France

Sauvignon Blanc

Savagnin Blanc

Ch. Margaux

Pavillon Blanc du Chateau Margaux

Bordeaux

Pale gold in colour, maintaining pale green reflections even in such a hot vintage, and this delivers a sharp almost steely feel, with a white flower and citrus kick. The luscious aspect of the year comes through with lemon confit through the mid palate, and overall the fruit flavours and textures are creamier than in 2021, but this has nuance and lift. The team at Margaux, led by Philippe Bascaules, is always so careful to avoid skin contact in the whites, and only use the first fraction of the juice that comes out of the press;, and it pays off in this exceptional wine. 3.18ph (higher than last year but still low enough to give clear grip). Harvest for the whites from August 18 for five days. 14h/h yield, extremely low, with 50% of the crop in Pavillon Blanc (they are introducing a 2nd white wine this year, although name not yet announced).

Inside Bordeaux

The 2022 Pavillon Blanc du Chateau Margaux is made from 100% Sauvignon Blanc, with very tiny yields this year of only 14 hl/ha. It waltzes out with gregarious notes of fresh peaches, green mango, and lime cordial with fragrant wafts of jasmine, chalk dust, and sea spray. The medium-bodied palate is coated with citrus and tropical fruit layers with expressive chalky sparks and a long zesty finish.

by Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW

Anis, fennel, white tea, citrus, lemon zest, kiwi, slate, a balanced and generous nose, and a ton of juicy mouthwatering waves that hit pretty much immediately, and keep on coming. 20% new oak, in 400l casks. Perhaps ready to drink a little earlier than the 2021 - this is generous and deliciously sappy and appealin. Harvest 2 to 8 September, 3.2ph. Philippe Bascaules estate director.

White peach flesh on the opening gives an opulent start that quickly narrows inwards to flint and steel. An exceptional white wine, with sculpted charm, showcasing citrus, lime zest, green apple, anis and sage. Harvest August 23 to 30, yields 37hl/h compared to 15h/h in 2022.

Aniseed, quince, fennel, sage, lime zest and slate grip, this slides along the palate, building to mouthwatering finish. A great white wine that pulls you up short, it was brilliant En Primeur, and is better now. Intense cut grass and steel, just enough tension to kick up a little drama, stretching out over the palate, with plenty of lees stirring over ageing to round out the mid palate. One of the wines of the vintage. September 7 to 13 (unusual in recent years for white harvest to start in September rather than August).

The 2020 Pavillon Blanc du Chateau Margaux comes skidding out of the glass at high speed with vibrant notes of lemonade, fresh grapefruit, lime blossoms, and yuzu, followed by hints of coriander seed and chalk dust. The medium-bodied palate quivers with tension and energy, perfectly matching the vivacious citrus and mineral layers, finishing with epic length and grace. Pavillon Blanc has been bottled with a DIAM 30 cork since 2017.

High Sauvignon Blanc aromatics, with gunsmoke and flint reduction on the first nose, opening to juicy white peach, white pear, nuanced pumice stone minerality. Pavillon Blanc is one of the most structured white wines of Bordeaux, and reveals its complexities slowly, but already the texture tells you just what an exceptional vintage it is. Subtle yet unmissable.

The 2018 Pavillon Blanc du Chateau Margaux is closed at first with touches of lemongrass and lime leaves, giving way to yellow apples and pears, with a hint of wet pebbles. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is crisp, very structured, and tightly wound, with lots of citrus and mineral layers, finishing long and zesty.

A stunning wine that is full of finesse, with depth and concentration. The fruit majors on white peach, apricot and nectarine, slowly building and shot through with grilled spice and mouthwatering acidities. Grip and control throughout, but also generosity and just so much pleasure. I gave this 100 points in bottle and I stand by that now that it is 5 years old. A yield of 20hl/ha. 50 year old vines. 20% new oak. Philippe Bascaules director.

Category	White wine
Vinmonopolet no.
Producer	Ch. Margaux
Vintages	2022
Country	France, Bordeaux
Bottle	75 cl

Alcohol	%
Acid	%
Sugar	g/l

Packaging
Cork type
Selection
Wholesaler
Carrier