2023 Pavillon Blanc du Ch Margaux
Buying options
Tasting notes
In 2023 Pavillon Blanc du Ch. Margaux represents 45% of the white production at the château, with 50% going into the newly created second wine. It has a very fresh nose, dominated by citrus fruit, lime, grapefruit and white flowers. The salinity of this year’s Pavillon Blanc is striking on the palate, refreshing and concentrated, with oyster-shell and creamy notes. This is lovely. Aged in 25% new oak, with 13% alcohol and 3.15pH. Blend: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Critic scores
Average Score
James Suckling
Yohan Castaing, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
The 2023 Pavillon Blanc is elegant, gracious and light on its feet. This is an especially airy, lifted Pavillon Blanc. A heat spike starting on August 17 caused the technical team to accelerate harvest. Picking started on August 23 and wrapped up on August 30. There's good energy and tension here, but I find the 2023 a bit light on the mid-palate. Hints of lemon peel, sage, chalk, mint and white pepper linger on the brilliant finish.
Touch of reductive gunsmoke energy on the opening, with an expansive mid-palate, and a hum of white pear, mango, sage, dill, lemongrass, steel, oyster shell. Spends nine months on the lees during ageing. Harvest August 18-23, 34l/h yield, rebounding after the very low 2022. Philippe Bascaules director. 45% Pavillon Blanc and almost all of the rest in the 2nd wine.
The 2023 Château Margaux Pavillon Blanc is knockout stuff and consistently checks in with the crème de la crème of dry whites from Bordeaux. All Sauvignon Blanc, it has a riveting nose of honeyed limes, grapefruit, and mint. This carries to a medium-bodied white with remarkable purity, a racy, almost bracing spine of acidity, incredible precision, and a great finish. It's going to be incredibly long-lived, and I suspect 2-4 years of bottle age will help its acidity round into form.
About the producer
Ch. Margaux is one of Bordeaux’s most historic and famous estates. The only classified First Growth in Margaux, it epitomises the appellation’s elegance, while producing wines with fantastic ageing potential.