Pavillon Rouge du Château Margaux Second Vin 1988

Lot presentation

Pavillon Rouge du Château Margaux Second Vin 1988

The wine

Château Margaux's second wine, Pavillon Rouge du Château Margaux has been produced since 1908, and is one of the oldest known second wines. Accounting for half of the Château's production, it is made from the wines that remain after the extremely strict selection carried out for the grand vin and from the estate's younger vines. Rich and deep, it develops subtle blackcurrant and vanilla aromas. A superb wine that can compete with many crus classés.

Owned by Edward III of England, the Albret and then the Montferrand families, the property served as a military base until 1802, when the Marquis de la Clonilla demolished the fortress to build the residence that stands there today. The architect Louis Combe is responsible for the magnificent building which adorns the Château’s bottles. Until the early 1960s, the wines were usually excellent and sometimes outstanding. As such, the legendary 1900 vintage was one of the most renowned wines of the last century. With the arrival of the Mentzelopoulos family in 1977, and thanks to the talents of Emile Peynaud, the wines have regained their premier grand cru classé quality. 1978 saw the beginning of a succession of extremely impressive vintages. Paul Pontalier who left in 2016 had worked to produce these legendary vintages. Philippe Bascaules, the new Managing Director, will do his utmost to carry on the amazing story. Château Margaux has a single block of vines, mostly planted on gravelly, sometimes clayey soil with a high proportion of limestone. Recent vintages have exceptional aging potential. The estate also produces Pavillon Blanc which is a superb, fruity and concentrated white wine.