The power and delicacy of a great Margaux wine

The estate

With origins dating back to the 12th century, the Château Margaux is one of those Grand Crus that have built the legend of the great wines of Bordeaux around the world. The château was awarded the title of Premier Grand Cru Classé in 1855 and was the only one of the four châteaux presented to have obtained a score of twenty out of twenty. With the acquisition of the estate in 1977 by André Mentzelopoulos, Château Margaux writes a new page in its history. Raising the Grand Vin de Château Margaux to the highest level, he reintroduced the Second Wine of the château, the Pavillon Rouge of Château Margaux, initiated in 1908. Following in her father's footsteps due to his premature death, Corinne Mentzelopoulos took up the family banner with energy and passion to maintain the rank of Château Margaux, which has become a Bordeaux masterpiece, so recognizable by its neo-Palladian style. Vintage after vintage, the estate's wines are among the greatest wines in the world.

The vineyard

The Château Margaux vineyard owes its uniqueness to its rare and unique terroir, located on a gravel mound. The grape variety of the estate gives pride of place to the flagship black grape of the area, the cabernet sauvignon, not forgetting the merlot, the petit verdot and the cabernet franc. The clay-limestone soils of the estate give birth to legendary wines, with a sleek and sensual appearance, so representative of the Margaux appellation.

The wine

After the mythical bottle of Château Margaux 2015 and from the 2016 vintage, the estate presents the new packaging of its wines. The bottles of Pavillon Rouge are now adorned with a darker color. The labels have been reworked with a font inspired by that of 1865. The writing of the Pavillon Rouge presents a bright and vibrant red. The packaging has also undergone modernization. The Pavillon Rouge 2016 from Château Margaux is thus packaged in pine wood cases adorned with the new stamp of Château Margaux and a black strap.

Vinification and aging

This second wine of Château Margaux is increasing in precision and quality through a constant search for selection of very good batches (26% of the harvest for this vintage). The Pavillon Rouge 2016 is aged in new barrels to the extent of 50 to 60%.

Blend

84% cabernet sauvignon, 13% merlot and 3% petit verdot.

Characteristics and tasting advice for the Pavillon Rouge 2016 from Château Margaux

Tasting

Nose
The nose expresses bursts of floral notes followed by black fruits. Swirling reveals some graphite notes with a nice freshness.

Palate
The palate is tender and tense with a refreshing sapid side on very straight tannins (due to the high proportion of cabernet sauvignon in the blend). The finish ends on a saline note and the whole has a real weight of wine and a very pleasant balance.