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Wine Description
The Story
White wine production at Château Margaux goes back to the end of the XVII century. The cellar master at that time recounts how he was one of the first to separate the white grapes from the red during the vinification. Sold in the XIX century under the name « Château Margaux vin de sauvignon », it has existed under the brand name « Pavillon Blanc du Château Margaux » since 1920 and its label has not changed since that date.
The eleven-hectare vineyard is composed only of Sauvignon Blanc. It is situated on a very old plot of the Estate that had long since been planted with red vines and then been dug up because of the high risk of spring frosts. Production techniques, as well as the selection have been completely reviewed since the years 2009/2010 in order to reach a higher level of excellence; only 1/3 of the harvest is bottled, the remaining 2/3 is sold loose. So the quantity of Pavillon Blanc has been greatly reduced and isn’t more than one thousand cases. Today it benefits from the new wine cellar’s ultra-modern installations designed by Norman Foster.
The finesse, complexity, richness and the length in the mouth of Pavillon Blanc are incomparable for a wine produced from 100% Sauvignon. The very latest vintages, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 in particular, have opened up new horizons in quality, ageing capacity and style which has become more mineral and much more complex. A significant part of the harvest is bottled in magnums which create optimum ageing conditions.
Wine Information
1978 was the first vintage to benefit both from the consulting of Emile Peynaud and from very careful, precise vinification in barrel. After over twenty years' ageing in bottle, it still has a wonderful freshness, which is reflected in its hardly changed colour. Of course, the aromas have developed and bear the mark of this long ageing in bottle, but it is astonishing to find so much vivacity in a Sauvignon white wine after so many years. To be enjoyed now, of course, but a few bottles could be kept aside without risk, out of sheer curiosity. (September 2002)
Vintage 1978
Bordeaux Vintage Report / 1978 turned out to be a very good vintage particularly in Pauillac and St Julien.
“The miracle vintage”. Just about everything that could go wrong went wrong until mid-August. But thanks to the beautiful sun and the heat from that moment on, the vintage was saved. The best wines come from Médoc and Graves. Château La Mission Haut Brion produces the wine of the vintage. I had very good bottles of Châteaux Margaux, Léoville Las Cases, Latour, Haut Brion, Cheval Blanc, Pichon Lalande and Palmer. Most wines should be drunk soon.
It would be wise to choose the best chateaux of this vintage just because some of the lesser estates are on the hill. The best will continue to drink until 2010-2012. Lafite Rothschild is the wine of the vintage.