Wines Margaux Château Margaux - Pavillon Rouge - 2020

Pavillon Rouge du Château Margaux 2020 is the highly regarded second wine from one of Bordeaux’s legendary estates. While the blend is informed by the Médoc classics—principally Cabernet Sauvignon, with an important share of Merlot and smaller proportions of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc—it is best described as a wine that draws on the remarkable delicacy, finesse and aromatic complexity characteristic of Margaux. The 2020 vintage was shaped by a warm and generous season, yet the estate’s renowned gravelly soils and measured winemaking ensure a wine of profound elegance rather than sheer power. Careful selection in both vineyard and cellar underpins Pavillon Rouge’s subtle structure and pristine fruit, promising both early appeal and notable ageing potential.

Margaux is one of the most illustrious appellations in the Médoc, celebrated for producing some of the most refined and perfumed wines of the Left Bank. Set apart by its light gravel soils over limestone and clay, Margaux is blessed with superb drainage, encouraging deep root development and concentration in the grapes. The mild Atlantic-influenced climate, with warm summers and cool evenings, favours gradual ripening and preserves freshness in the wines. The region has centuries of winemaking tradition, Château Margaux itself occupying a special place in Bordeaux’s vinous history.

For food pairing, Margaux wines such as Pavillon Rouge shine with classic French cuisine. Their supple tannins and fragrant bouquet are ideal with roast lamb—perhaps en croûte, with herbs de Provence—or with well-aged beef fillet served simply to let the wine’s nuance sing. Poultry in mushroom sauce, duck breast with a berry reduction, or veal sweetbreads all find harmonious matches. For a regional touch, try entrecôte à la bordelaise, where a rich red wine shallot sauce accentuates the wine’s depth.

Serve after decanting to let the aromas open fully, ideally at 16-18°C. Pavillon Rouge 2020 can be appreciated in its vibrant youth but will reveal greater complexity and silkiness with a few years of cellaring.