Pavillon Rouge du Château Margaux 2020

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.

The 2020 Pavillon Rouge is excellent, offering up aromas of raspberries and dark berries mingled with hints of cedar and rose petals, followed by a medium to full-bodied, vibrant palate with excellent depth and tension, concluding with a long, chalky finish. It's more tightly wound than the exceedingly demonstrative 2019, though in the fullness of time, it wouldn't surprise me if it ended up being just as good. 2027 - 2050

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. 2028 - 2055

A blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, and 2% Cabernet Franc, the 2020 Pavillon Rouge du Chateau Margaux is deep garnet-purple colored. It flows gently out of the glass with notes of black cherries, kirsch, and black raspberries, giving way to classic cassis, pencil shavings, and tar scents with a touch of lavender. The medium-bodied palate is finely knit and elegant, with seamless freshness and a compelling, grainy-textured, earth-laced finish.

Vibrant plum colour with violet edging, glass staining and gorgeous. A serious Pavillon Rouge, as is typical of the vintage, with fleshy raspberry and bilberry fruits, espresso and cocoa bean, precise and clean-cut, taking serious aim at the tannic frame. This is even more concentrated than 2016 in terms of the analysis, and the intensity of the fruit character suggests long ageing ahead of it. The estate saw 80mm of rain on August 13 but apart from that there was almost no rain for six weeks. 36hl/h yield (compared to 55hl/h in 2016, explaining the extra concentration here), 55% new oak for ageing.

Pavillon Rouge represents 31% of the production of Ch Margaux in 2020 (with 22% relegated to the third label Margaux de Margaux and 11% sold off in bulk). Comin in at 13.6% alcohol, the encepagement is 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc. Production is down 20% on 2019. Deep ruby in colour with an expansive, fragrant nose of dried violets, rich blakckcurrant and a red plum. The spice is elegant and fine. Good vibrancy with bright hedgerow fruit at the core. The tannins offer enough grip to age but this is finely etched and should drink well fairly young. Long finish.

75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc. 31% of the production. Cask sample.
Pronounced fruit and freshness with finely matted, powdery tannins that provide elegance and a suavity of texture. Aromatic and juicy on the finish. Medium to long ageing potential. (JL) 13.6%
Drink 2027 – 2040

(75% CS, 18% M, 5% PV, 2% CF; 36hl/ha; 13.5% ABV; 50% new)
Dark, rich, and vivid to smell, dense red and black fruit and gravel, long and floral, too; full, concentrated, and vital in acidity, finely firm in surrounding tannin; pure, intense, vivid, red and black fruit in flavor, long and tasty, concentrated without any sense of thickness, a purity partly conveyed by the acidity making the juices run! A very nice depth of dark fruit behind the acidity, and fine, gently fragrant length. Complete, elegant, stylish. 2028–50.