Pavillon Blanc du Château Margaux, 2024
With the good fortune to have a frost protection sprinkler system at their disposal, Pavillon Blanc was entirely spared any frost damage, despite temperatures plunging to -6ºC on the 27th April. As ever, the blend is 100% Sauvignon Blanc, from 45 year old vines in Virefougasse. A tremendous success, wonderfully crystalline and pure, with notes of essential citrus oil, lemon pith, rock salt and bergamot that reverberate around the palate, lifting towards the finish that is long and mouth-watering, probably the result of the very low pH of 3.07. Laser-like and beautifully balanced.
critic reviews
Passion fruit and grapefruit notes jump from the glass, followed by hints of chalk dust, elderflower, and gooseberries. The light to medium-bodied palate has a satiny texture with fantastic tension and intense tropical and citrus fruit flavor layers, finishing long and minerally. So good.
The 2024 Pavillon Blanc was picked September 2 to 8 and cropped at 30 hl/ha. A pure Sauvignon Blanc as usual, it represents 40% of the total production and has a little higher pH than in recent years at 3.2. It has a delectable bouquet of lime flower, hints of peach skin and passion fruit with lovely delineation. The palate is fresh on the entry, quite vibrant and focused with a keen line of acidity and a twist of sour lemon on the finish. This is a superb Pavillon Blanc.
Anis, fennel, white tea, citrus, lemon zest, kiwi, slate, a balanced and generous nose, and a ton of juicy mouthwatering waves that hit pretty much immediately, and keep on coming. 20% new oak, in 400l casks. Perhaps ready to drink a little earlier than the 2021 - this is generous and deliciously sappy and appealin. Harvest 2 to 8 September, 3.2ph. Philippe Bascaules estate director.
Entirely crafted from Sauvignon Blanc, the 2024 Pavillon Blanc reveals a delicate bouquet of confit citrus, boxwood, pear and spices. Medium to full-bodied, seamless and layered, it's built around bright acids and a lively mid-palate that segues into a fresh and herb-inflected finish. This is a slightly more opulent and expressive rendition compared to the more restrained 2021 and 2017 vintages.