2017 Pavillon Blanc de Chateau Margaux, Margaux

Winemaker Notes:  The Sauvignon Blanc’s earliness (harvesting took place between August 28th and September 5th) kept it safe from late-season rainfall. The grapes were in perfect condition and fine summer weather allowed them to ripen in the best of circumstances. As a result, their sugars concentrated while retaining excellent acidity that is essential to the balance of a great white wine. We selected the best from our plots in Virefougasse to blend a wine of complex aromas, with roundness on the palate and an extra-long finish with delicate notes of citrus and white flowers. The 2017 vintage is distinctive for its opulence and a very generous fatness that recall the finest Pavillon Blanc vintages.

CRITICAL ACCLAIM


Decanter - "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."


James Suckling - "So energetic and wicked, in a good way, with a subtle start to the palate. Then it takes off on the finish. Sliced dried-apple, green-pear and crushed-stone notes. So minerally and levitated at the finish. Great finish. Explosive. Drink now and enjoy the freshness and youth, or age as long as you like."


Wilfred Wong - "If one white wine can stand on the stage alone, it is the 2017 Pavillon Blanc du Château Margaux: it is a magnificent wine! TASTING NOTES: This wine has the precision of an artist. Its concentrated and focused aromas and flavors of green apple and mineral go beyond those descriptors. A decade or more of resting in the cellar will bring all of its hidden elements into focus, and the wine will perform its perfect solo performance for those who have the patience."


Jeb Dunnuck - "Another great white from this team, the 2017 Chateau Margaux Pavillon Blanc doesn't get the recognition it deserves, All Sauvignon, it has a rocking bouquet of white grapefruit, crushed citrus, salty minerality, and hints of mint. Rich, medium-bodied, ultra-fresh yet with terrific fruit, it can be drunk today or cellared for 10-15 years."


Robert Parker's Wine Advocate - "Chateau Margaux has a spraying system to combat frost at this vineyard. Still, yields were down to 22 hectoliters per hectare due to some crop losses. As always, the 2017 Pavillon Blanc du Chateau Margaux is made from 100% Sauvignon Blanc. It opens slowly to reveal scents of fresh pineapple, lime blossoms, orange peel and lemon curd with hints of yuzu zest, wet pebbles, struck flint and kumquat. Medium-bodied, the palate absolutely sings of vibrant citrus fruits and mineral accents, sporting a very lively line of freshness, finishing with great length and whispering of tons of aging potential. Stellar Pavillon Blanc! Readers should note that after 15 years of experimenting with Diam, this is the first year this wine will be bottled under this closure. To further aid aging with consistency, this is also the first year that the wine is in a dark green bottle as opposed to the former clear glass."


Wine Spectator - "Very lively, featuring a juicy, mouthfilling mix of peach, nectarine and tangerine notes, laced with a singed orange peel thread. Exotic yet pure flavors are married to electric energy. Best from 2021 through 2029."


Wine Enthusiast - "Beautifully perfumed, this wine has ripe yellow fruits as well as a greener herbal character. Along with its tension and minerality, the wine is rich and has freshness and potential. Drink from 2022."