2012 Pavillon Rouge du Chateau Margaux
By Chateau Margaux
2012 Pavillon Rouge du Chateau Margaux, Margaux, Bordeaux, France
The 2012 vintage stands as a poignant chapter in the illustrious annals of Chateau Margaux. In a season that could be described as a vigneron's odyssey, amidst climatic vagaries, the creation of the 2012 Pavillon Rouge du Chateau Margaux emerged as an exemplar of meticulous viticulture and astute enology. My many years of traversing through the tapestry of Bordeaux's offerings allows me to appreciate the intricate nuances of such a vintage – a year that challenged yet yielded unexpected triumphs.
Meticulous Craft Reflecting Tenacity
In contrast to the more exuberant vintages preceding it, 2012 unfurled a delicate handiwork. The Pavillon Rouge from this particular year echoes this sentiment with a medley of fragility and strength. The season's lacklustre flowering and mercurial summer placed significant demands on the team at Chateau Margaux. However, agile adaptations ensured that the fruit achieved optimal ripeness without succumbing to the pressures of an erratic Mother Nature.
Upon tasting, I discerned a bouquet suffused with dark cherries and floral hints – a verse of violets amongst thyme which entices the senses before even a sip is taken. On the palate, the supple tannins and poised acidity intertwine gracefully, giving rise to a structure that promises investment potential while offering an approachable indulgence in its current standing.
A Vintage Marked by Temperance and Poise
The 2012 Pavillon Rouge unmistakeably carries the signature elegance attributed to its maker, yet with a distinctiveness carved by the year's tempered benevolence. Bordeaux aficionados searching for a refined addition to their cellars will recognise its allure – presenting verve and depth without ostentation.
To savor this wine is to embark on a sensorial sojourn through Margaux's fabled terroir – magnificently adapted to 2012's whims. It is truly one of those vestiges that speaks volumes of its lineage and vintage narrative, making it an astute selection for both wine investment and personal pleasure.
Current market price
£1,680.00
12x75cl
Highest score
91
POP score
152.73
Scores and tasting notes
A blend of 33% Merlot, 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc, the Pavillon Rouge takes time to settle down in the glass. Small dark cherries, a touch of blueberry and iodine that unfold with time. The palate is medium-bodied with firm, ripe, quite solid tannins. There is a higher density here than I expected. There is a good weight here, perhaps less expressive than previous vintages at this point with a grippy, quite powerful finish. Tasted April 2013.
Neal Martin - Wine Journal May 2013
A pleasant finish of ripe tannins and fresh fruit with minerals and chocolate. Full body. Slightly hollow middle-palate.
James Suckling - jamessuckling.com, April 21st 2013
The second wine of Margaux, the Pavillon Rouge (63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot), exhibits more structure and masculinity than one normally expects. It has a deep ruby/purple color, nice floral and blackcurrant notes, some spice box, moderate tannin and medium body. This is a Pavillon Rouge that should admirably stand the test of time for 15-20 years. Its impressively long finish adds to its appeal and value. This wine will actually benefit from several years of bottle age and keep for 20 years.
Robert Parker Jr - The Wine Advocate, 29 April 2015