Final 12 months noticed Ch. Margaux launch the primary classic of a brand new wine within the First Development’s line-up: Pavillon Blanc Second Vin. Forward of the second launch, right here’s all the pieces that you must know in regards to the wine
Bordeaux’s white wines don’t typically make it into the limelight and Ch. Margaux is without doubt one of the few prime estates – past the borders of Graves and Pessac-Léognan – to make a white that’s as extremely rated, and picked up, as its pink.
Final 12 months, lovers of its well-known Pavillon Blanc have been rewarded with the information of an addition to the First Development’s vary: a second white wine, referred to as Pavillon Blanc Second Vin.
From the 2004 classic, the workforce turned more and more selective with the fruit that made it into Pavillon Blanc, and from 2008 solely a 3rd or most half of the Sauvignon Blanc they harvest was being bottled. The workforce began often bottling a barrel or two of a potential second wine, with the ultimate consequence typically poured for the harvest workforce. They quickly realized, nonetheless, that the standard was ok to deserve way more than inner consumption.
The wine is a real second choice and subsequently sees precisely the identical winemaking and a spotlight as Pavillon Blanc correct. Pure Sauvignon Blanc, it spends round 9 months in barrel, with circa 25% new wooden, and half the barrels bigger demi-muids, and a few bâtonnage at first of the wine’s maturation. One of the vital necessary levels is the urgent, which is finished extraordinarily gently, stopping as quickly because the pH rises by 0.10, and which means they solely handle to get round 50cl of juice per kilo of grapes.
Whereas the primary launch got here from the smallest white classic on file for the property (2022), the brand new launch – set for Thursday sixteenth January – comes from the 2023 classic, the very best yield on file since 1988 (though nonetheless a particularly modest 37hl/ha at Ch. Margaux).
We coated the circumstances of 2023 extensively in our report on the 12 months, however – as with 2023 in Burgundy – there was a heatwave because the harvest arrived. The workforce at Ch. Margaux stops selecting as quickly because the mercury hits 32°C – which means that the pickers would begin work as quickly because it was mild sufficient, however should cease as early as 10.30am on some days. With the recent climate, the sugar ranges began to creep up quickly; however the Sauvignon Blanc was all picked between twenty third and thirtieth August – early sufficient to retain loads of freshness.
Extra approachable than its huge sibling Pavillon Blanc, Pavillon Blanc Second Vin is nonetheless a wine with critical ageing capability – and one that provides a style of the property’s masterful expression of Sauvignon Blanc at a really interesting value. It’s a shocking wine – a novel expression of Bordeaux Blanc from this prime property – and one which we are able to’t advocate extremely sufficient.
2023 Pavillon Blanc Second Vin
The nostril is superbly expressive, with contemporary pear, chalk, lime juice and grapefruit pith. On the palate, the wine is lengthy and taut – but with a waxy texture which may lead you to consider there’s some Semillon within the mix. That is pure Sauvignon Blanc, nonetheless – pure and vibrant, green-fruited but in no way inexperienced. Neglect cat’s pea and any grassy, herbaceous tones: this can be a wine about pressure and freshness, with hints of jasmine and honeysuckle. It’s vibrant and vibrant, with a satisfying bitterness to the lengthy, mouth-watering end. Already gorgeous now, it will solely get higher in bottle – with all the pieces in place to permit it to evolve for 10-15 years. Sensational.
With 13% alcohol and a pH of three.15, the wine was matured in round 25% new oak. Round 10,000 bottles have been produced (versus simply 8,000 in 2022).
The brand new launch of Pavillon Blanc Second Vin will likely be launched on Thursday sixteenth January 2025.
– Sophie Thorpe
