Actually higher in alcohol than its bigger sister, Chateau Margaux, the 2010 Pavillon Rouge (66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and the rest Petit Verdot) hit 14% natural alcohol. Paul Pontallier proclaimed it the best they have ever made, representing only 38% of production. (This wine also undergoes a serious selection.) Plenty of black fruits, violets, forest floor and earth are present in this wonderfully textured, opulent wine, which will provide immediate gratification when it is released in a year. It should drink nicely for up to 15 or more years. 90-92 points

A blend of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot (from plots replanted by Paul Pontallier 14-15 years ago) and 30% Merlot, the Pavillon has a very dense bouquet of blackberry, a touch of cassis, violet and a little graphite/oyster shell. The palate is medium-bodied with very structured tannins, the acidity very prominent on the entry and cutting a swathe though that blackberry, graphite and just a faint hint of bl ueberry. There is bewitching symmetry towards the long finish. Superb. Tasted March 2011. 92-94 points

My best score ever given to this cru en primeur. Definitely the greatest Pavillon Rouge that I have ever sampled. There are two reasons for this superb rise in quality. a more ruthless selection of the yield compared to last year -45% in 2009 Vs 38% in 2010 - and the highest percentage of cabernet sauvignon ever. Dark-hued wine. Absolutely magnificent on the nose. wonderfully intense, refined and floral. It has never been so close to Chateau Margaux. Showing the grand vin`s glamourous feel on the palate right from entry then melting and smooth. Particularly well-crafted and crammed with savours throughout. On finish, the wine lingers on, revealing layers of complex aromas. Magnificent. Alcohol content. 14% - A blend of 66% cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot and 4% petit verdot. 92 points