Château Margaux - Pavillon Blanc Second Wine 2024
Pavillon Blanc Second Wine is the most recent white expression from Château Margaux, born from an increasingly demanding selection work within its sauvignon blanc vineyard. Bottled for the first time with the 2022 vintage, 2024 marks only its third edition, which still gives it the character of a particularly exclusive cuvée. It is not a second wine made from a distinct vineyard, but a selection from the historic vines that also produce the Pavillon Blanc of Château Margaux. The creation of this label directly stems from the selection level now applied to the first white wine, of which less than half the harvest is retained some years. Sauvignon blanc remains the sole grape variety, in accordance with an old tradition of the estate that already produced a “sauvignon white wine” long before adopting the Pavillon Blanc name in 1920. The 2024 vintage required constant vigilance in the vineyards, especially against disease pressure favored by a wet spring. The grapes selected for this Second Wine nevertheless allowed the composition of a white that is both precise, fresh, and more immediately expressive than the previous vintage.
Pavillon Blanc Second Wine 2024 is made exclusively from sauvignon blanc. The parcel selection is at the heart of its conception: the different lots are tasted and ranked to determine those destined for the Pavillon Blanc of Château Margaux and those composing this second expression. This approach allows the wine to benefit from the same plant heritage and the same level of viticultural attention as its elder sibling, while seeking a profile more accessible in its youth. In 2024, the estate highlights a varietal expression more readable than in 2023, with a particularly marked freshness and a well-defined citrus register. The nature of the vintage favors a structure less based on power than on precision, tension, and aromatic clarity. The material nevertheless retains enough depth to go beyond the register of a simple sauvignon intended for immediate consumption. Château Margaux also believes this cuvée has the capacity to age harmoniously for at least twenty years, a sign of the ambition accompanying this new white wine.
The color presents itself in a pale luminous yellow shade, still very young, with delicate silvery reflections. The nose favors freshness with a clear citrus register, evoking lemon, grapefruit, and zest, accompanied by very fine floral and vegetal nuances. The palate is lively from the attack, but its tension does not exclude a sufficiently ample body to bring relief in the mid-taste. The sauvignon blanc retains a straight and precise expression, with a structuring acidity that extends the fruit without giving an austere sensation. Fine citrus bitters accompany the finish and enhance its salivating character, while a more mineral dimension gradually appears with aeration. This youth allows appreciation for its brightness, but a few years in bottle should develop more depth and nuances. Pavillon Blanc Second Wine 2024 will accompany oysters, langoustines, white fish ceviche, scallops, roasted turbot, or aged goat cheese.
Grape variety: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
