2012 Pavillon Rouge du Château Margaux, Margaux, Bordeaux

The 2012 Pavillon Rouge de Château Margaux has a pretty nose with well-defined, predominantly red fruit mixed with rose petals and scents of bergamot tea. Understated yet focused and delineated. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins. Quite spicy with a generous dollop of black pepper mingling with tobacco notes towards the structured finish. This has held up well, though it is difficult to envisage further melioration in bottle. Tasted twice at Bordeaux Index's Ten Year-On tasting and blind at the Southwold Ten-Year On tasting.

90/100, Neal Martin (February 2022)