2016 Pavillon Blanc du Château Margaux

Always based on Sauvignon Blanc and brought up in 20% new French oak, the 2016 Pavillon Blanc shows a racy, reductive style that slowly opens up in the glass and shows more and more richness. Beautiful notes of crushed citrus, tart peach, and bright minerality all emerge from this medium-bodied, concentrated white that has high yet integrated acidity, flawless balance, and a great finish. It’s hard to resist, yet I suspect it will keep for decades.

The 2016 Pavillon Blanc de Château Margaux, which was bottled in May, has a beguiling bouquet of Golden Delicious apple, Williams pear and light crushed stone aromas that gently unfold in the glass. The palate is very well balanced with a taut line of acidity (in fact, the pH is 3.10 in this vintage) – citrus-fresh with impressive tension. A live-wire Pavillon Blanc with great sustain on the rich finish and a tang of ginger on the aftertaste. Superb.

The depth and intensity is very beautiful, yet with electrifying acidity that gives this wine energy and excitement. Full to medium body with a fine, dense mid-palate that takes over at the finish. Lots of dried-lemon and fresh-fennel flavors at the end. Exuberant. Drink or hold.