Pavillon Rouge 2003

Aromas of blackberry and lightly toasted oak follow through to a full-bodied palate, with chewy tannins and a rich, fruity aftertaste of plum, berry and vanilla. All there. Solid wine. Best after 2011. 14,165 cases made.

Big, round, and juicy, with lots of plummy and chocolate character. Full and round, very yummy. Why wait? Find the wine

04: It had been a long time since Pavillon showed such a deep color; dark, dense purple. Spicy bouquet, dried damson skins, inky notes and dried pomegranate seeds. On the palate, surprisingly profound, walnut wood, plenty of substance, slightly velvety texture, lots of backbone. Not a delicate Pavillon, but rather a very good Cru Bourgeois, indicating a relatively long life. 17/20 2009 – 2018

The second wine of Château Margaux is certainly as good as many crus bourgeois. This vintage is ripe and elegant. For fruit that is so ripe what is fascinating is the way the wine finishes with acidity and a great lift. Delicious in three to five years. Imported by Diageo Chateau & Estates.

Also a stunning wine, the 2003 Pavillon Rouge du Chateau Margaux is a sleeper of the vintage. Much fresher and less evolved than I would expect a second wine to be from this vintage, it is a Margaux-like effort with a flowery character, good precision and freshness, red and black currant notes, and an attractive, medium-bodied, surprisingly concentrated mouthfeel. It is clearly one of the finest second wines made in this vintage. It can be consumed over the next 5-8 years.