From: Bordeaux, France
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot
The first in a trio of great vintages & one that has been rather overshadowed by the 89s and 90s. Definitely the most "classic" of the trio, with many of the wines not being overtly fruit-driven but having levels of extract and concentration that make them perfect candidates for extended cellaring.
The production of a second wine probably goes back to the beginning of the XVII century because it is inseparable from the search for excellence that started at that time. Sold under the name of "Chateau Margaux 2nd wine," it took its permanent name Pavillon Rouge du Chateau Margaux in 1908. After an eclipse between the thirties and the mid-seventies, its production was reinstated on the arrival of Andre Mentzelopoulos in 1977 and at first, greatly increased in order to improve the quality of the first wine. From the mid-1990s, the creation of a third wine in its turn allowed for a more and more rigorous selection for Pavillon Rouge. For a few years now, a third of the harvest has gone into the first wine, barely 30% into the Pavillon Rouge, and the remainders divided between the third and fourth wines.
The quality of Pavillon Rouge has become very close to that of the first wine because all the plots involved contributed to the blending of Chateau Margaux not so long ago.
92 Points -Wine Spectator
