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PAVILLON BLANC

2014 du Château Margaux

Grapes Sémillon, Sauv
Colour White
Origin France, Bordeaux
ABV 14%

Paul Pontallier, says that a cool August is crucial in the making of a really great white in Margaux - if it is too hot the fruit ripens too quickly and the acidity is lost. 2014 gave good conditions for this - with almost three long, cool, gloomy weeks in August - ripeness came later with the sunshine in September, but the freshness was retained. They had to do a lot of work in the vineyards too - losing 65% of the crop - result is a beautifully balanced, concentrated wine with great, pert fruit extract and yet light on its toes with minerality and perky acidity keeping a lovely flow and feel in the mouth, impressive stuff. Rating: 94 L&S (Apr 2015)


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The 2014 Pavillon Blanc de Château Margaux is just a bit anonymous on the nose, despite encouragement. The palate is sharp on the entry, very edgy and sharp, verging on sour lemon mixed with lime and peach towards the finish. This is one of the few Bordeaux dry whites that improved with aeration and I ended up giving a higher score. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. Drinking range: 2018 - 2026 Rating: 92 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Mar 2018)

Lemon peel, white flowers, mint and slate are some of the many notes that are woven throughout the 2014 Pavillon Blanc. The interplay of bright, citrus-driven flavors and palate texture is compelling. This is the first vintage in which a portion of the Blanc was aged in 500-liter barrels, a format that helps preserve freshness and tension. In early 2015, I thought the Pavillon Blanc could be the most compelling of Margaux's 2014s. I still feel the same way. Drinking range: 2020 - 2044 Rating: 96 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Feb 2017)

The Pavillon Blanc de Margaux 2014 was elevated by a cool August that captured the acidity and the clement conditions in September. “It has the same opulence as 2011 and the freshness of 2012, but there is less quantity,” remarked Paul Pontallier. It has a fragrant bouquet with scents of honeysuckle, orange blossom and a fresh sprig of mint. The palate is ripe and focused on the entry, a white Bordeaux underpinned by a fine line of acidity, just a dash of lemongrass emerging towards the finish and lending spice. There is an endearing sense of harmony here. Mon. Pontallier is right to enthuse about this Pavillon Blanc, one of the finest in recent years. Drinking range: 2018 - 2030 Rating: 91-93 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (May 2015)

This wine isn't currently part of a mixed case, but you can always browse our full selection of mixed cases here.
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