Over the years, one thing has become increasingly clear to us, if you want to experience the magic of Château Margaux without stepping into First Growth pricing, Pavillon Rouge is a brilliant, world class starting point.

Produced by the legendary estate of Château Margaux, Pavillon Rouge is not just a “second wine.” It comes from the same extraordinary gravel soils in the Margaux appellation and is made by the exact same winemaking team. The difference is simply selection. Parcels and lots not chosen for the Grand Vin are blended into Pavillon Rouge, allowing the château to maintain the absolute precision of Château Margaux while producing a wine that is slightly more approachable in its youth.

And in the modern era, the quality of Pavillon Rouge has never been higher. In fact, the wines on today’s offer would trump many a Margaux from the not-so-distant past! Thanks to increasingly strict vineyard selection and the massive investments made at the estate over the past two decades, Pavillon Rouge has evolved into what many collectors consider the greatest second wine in Bordeaux.

Right now, we have access to three remarkable vintages that perfectly showcase the range of the wine: 2020, 2021, and the blockbuster 2022.

The 2020 vintage is classic modern Bordeaux. Built primarily on Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot and touches of Petit Verdot, the wine shows gorgeous aromas of cassis, dark cherry, violets, and graphite. On the palate it is structured and layered with silky tannins and tremendous depth.

From James Suckling, “97 Points! Subtle and attractive aromas of blackcurrants and flowers with hints of spices. Black truffles as well. Medium to full body, with fine tannins that are nicely integrated and racy. Succulent at the end. Umami, too.”

The 2021 vintage is a completely different personality. After the warm trio of 2018–2020, 2021 returned to a cooler, more classical Bordeaux style. This wine leans into elegance and perfume, a 96 Point wine with a blend of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 4% Cabernet Franc. The structure is refined, balanced, and lifted, delivering the kind of finesse that Margaux lovers cherish.

From Suckling, “96 Points! This wine has a tightness and linear energy, with red currants, herbs, plums and hints of dark chocolate. Medium-bodied with beautiful integration and length. Racy and focused. Just the right amount of wood and fruit with tannins.“

Then there is 2022.

The 2022 vintage is shaping up to be one of the great modern Bordeaux harvests, and Pavillon Rouge absolutely delivers. With a blend led by Cabernet Sauvignon and supported by Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc, the wine is rich, layered, and incredibly polished. The aromatics explode with redcurrant, blackberry, violets, and hints of cedar. On the palate it is plush and seamless with remarkable depth and length.

James Suckling awarded the 2022 Pavillon Rouge 96 points noting, “A plush and opulent Pavillon Rouge with plums, boysenberries and hints of cedar and chocolate. Full-bodied, this has lovely powdery tannins and a long and flavorful finish. Juicy and delicious, it's so attractive now that it’s hard not to drink. 64% cabernet sauvignon, 24% merlot, 7% petit verdot and 5% cabernet franc.”