2022, Pavillon Rouge du Château Margaux, MARGAUX

Bordeaux Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc.

Margaux's second wine is made from a serious selection process that takes place at this first growth château. 2022 is a blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot (none in the grand vin) and 5% Cabernet Franc.

Glass-staining inky purple, fleshy damson and cassis fruits with spice and concentration. Captures the spirit of the vintage with plush damson fruits, edges of sweet spices and gun-smoke, but keeps the understated pleasure that Margaux specialises in, with soft peony aromatics. High Petit Verdot in this blend because using the 2% that normally goes into the first wine but is kept out in 2022. No pumping over, with director Philippe Bascaules making the choice to let extraction happen gently, with minimal intervention. 32% of the crop in Pavillon. 94 Jane Anson.

The 2022 Pavillon Rouge, which represents 32% of the production this year, has a highly perfumed nose with wilted violets chaperoning the copious black fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with fine boned tannins. Silky smooth and sensual, with a mineral-driven finish, this sashays along in style. One of the few 2022's whose barrel sample is so seductive I could have eloped with it there and then.  91-93 Neal Martin, Vinous.

The 2022 Pavillon Rouge is deep and perfumed, wafting from the glass with notions of cherries, raspberry preserve, lilac, violets and spices, followed by a medium to full-bodied, velvety and concentrated palate that's deep, rich and vibrant, with a tannic grain that resembles the grand vin this year. It represents just under a third of the estate's production. 92-94 William Kelley, Wine Advocate.

Beautiful vivid colour, bright and intense. Dark chocolate, cherries and subtle perfume on the nose. Bright and lively thought also lean and straight on the palate. A generous weight and intense grip to the tannins. It’s on the tense side, focussed with extreme precision to the fruit profile with racy acidity unpinning the tannins which are at the fore. Feels refined and elegant, more serious than some other second wines in its construction but is classy, juicy, sculpted and softly plush. The fruit has bite and tang, with liquorice and graphite edges and spiced accents giving angles but all enjoyable and really building to the whole. Great freshness and length. 94 Georgina Hindle, Decanter.

Drinking Window: 2026 - 2048