Chateau Margaux - Pavillon Rouge 2016

JAMES SUCKLING: JAMES SUCKLING:"The blackcurrant and floral aromas with brick and hot stones are tantalizing. Flowers underneath it all. Medium to full body, firm and silky tannins with beautiful ripeness that highlights the palate. Second wine of Château Margaux. Try after 2024."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: WINE ENTHUSIAST:"Barrel Sample. While this wine has high acidity, it also has intense tannins and concentrated black-cherry fruits. It is poised between a firm, concentrated structure and sophisticated fruitiness, suggesting the wine will age well over many years."

WINE SPECTATOR: WINESPECTATOR:"Features bracing hints of lemon pith, chalk, thyme and fleur de sel, but leans toward the plumper side in the end, with delicious shortbread and yellow apple notes stretching out through the finish. Shows remarkable purity and serious length. Sauvignon Blanc. Drink now through 2028."

WEINWISSER: WEINWISSER:"84 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 10 % Merlot, 6 % Petit Verdot. Purpurgranat mit violettem Rand. Dichtes, blaubeeriges Bouquet, dahinter duftige Veilchen und Pflaumenhaut. Am mittleren Gaumen mit stoffiger Textur, dabei hochelegant und viel Delikatesse zeigend, endet mit viel Frische auf Cassis- und Earl Grey-Noten. Sehr gut!"

THE WINE ADVOCATE: THE WINEADVOCATE:"Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Pavillon Rouge du Château Margaux (composed of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot) bursts forth with exuberant Morello cherries, black raspberries and cassis scents accented by touches of menthol, dark chocolate and garrigue plus a waft of tree bark. The palate is medium-bodied, very elegant, vivacious and fresh with satiny tannins and a nice long finish."

JEB DUNNUCK: JEB DUNNUCK:"The second wine of Château Margaux is the 2016 Pavillon Rouge, a blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, and 3% Petit Verdot brought up in 60% new barrels. It too is incredibly classic, elegant, and finesse-driven, with textbook Margaux aromatics of cassis, ripe cherries, and spring flower, medium body, subtle background oak, and lively acidity. It has real class and is capable of 2-3 decades of longevity."

FALSTAFF: FALSTAFF:"Dunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Feinwürzig unterlegte schwarze Beerenfrucht, tabakige Nuancen, ein Hauch von Kardamom, reife Kirschen unterlegt. Saftig, süße Pflaumenfrucht, runde Tannine, feiner Nougat, etwas Honig im Abgang, mineralisch, bereits zugänglich, etwas Schokolade im Rückgeschmack, zeigt gute Länge."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER:"Just squeezed lemons, hints of flowers, tropical accents, green apple and a few drops of honey make this a delicious, round, sweet, fresh, character driven"

DECANTER: DECANTER:"This has softened and deepened over the 18 months of ageing yet still has a touch of austerity and will take a few years to settle down. It's not as plump or generous as the 2015, but it's a beautiful wine that has balance and effortless class - a wonderfully poised Pavillon Rouge. 60% new oak has lent it some toasted almond and tarry notes. It represents just 26% of the harvest, making this the smallest ever percentage of the crop to make it into the second wine."