Pavillon Rouge 2018

The Creaminess and Finesse of a Second Red Wine from Margaux

The property

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 received a score of twenty out of twenty. With the acquisition of the property in 1977 by André Mentzelopoulos, Château Margaux writes a new page in its history. Elevating the Grand Vin of 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 wines of the property are among the greatest wines in the world.

The vineyard

The vineyard of Château Margaux owes its uniqueness to its rare and unique terroir, located on a gravel mound. The grape variety of the property favors 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 style, so representative of the Margaux appellation. This vintage is made up of 30% of the harvest.

The vintage

The year 2018 was marked by record heat and abundant rainfall in the first half of the year, complicating viticulture, particularly with high pressure from mildew. However, a dry and hot summer, reminiscent of the 2009 vintage, allowed for a beautiful ripening of the grapes. The harvest, stretching from late August to mid-October, benefited from optimal conditions, without Botrytis and with a well-distributed maturity between the grape varieties. A rigorous selection of grapes and precise vinification ensured the quality of the vintage despite slightly reduced yields.

Blend

Cabernet sauvignon (69%), merlot (19%), petit verdot (9%) and cabernet franc (3%).

Characteristics and Tasting Advice for the 2018 Pavillon Rouge

Tasting

Silky, this wine reveals over the course of tasting ripe and concentrated aromas, combining richness, freshness and a beautiful tannic structure, with a long and elegant finish.