This is a wonderful Pavillon Blanc with great aromatics and powerful flavours that highlight how those cool summer nights have given real zip and freshness without losing intensity. Intense and concentrated flavours of quince, fleshy tropical fruits, nectarines and white peaches are combined with a mouthwatering tension that holds your interest and delivers a stunningly slatey, mineral finish. Margaux didn't lose anything to frost, so had a 22hl/ha yield after careful selection (a normal amount for the estate). It was an early harvest, from 28 August to 5 September. 20% new oak. 3.1pH. 98-100 points.
DecanterScore: 99/100Drink 2020-2035
This is very powerful with a super aftertaste of chalk, limestone, and crush sea shells. Full body, layered with phenolic texture that resembles a sleek red. Yet it’s fresh vivid all the time like the excellent white it is. The white pepper character combined with dried citrus is fabulous.
James SucklingScore: 97-98/100
The 2017 Pavillon Blanc is simply magnificent. Gracious and translucent in the glass, the 2017 is a terrific example of the vintage at its best. The flavors are bright and wonderfully sculpted, with plenty of citrus peel, orchard fruit and crushed rock nuances that develop as the wine builds into its creamy, resonant finish. Pavillon Blanc is the highlight this year at Margaux.
Antonio Galloni, VinousScore: 94-97/100
The 2017 whites are in the same league as the 2015 yet are drastically different in style, showing more freshness and minerality, while still being nicely concentrated. The 2017 Pavillon Blanc is a juicy, racy effort and offers a medium-bodied, vibrant, tight, salty style to go with classic notes of lemon, citrus, mint, and ample minerality. Drink it over the coming 15-20 years.
Jeb DunnuckScore: 93-95/100
Margaux has a spraying system to combat frost at the Pavillon Blanc vineyard, but they lost a bit of production, with yields finishing at 22 hectoliters per hectare. The nose of the 2017 Pavillon Blanc du Chateau Margaux is a little reticent to begin, giving way to beautiful white peach, grapefruit and lemongrass notes plus hints of mandarin peel, honeysuckle, baking bread and just a waft of ginger. The medium to full-bodied palate is very crisp and super intense, laden with citrus and stone fruit layers, coupled with a lovely satiny texture and plenty of weight without feeling heavy, finishing with incredible length and a lingering mineral note.
The Wine AdvocateScore: 93-95/100
Margaux has a spraying system to combat frost at the Pavillon Blanc vineyard, but they lost a bit of production, with yields finishing at 22 hectoliters per hectare. The nose of the 2017 Pavillon Blanc du Chateau Margaux is a little reticent to begin, giving way to beautiful white peach, grapefruit and lemongrass notes plus hints of mandarin peel, honeysuckle, baking bread and just a waft of ginger. The medium to full-bodied palate is very crisp and super intense, laden with citrus and stone fruit layers, coupled with a lovely satiny texture and plenty of weight without feeling heavy, finishing with incredible length and a lingering mineral note. Apr 2018, www.robertparker.com
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine AdvocateScore: 93-95/100
Very scented, intense citrus but also finely floral. Really floral. Peachy. Full in the mouth and great acid tension leaving the mouth clean. A floral scent on the palate too but it is quite delicate. There's a gentle creaminess and a slight lees grip yet the intensity is fruit-driven. Long and complete and just a light saltiness on the finish. (JH)
Jancis Robinson MWScore: 17.5/20Drink Drink2020-2030
The 2017 Pavillon Blanc de Margaux was picked 28 to 31 August and cropped at 22hl/ha despite the frost, which is about average for the last four years according to winemaker Paul Boscule. The bouquet is clean and pure with orange blossom and red apple, dried pineapple aromas that are very seductive. The palate is well balanced with a tang of orange rind and quince on the entry, just the right amount of bitterness to keep this Pavillon Blanc on edge, nicely focused with a hint of lemongrass towards the finish. Excellent.
Neal MartinScore: Drink 2021-2035
Bordeaux / France