2023 Pavillon Blanc Second Vin
Buying options
Tasting notes
The nose is beautifully expressive, with fresh pear, chalk, lime juice and grapefruit pith. On the palate, the wine is long and taut – yet with a waxy texture that might lead you to believe there’s some Semillon in the blend. This is pure Sauvignon Blanc, however – pure and vibrant, green-fruited yet not at all green. Forget cat’s pea and any grassy, herbaceous tones: this is a wine about tension and freshness, with hints of jasmine and honeysuckle. It’s vibrant and bright, with a satisfying bitterness to the long, mouth-watering finish. Already stunning now, this will only get better in bottle – with everything in place to allow it to evolve for 10-15 years. Sensational. With 13% alcohol and a pH of 3.15, the wine was matured in around 25% new oak. Around 20,000 bottles were produced.
Critic scores
Average Score
James Suckling
Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider
More reviews and scores
This is quite a big Pavillon Blanc with sliced pineapple, ripe apple, lemon and stone. It's full-bodied, layered and phenolic with a ripe sense to it, but then it’s citrusy and salty. Like fresh oysters. Reminds me of vintages from the 1980s, but with more freshness and clarity. 100% sauvignon blanc.
White flowers, pomelo, white peach, green apples, and tangerine create the perfume. The palate continues with that theme. It takes a second before the fruits sneak up on you and start to pop in the finish, leaving you with layers of sweet, vibrant, crisp, juicy citrus and green apples, with a complicating touch of chalk on the backend. The wine is produced from 100% Sauvignon Blanc. 13% ABV. 3.15 pH. Harvesting took place only in the mornings, from August 23 to August 30. Drink from 2025–2038. 95 pts.
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.