Vibrant plum colour with violet edging, glass staining and gorgeous. A serious Pavillon Rouge, as is typical of the vintage, with fleshy raspberry and bilberry fruits, espresso and cocoa bean, precise and clean-cut, taking serious aim at the tannic frame. This is even more concentrated than 2016 in terms of the analysis, and the intensity of the fruit character suggests long ageing ahead of it. The estate saw 80mm of rain on August 13 but apart from that there was almost no rain for six weeks. 36hl/h yield (compared to 55hl/h in 2016, explaining the extra concentration here), 55% new oak for ageing. 94 points

The 2020 Pavillon Rouge has a delightful bouquet that unfurls beautifully in the glass: pure dark cherries, bilberry fruit, red plum and light damp mulch scents. Lovely delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins. Very smooth in texture, quite plump, just a slight savory/dark chocolate note emerges towards the piquant finish. This is going to be one of the more approachable Pavillon Rouge - just needs two or three years. 92 points

The 2020 Pavillon Rouge is just as gorgeous from bottle as it was from barrel. Rich and sumptuous, with no hard edges, the Pavillon Rouge captures the combination of fruit richness and energy that is such a signature of the year. Bright red-toned fruit, blood orange, cinnamon and mint are all beautifully delineated. Lively acids, sweet floral and vibrant saline notes extend the effortless finish. The 2020 is a gorgeous Pavillon Rouge. 94 points

Tasted blind. Deep crimson. Dark-fruited, open and floral plus a slight jamminess. Pretty oaky, especially on the finish. A bit dense and unyielding on the mid palate, the fruit currently dominated by the structure. Firm, dry finish. 17 points smell, dense red and black fruit and gravel, long and floral, too; full, concentrated, and vital in acidity, finely firm in surrounding tannin; pure, intense, vivid, red and black fruit in flavor, long and tasty, concentrated without any sense of thickness, a purity partly conveyed by the acidity making the juices run! A very nice depth of dark fruit behind the acidity, and fine, gently fragrant length. Complete, elegant, stylish. Drink 2028–50. 93–94 points