Elegant and precise, this second wine of Château Margaux impresses with aromas of blackcurrant, cedar, rose petal, and subtle spice. The palate is vibrant and poised, with juicy dark berries, fine tannins, and a long, chalky finish. Smooth yet structured, it blends energy and refinement in a classic Margaux profile. A serious, age-worthy wine with alluring floral lift and umami depth.

Jamessuckling.com | JS 97
Published: Mar 30, 2023

Subtle and attractive aromas of blackcurrants and flowers with hints of spices. Black truffles as well. Medium to full body, with fine tannins that are nicely integrated and racy. Succulent at the end. Umami, too. Drinkable but better after 2027.

Decanter | D 94
Published: Jan 5, 2022
Drink: 2024-2038

Liquorice and aniseed tinged blackcurrants on the nose, very medicinal, deep, heady, perfumed too but softly scented, more savoury and spiced. Smooth and supple, fully tannic - they coat the mouth but seamlessly still leaving the vibrant, lively, forward and upfront fruit to shine. So much energy, crisp and crunchy dark fruit - blackcurrant, black cherry, raspberry and plum. A sense of heat enters on the finish with liquorice and clove coming through reminding you this is a serious wine with plenty of ageing potential. Excellent length and sense of classicism - a totally moreish Pavillon. 2% Cabernet Franc completes the blend.
Closure: Cork
Alcohol: 13.50%
Body: Full
Oak: Oaked
Grapes: 75% Cabernet Sauvignon 18% Merlot 5% Petit Verdot

The Wine Advocate | RP 93+
Published: Apr 6, 2023
Drink: 2027-2050

The 2020 Pavillon Rouge is excellent, offering up aromas of raspberries and dark berries mingled with hints of cedar and rose petals, followed by a medium to full-bodied, vibrant palate with excellent depth and tension, concluding with a long, chalky finish. It's more tightly wound than the exceedingly demonstrative 2019, though in the fullness of time, it wouldn't surprise me if it ended up being just as good.

Philippe Bascaules—who served as directeur de l'exploitation under Paul Pontaillier between 1990 and 2011—took the reins at Château Margaux in early 2017, and he and his team have crafted another brilliant wine in the 2020 vintage. Meticulously maintained vineyards, situated on the appellation's finest terroirs, are farmed intelligently, without deleafing or green harvesting—something other producers increasingly emulate as they pull back from the excesses of the early 2000s. Cabernet Sauvignon is on the increase, both in terms of plantings and as a percentage of the blend (it represents 90% of the grand vin in 2019), which works perfectly with Margaux's soils and the estate's elegant but concentrated style. Winemaking is very traditional, with classical macerations and an 18-month élevage in new oak (most barrels are produced in-house) punctuated by six rackings and one egg-white fining. An in-house bottling line is being acquired to bring even greater control and flexibility. Natural cork is the order of the day for the reds, of course, but whites now see Diam 30 to ensure consistent evolution, and all are bottled in Margaux's new proprietary extra-dark glass bottle.

Jancisrobinson.com | JR 17
Published: Jan 25, 2024
Drink: 2027-2040

Tasted blind. Deep crimson. Dark-fruited, open and floral plus a slight jamminess. Pretty oaky, especially on the finish. A bit dense and unyielding on the mid palate, the fruit currently dominated by the structure. Firm, dry finish.

Chateau-margaux.com

The Pavillon Rouge 2020 blend is fairly classic: 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc. Pavillon Rouge represents 31% of the harvest. Even though our selection criteria were as strict as for previous vintages, the percentage of Pavillon Rouge is slightly higher this year thanks to the consistency of quality conducive to great vintages. Besides this year's climatic conditions, we hope that this increased quality is also the fruit of our efforts in the parcels whose quality approaches that of the Grand Vin. (April 2019)