Pavillon Blanc du Chateau Margaux 2015

Margaux's 2015 Pavillon Blanc is superb. Remarkably pure and crystalline, especially for the year, the Pavillon Blanc proves to be utterly irresistible. Lemon peel, white flowers, crushed rocks, mint and a hint of reduction develop in the glass, but it is the wine's energy that is most alluring. The intensely saline, nuanced finish only reinforces the impression of translucent purity. Readers who own the 2015 are going to be thrilled, as it is a truly magical wine.

This is like biting into perfectly ripe grapes with dried apple, peach and pear. Full and energetic with a pretty texture and length.

The 2015 Pavillon Blanc is another terrific Bordeaux Blanc from this great vintage. Made from 100% Sauvignon Blanc aged in 25% new French oak (which is slightly less than normal), it boasts classic notes of caramelized limes, white grapefruit, and white flowers, medium to full-bodied richness, vibrant, racy acidity and blockbuster length on the finish. It’s unquestionably one of the gem dry whites in the vintage.

Coming from vines that are now over 40 years old, representing only one-third of the total production and, as always, produced from 100% Sauvignon Blanc, the 2015 Pavillon Blanc du Chateau Margaux was matured for eight months in barrels, 20% new. The nose simply sings of fresh peaches, pink grapefruit and almonds with touches of dried herbs, crushed stones, allspice and honeycomb plus a waft of elderflower. The medium-bodied palate reveals a lovely satiny texture, great intensity and a racy backbone to support the vibrant fruit, finishing long with some tropical notes coming through. Although it is delicious now, it is certainly closed compared to what it will be in a year or two and can easily cellar for 20 years or more.

Superb 100% Sauvignon Blanc. Lovely white flowers nose then lively and fresh on the palate, showing beautifully sappy, ripe flavours and a long, lifted finish.

Superb 100% Sauvignon Blanc. Lovely white flowers nose then lively and fresh on the palate, showing beautifully sappy, ripe flavours and a long, lifted finish.
Drink: 2017-2028

The 2015 Pavillon Blanc du Château Margaux has a clean, pure bouquet featuring subtle tropical notes of passion fruit and guava, oakier than some of its peers at the moment. The palate is well balanced with a pleasant fatness on the entry, orange pith and mango coming to the fore. The finish is simplistic but quite commercially savvy. This is a crowd-pleasing Pavillon Blanc that should give several years of drinking pleasure, though perhaps one to enjoy more in its flush of youth. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting.