2011 Pavillon Rouge du Margaux

Initially shows lovely bright, crunchy fruit with plenty of ripe redcurrant and red apple flavours. It�s elegant and refined but lacks the obvious extra punch of the grand vin as you might expect. The tannins are fine-grained and hold everything together along with that good backbone of acidity. Touch of spice from the Petit Verdot adds character and an inky colour.

The 2011 Pavillon Rouge du Chateau Margaux is one of the finest examples of this cuvee I have ever tasted. It hit 13% natural alcohol and represents only 28% of the harvest. This blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc reveals more structure than most vintages in addition to lots of dark berry fruit intermixed with hints of wood smoke, forest floor and spring flowers. Very pure with striking minerality as well as a long finish, it should drink well for two decades or more.

The Pavillon Rouge is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc. It has a very fine, elegant bouquet with blackberry, briary, black olive and a strong mineral content. It is finely focused, but not potent. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp, tensile tannins on the entry and a core of brine-tinged black fruit. It errs towards a more masculine Pavillon than feminine, prioritizes focus over flamboyance with a tightly-wound, citric finish. This is very fine, but it will need two or three years in bottle. Tasted April 2012.

[65CS/25M/8PV/2CF] Fine, stylish, mineral nose; moderately concentrated, firm in tannin, vital in acidity; long, taut, mineral infused flavour, freshly ripe red fruit all in a slightly austere mould, freshness and definition in an ascetic style; a linear, slender wine, no weakness, but perhaps a bit of a lack of flesh. 2022-32+ [M.Schuster, Bordeaux Mar/Apr 2012]

Combines both silky texture and good tension, with a light chalky thread running through the middle of the almost plush plum and blackberry fruit. There's a bright cassis bush edge as well (telltale of the Petit Verdot component), and overall there's a very suave feel through the finish, with a lingering jasmine edge. Tasted non-blind.-J.M.

The second wine of first growth Margaux shows some strength with muscular tannins and pretty fruit with hints of flowers and minerals. Slightly hollow in the mid-palate but very pretty.

Drink 2017-2030 Rich deep crimson. Bright aromatic cherry fruit. Full in the mouth even though the fruit is very pure. Tannins have a sort of flattened finesse, smooth but dry and carpet-like. Rounded and lots of clear fruit. Long, too, but overall lacks energy. (JH) 13%

Quality 570 | Brand 928 | Economics 932 |

buzz brand
Quality: Below the average quality score of its peer group for the 2011 vintage, 615 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 £45 for the 2011 vintage Production: Higher production than its peer group average of 112,956 bottles

- www.wine-lister.com June 2017