2017 Château Margaux Pavillon Rouge

95 POINTS

James Suckling

The quality of tannins in the Pavillon Rouge is really beautiful with extremely fine grain. It’s medium-bodied, fresh and silky. Racy and extended on the palate. Really pretty. Strength with elegance. Drink after 2022.

93 POINTS

Roger Voss - Wine Enthusiast

This wine is crisp, full of black currants and with attractive acidity as well as a firm texture. It is cool and classic, with a light touch of wood and tannin. It's likely to be ready from 2023.

93 POINTS

Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider

This medium-bodied wine, quite floral in nature, generates the perfect forum for the gently smoked, red fruits and pure cherry found on the nose and in the palate. The wine was made from blending 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot.

93 POINTS

Jeb Dunnuck

A wine that might be the best second wine in the vintage, the 2017 Pavillon Rouge offers a beautiful, classic Margaux perfume of cherries, cassis, flowers, and spice box. Possessing medium to full-bodied richness, again, an incredible floral character, ripe tannin, and incredible elegance, enjoy it anytime over the coming two decades.

92 POINTS

Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW - Wine Advocate

The 2017 Pavillon Rouge du Chateau Margaux is composed of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot, cropped at 35 hectoliters per hectare. Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, it leaps from the glass with lively notes of crushed redcurrants, warm cassis and wild blueberries plus hints of cinnamon toast, dried roses and lavender with a waft of chocolate box. Medium-bodied, the palate has a lovely skip in its step with bags of bright, crunchy red and black fruits and a soft texture of finely grained tannins, finishing long and refreshing. This label accounts for 22% of Chateau Margaux's production. Drinking Window : 2022 - 2038

92 POINTS

Jane Anson - Decanter

This has great concentration, with carefully balanced black fruits that are fleshy and inviting but unfussy. The berry size was a little bigger than last year after the September rains (70mm in 20 days) so there is a feeling of juice and mouthwatering seduction once you give it some time to work through the initial austerity. There's no dilution through the mid-palate, and it's one of the few second wines that really gets your attention in 2017. They lost 10% of the crop to frost, giving a yield of 35hl/ha, with no secondary fruits used in Pavillon or Margaux (not even the first generation buds from any affected plots). 22% of total production is the lowest ever for Pavillon, and combined with the low yield means there will be 40% fewer bottles. The vineyards were entirely organically farmed in 2017, although there are still no plans to go for certification. Harvested 18-26 September. 3.7pH. IPT 73 - as high as last year. 4% Cabernet Franc also in the blend. Will be 60% new oak. Drinking Window 2024 - 2038

91 POINTS

Antonio Galloni MW - Vinous

The 2017 Pavillon Rouge is soft, luscious and very pretty. Sweet red cherry, red plum, mint, spice, blood orange, cedar and tobacco contribute lovely touches of freshness. There is some firmness in the tannin that needs time in bottle to soften; otherwise, the 2017 is very nicely done. This is a very pretty, classy wine built on aromatic depth and persistence more than anything else.

90 POINTS

James Molesworth - Wine Spectator

Charming damson plum and black cherry fruit has melded nicely with notes of black tea, alder and lilac. The caressing finish shows good perfume. Wins on finesse. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2029. 8,333 cases made. — JM