Incredible clarity and freshness with minerals, lemons, chalk and steel. It’s so racy and exciting. Changes to white peaches and mangoes. Just flies at the end of the palate. Super subtle. Delicate yet agile and powerful. Pinpointed structure and flavors. It lasts for minutes on the palate. Just a hint of lemon rind and salt. A triumph. Better in 2018. But who can wait?

[100SB] A concentrated and vigorous wine; vibrantly fine Sauvignon Blanc to taste, dry yet ripe in flavour, very aromatic, full of vitality, and with exceptional fragrant persistence; elegant, energetic, a really racy, thoroughbred expression of the grape. A beautiful Pavillon Blanc, one of the best I can remember. 2015-25? 17.5/18 [M.Schuster, Bordeaux Mar/Apr 2013]

The 2012 Pavillon Blanc comes across as a bit closed today and far less expressive than the reds. Green pear, grapefruit, white flowers and lime unfold in a graceful, exquisite Pavillon Blanc built on delicacy and finesse, while the bright, saline-infused finish makes it virtually impossible to resist a second taste. Tightly-wound and energetic to the core, the 2012 appears to have a very bright future.

Great, flinty grassy nose. Intense palate of grapefruit, lime and smoke, pretty explosive with a long finish. It’s got a waxy, viscous character which is quite at odds with the sharpness of the fruit – all quite enthralling stuff. Suspect this will go a long time.

Features pure notes of stone, chamomile, white peach, lemongrass and kaffir lime. Offers a lovely, sleek feel and a long, graceful finish, with a high-toned echo of talc on the finish. Tasted non-blind. —J.M.

The Pavillon Blanc has one of the finest bouquets that I have tasted at this stage – much more Burgundy in style than I recall with superb minerality and delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with a lovely mango and dried apricot notes and supremely well judged acidity. There is a little more sophistication and complexity than in recent vintages with a suave, very focused finish. Tasted April 2013.

Delicious citrus notes with a hint of spring flowers and figs characterize this medium-bodied, fresh, lively 100% Sauvignon Blanc. Drink it over the next 10+ years, although this wine has a fabulous reputation for aging two decades or more.

(30% only of the crop. 'Someone is very sad', remarks Corinne. Paul Pontallier thought their 2011 Pavillon Blanc was the best ever. Fatter. They're now picking earlier. Sauvignon Blanc picked 10-14 September.)
MUCH tighter than in a ripe vintage. Very obviously Sauvignon – unlike some richer versions. Some sweetness on the palate. It spreads out, fans out. Lots of green fruit flavour. Still quite astringent on the finish. Long. Very tense and masses of acidity. 13.4%. Drink 2015-2022.