Pavillon Blanc du Chateau Margaux 2024

The folks at Margaux think this is one of their most impressive wines to date, and I am inclined to agree. 2024 is undoubtedly a cracking vintage for white wines, and many of them relished the momentary rainfall at harvest, which refreshed the fruit while retaining flavour concentration. While the acidity level here is slightly lower than in recent years, the tension and poise are spectacular. The nose is incredibly perfumed with white florals, ripe honeysuckle tones and even some hints of exoticism. While the nose is impressive, the finish is extraordinarily long and cool, with mint, pith and luscious blonde oak all in perfect harmony. Interestingly, the vineyards are situated approximately 12 km west of the Château, near Castelnau. While 50% of the wine is classified as Margaux and 50% as Haut-Médoc, this wine bears a Bordeaux AC classification. The key to this wine’s epic balance is that they stopped batonnage much earlier than usual, as this preserved the wine’s fitness while maintaining the beautiful, slender lines of this delicious wine.

• Reviewer Name: Matthew Jukes

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.

• Reviewer Name: Lisa Perrotti-Brown

Crisp green apple, and lively gooseberry with elderflower florality. Peach, passionfruit and citrus. Clean and focused, this has drive from the start - succulent and mouth watering with hints of tropical fruit balanced by stone fruit and then salty, bitter lemon and orange touches on the finish. Pineapple - lively, and bright but also not too sharp at all. Great fat and acidity. Less batonnage than in most years. Feels more delicate than most Pavillon Blancs, yet it retains the complexity and nuance. Crisp and refreshing but with a lively character. Easy to drink. Picked 2-8th September. A yield of 30hl/ha. 3.2pH.

• Reviewer Name: Georgina Hindle

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.

• Reviewer Name: Jane Anson

All Sauvignon Blanc that will spend nine months in barrel with plenty of lees stirring, the 2024 Château Margaux Pavillon Blanc reveals terrific honeyed citrus, passion fruit, mint, and exotic flower notes in its aromatics. It's beautifully textured on the palate, with a layered, almost creamy mouthfeel, integrated, bright acidity, and a great finish.

• Reviewer Name: Jeb Dunnuck

The 2024 Pavillon Blanc was picked between September 2 and 8. Airy, crisp and bright, the 2024 dazzles with its mineral-drenched tension and cut. Orchard fruit, citrus peel, white pepper, mint and slate lend notable brightness. The 2024 is distinguished by a compelling interplay of vibrancy and a feeling of textural richness that is so complementary.

• Drinking Window: 2026 - 2039
• Reviewer Name: Antonio Galloni

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.

• Reviewer Name: William Kelley

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.

• Drinking Window: 2028 - 2040
• Reviewer Name: Neal Martin