Wine Advocate
byRobert Parkerthe4/28/2010
The dark ruby/purple-hued 2009 Pavillon Rouge de
Chateau Margaux offers a big, sweet kiss of spring
flowers intermixed with blueberries and blackberries, a
silky texture, and a dense, concentrated, but seamless
mouthfeel. This glorious wine should drink well for 20
or more years. (Tasted once.)
Paul Pontallier told me they had never had such levels
of concentration and tannin as they did in 2009,
exceeding anything they ever produced since the
Mentzelopoulos family purchased this property in
1978. Pontallier believes 1996 is the closest
stylistically, but 2009 is significantly more concentrated
than that vintage. I do not disagree because tasting
the second wine, Pavillon Rouge du Chateau
Margaux, demonstrates that the 2009 is far superior to
almost every Chateau Margaux made in the fifties,
sixties, and seventies, except for the 1961 and 1953. Drink 2010-2030.