Pavillon Rouge 2015

Characteristics and tasting advice for Pavillon Rouge 2015 from Château Margaux

Tasting

Broad and beautifully dense, this vintage seduces with its spicy framework, refinement, and a persistent finish with peppermint aromas.

A dense and delicate second wine from Margaux

The estate

With origins dating back to the 12th century, Château Margaux is among those Grands Crus that have built the legend of the great wines of Bordeaux around the world. In 1855 the château attained the rank of Premier Grand Cru Classé and was the only one of the four châteaux presented to receive a perfect score of twenty out of twenty. With the acquisition of the estate in 1977 by André Mentzelopoulos, Château Margaux began a new chapter in its history. Elevating the Grand Vin of Château Margaux to the highest level, he reintroduced the estate’s Second Wine, Pavillon Rouge du Château Margaux, first created in 1908. Following in her father’s footsteps after his premature passing, Corinne Mentzelopoulos took up the family banner with energy and passion to preserve the standing of Château Margaux, now a Bordeaux masterpiece, instantly recognizable for its neo-Palladian style. Vintage after vintage, the estate’s wines rank among the greatest in the world.

The vineyard

The vineyard of Château Margaux owes its uniqueness to its rare and singular terroir, set on a gravelly rise. The estate’s varietal makeup gives pride of place to the area’s flagship black grape, Cabernet Sauvignon, without forgetting Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc. The estate’s clay-limestone soils give rise to legendary wines, with a racy and sensual character, so representative of the Margaux appellation.

Winemaking and aging

It is clear that the level of selectiveness has never been higher in crafting a second wine such as this Pavillon Rouge 2015. Proof of this is the reduction in the volumes of the second wine compared to the early 2000s (2006 to be precise). In 2015 the second label of Château Margaux accounts for only 23% of the harvest. Thanks to this rigor, the style of Pavillon Rouge continues to draw ever closer to that of the Grand Vin.

Blend

Cabernet Sauvignon (74%), Merlot (21%), Petit Verdot (4%), Cabernet Franc (1%).