2011 Pavillon Rouge du Ch Margaux (Margaux)

The delicious, sexy 2011 Pavillon Rouge du Chateau Margaux reveals a dense ruby/purple color along with broad, expansive red and black fruit, flower and spice notes. Supple and round with finesse, elegance, complexity and richness, it is everything a second wine should be. Enjoy it over the next 15+ years. 89 points

The Pavillon Rouge is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc. It has a very fine, elegant bouquet with blackberry, briary, black olive and a strong mineral content. It is finely focused, but not potent. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp, tensile tannins on the entry and a core of brine-tinged black fruit. It errs towards a more masculine Pavillon than feminine, prioritizes focus over flamboyance with a tightly-wound, citric finish. This is very fine, but it will need two or three years in bottle. 89-91 points

Not quite up to the 2010, nor the 2009, but on the nose, the 2011 is as vibrant, floral, pure and fruity as ever. On the palate, it appears smooth and lifted -as often. Laced with taste and, this year, offering a particularly expressive presence between the mid-palate and the finish, where it performs at its best. Already incredibly sapid and impossible not to swallow. A wine of finesse and elegance. A blend of 65% cabernet sauvignon, 25% merlot, 8% petit verdot and 2% cabernet franc. 28% of the yield selected for the label - the smallest selection ever for Pavillon Rouge. Alcohol content. 13°. 89-90 points