Château Margaux - Pavillon Blanc, Margaux

Pavillon Blanc, Margaux

The production of Pavillon Blanc is an age-old tradition at Château Margaux. It was sold in the 19th century as "vin blanc de sauvignon" and has existed under the brand name Pavillon Blanc since 1920, and its label, apart from a few compulsory legal details, has not changed since that date.

The twelve hectare vineyard is made up exclusively of Sauvignon white grapes. It is located on a very old plot belonging to the estate, which did not qualify as part of the Margaux appellation when the boundaries were officially set in 1955, because of the high risk of spring frosts. It is a great consolation today to be able to harvest a white wine, which is not just original, but of excellent quality, too. Production conditions have changed considerably since the end of the 1970s. The age of the vines and shorter pruning have enabled us to bring down the yield to under 30 hectolitres per hectare, without provoking an increase in vine vigour. Even though Sauvignon grapes are very prone to rot (Botrytis Cinerea), they can reach a level of ripeness which rids them of their vegetal characters and brings out floral and fruity notes. The vinification process simply aims to express as closely as possible the qualities obtained in the grapes.
 
The juices are settled after a long and delicate pressing, in other words, they are decanted after the lees have shed their heavy deposit, and ferment in barrels at a controlled temperature. After seven or eight months of ageing in the same barrels, the wine is bottled.
 
The tasting characteristics of young Pavillon Blanc - finesse, complexity, richness, length, are surprising, even astonishing for a wine made only from Sauvignon white. After one or two years, the wine goes through a slightly dull phase, which can last several years. It seems to be looking for its identity. However, seven or eight years after its bottling, all of a sudden, it reappears, still dazzling but more subtle, mellow and delicate. This is the time to start drinking it again; that is, if you have been able to resist the temptation until then. But don't be in too much of a hurry, it will continue to improve for many years.
 

  • 2009 Vintage

    • “This really sneaks up on you, with laser-like focus to the blanched macadamia nut, honeysuckle, white peach and creamed yellow apple fruit flavors. Very sleek and restrained, with a long, stone-framed finish that's as pure as freshly fallen snow.” 94 Points Wine Spectator

    • "Lemon pale, fresh and floral, much lighter in alcohol than in recent years and what it has lost in richness it has gained in minerality, both floral and steely and will age well.” 18/20 Decanter

  • 2008 Vintage

    • 91-93 Points Wine Advocate

  • 2007 Vintage

    • "Very pale color. Pungent, complex nose offers candied lemon peel, white peach, a note of honey and piquant mineral lift. Extremely powerful on the palate, with flavors of white peach and minerals and a chewy impression of extract. Boasts incredible volume and explosive fruit but today I am aware of the wine's high alcohol. Perhaps most impressive on the extraordinarily tactile finish: this struck me as one of the longest wines of any color or type that I tasted on my spring Bordeaux tour." 91 Points International Wine Cellar

    • "This is superracy and stylish, with mineral, lemon, lime, pineapple and papaya. Full, yet balanced and fresh, crisp and long. Wonderful." 91-94 Points Wine Spectator

  • 2006 Vintage

    It was the second time since its installation 25 years ago that our anti-frost system did not protect our vines: the first was on the 21st April 1991, when a horrendous, freak, winter frost occurred in the middle of spring; and then last April 11th, in a much subtler and therefore insidious way with temperatures that were so mild (but with abnormally high humidity) that we did not think it necessary to switch on our anti-frost spray system. Every now and then, Mother Nature takes pleasure in reminding us that our control over her is not as simple as we might think, by humbling us with a hard lesson of which she alone has the secret! The direct consequence of the frost was a reduction of at least 50% of an already traditionally low yield. However, such a small crop of grapes proved to be a boon for the ripening in summer, particularly during the first ten days of September when the heat wave set in. The berries acquired and maintained extraordinary concentration; and there was the added advantage that the picking took place before the September rain. The Pavillon Blanc 2006 is unparalleled: its alcoholic degree is almost 15; its aromatic richness and length on the palate are remarkable, without though matching the complexity of the 2004 and 2005. Its vivacity, especially, is such that the alcoholic degree almost goes unnoticed, and it pulls off the difficult feat of providing a fresh, sappy finish in line with the previous vintages. Could this be the terroir getting revenge on the vagaries of the climate?

    • "Produced from 100% Sauvignon Blanc, this superb dry, lemony white reveals hints of spring flowers, orange peel, crushed rocks, and a subtle touch of smoke. Medium-bodied with superb texture as well as purity, this is a dazzling example of white Bordeaux." 93 Points Wine Advocate

  • 2005 Vintage

    2005 appears to be the perfect replica of the great 2004 vintage in white. It has the richness and even the same alcoholic degree of 14.5, but it also has the finesse and the aromatic complexity; and especially the sap, vivacity and freshness. It is really hard to believe that in such a vintage this wine only comes from Sauvignon. Is it still necessary to repeat that the grape variety is nothing without its terroir, the terroir nothing without its vintage, and all of that is worth nothing without the careful work of the people involved in the wine growing?

    • "Intense citrus and tropical fruit aromas of warm grapefruit, lemon curd, pineapple and a fair amount of cedar. The rich, full bodied palate provides refreshing medium to high acidity balancing the concentrated toasted almond and lemon pie flavours. Long finish with a pleasant touch phenolic grip from the new oak. Just starting to be approachable." 93 Points Wine Advocate