This the greatest Pavillon Rouge ever made. Aromas of flowers, smoke, currants and raspberries follow through to a full body, with super silky tannins and a long, long finish. This is balanced and refined with wonderful depth. Hard to believe it's a second wine. Better after 2018.

– jamessuckling.com, November 2013

A serious tone to the nose with inviting meaty, smoked black pepper and perfumed aromas. Succulent and supple on the palate, generous and full in the mouth yet also quite streamlined and linear. Lots of flavour but directed in one straight line at the moment with concentration and tension. This is extremely well structured with a pristine focus yet also a liveliness that makes it so enjoyable to taste. One that is giving pleasure now but will continue to age gracefully.

A serious tone to the nose with inviting meaty, smoked black pepper and perfumed aromas. Succulent and supple on the palate, generous and full in the mouth yet also quite streamlined and linear. Lots of flavour but directed in one straight line at the moment with concentration and tension. This is extremely well structured with a pristine focus yet also a liveliness that makes it so enjoyable to taste. One that is giving pleasure now but will continue to age gracefully. Drinking Window: 2022 - 2032
Tasted by: Georgina Hindle (at New York, 18 Jun 2022)
Part of Decanter New York Fine Wine Encounter: Château Margaux masterclass

The second wine, the 2010 Pavillon Rouge (essentially two-thirds Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest mostly Merlot with small quantities and Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc) looks to be a wine to age for 20 or more years, but it is quite drinkable already. Soft, supple and luscious, with oodles of blue and black fruits, the floral character one expects, and not a trace of herbaceousness, oak or aggressiveness, this is a beautiful, round, generous wine to drink over the next 18-20 years.

Robert Parker (Wine Advocate #205, Feb 2013)

Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The Pavillon Rouge has an introverted nose at first, but it opens nicely in the glass to reveal blackberry, sage and undergrowth scents. The palate is medium-bodied with a gentle, spice-tinged entry. Good extraction here, almost honeyed in the mouth but there is the acidity to keep everything in check. This Pavillon Rouge is "sweet 'n tender" and should age well. Tasted January 2014.

– eRobertParker.com, Mar 2014

Powerful but finessed classic, elegant, with depth and flavour that majors on black fruits and chocolate curls. The tannins here remain a little austere even at 12 years old. First time that the Pavillon Rouge, which made up 38% of the crop, accounted for the same proportion as the 1st wine. Needs time to open, but with a few hours in a carafe it shows its charm.

Rather dense and muscular, with a broad range of red and black fruits, roasted apple wood and red licorice flavors. Features an iron-packed finish, but with a velvety coating. Tasted non-blind. -J.M.

(38% harvest, 13.4%) [66CS/30M/4PV] Lovely nose of purely defined ripe red and blackcurrant fruit, with a fine minerality; perfectly constituted second wine, fresh, ripe, concentrated in fruit, fine in its frame of tannin; a lovely density and purity of flavour, long, refined and fresh, with pronounced pebbly aromatic aromas on the finish under the sweet, pure red fruit. Great, and wonderfully complete Pavillon Rouge, probably up to the quality of the Grand Vin in many vintages of the the 80's and even 90's. As Paul Pontallier is himself at pains to point out! 2022-35+ [M.Schuster, Bordeaux Mar/Apr 2011]

Deep garnet in color, the 2010 Pavillon Rouge du Chateau Margaux offers up scents of blackcurrant cordial, wild thyme and fertile loam with hints of cedar chest, pencil lead and tar. Medium-bodied, the palate is just a tad lean with chewy tannins and bold freshness, finishing on an herbal note.

Actually higher in alcohol than its bigger sister, Chateau Margaux, the 2010 Pavillon Rouge (66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and the rest Petit Verdot) hit 14% natural alcohol. Paul Pontallier proclaimed it the best they have ever made, representing only 38% of production. (This wine also undergoes a serious selection.) Plenty of black fruits, violets, forest floor and earth are present in this wonderfully textured, opulent wine, which will provide immediate gratification when it is released in a year. It should drink nicely for up to 15 or more years.

Quality 821 | Brand 928 | Economics 923 | buzz brand
Quality: Above the average quality score of its peer group for the 2010 vintage, 771 Brand: We found this wine on 14 of the world's top restaurant wine lists, including Pollen Street Social Economics: Above its peer group average price of £65 for the 2010 vintage Production: Higher production than its peer group average of 112,956 bottles

- www.wine-lister.com June 2017

Tasted blind. Deep garnet with brick rim. Sweet, mature and seductive on the nose. In the context of 2010, the tannins are smooth and there’s very good freshness to the long finish. Chewy, deep, balanced. (JH)