Pavillon Rouge du Chateau Margaux (8 Best Vintages, Winemaking)

by Anthony Zhang

Pavillon Rouge is the second wine of the prestigious Chateau Margaux.

With its roots in the 17th century, this wine is made from the same vineyard plots as Chateau Margaux’ Grand Vin. The main difference is that while it can age for 30-40 years, you can also drink it a little earlier.

Let’s discover how Pavillon Rouge evolved during the years, how it’s made, andthe best Pavillon Rouge vintages in 2023. We’ll also show you an easy way to invest in these fine wines.

Pavillon Rouge: Chateau Margaux’ Outstanding Second Wine

Chateau Margaux’s second wine was first released in the 17th century, but the name Pavillon Rouge was given to it in 1908.

The production of Pavillon Rouge halted from the 1930s to the 1970s and restarted in 1977. It’s quality improved drastically in the 1990s since the selection of the grapes became more meticulous.

This Bordeaux red wine blend is made mostly with Cabernet Sauvignon, some Merlot, small amounts of Petit Verdot, and in some vintages Cabernet Franc.

Before moving on to how it’s made, let’s quickly explore Chateau Margaux and its origins.

A Quick Glance at Chateau Margaux

Chateau Margaux is situated in the Margaux appellation, the Medoc region of Bordeaux, France.

The plot dates back to the 12th century. However, it officially became a wine estate in 1572 when the Lestonnac family bought it.

By the late 1800s, the Chateau expanded its territory to 265 hectares. In 1855, the Chateau’s Grand Vin was officially classified as First Growth Premier Grand Cru Classe.

Between 1950 and 1977, the Chateau was in the hands of the Ginestet family, who then sold it to the current owners - the Mentzelopoulos family.

Chateau Margaux produces some of the finest wines of Bordeaux in four different wine styles:

Chateau Margaux: This is the Grand Vin which is classified as Premier Cru wine made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc. About 12,500 cases are produced every year.
Pavillon Rouge: The second wine is made with the same grape varietals as the Grand Vin. Around 8,000 cases are produced annually.
Margaux du Chateau Margaux: The third wine of Chateau Margaux is a traditional Bordeaux blend that was first released in 2009. The annual production is about 4,000 cases.
Pavillon Blanc du Château Margaux: This is the only white wine produced by Chateau Margaux. It is made exclusively with Sauvingon Blanc and about 1,000 cases are produced per year.

Let’s take a tour of the iconic Chateau Margaux vineyards and explore their terroir.

Chateau Margaux Vineyards

Pavillon Rouge Vineyards du Chateau Margaux

The vineyard site spans over 82 hectares. It is predominantly planted with Cabernet Sauvignon (75%), some Merlot (20%), and a small percentage of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc (around 5%.)

On average, the vine age is 35 years, but some older vines reach 60-85 years. The vine density is about 10,000 per hectare.

The vineyard site has gravel, clay, and limestone deposits.

The Chateau has established the following practices in the vineyard:

Pruning: Done both in winter and in spring
Replanting: Each year, about 10,000-15,000 old plantings are replaced with younger vines.
Plowing: Done with both machinery and manually with horses
Thinning: Removing some grape clusters before the grapes start ripening
Trellising: The Chateau uses trellis for better organization of the vine rows.

Chateau Margaux aims to increase organic vine cultivation. The first wine that was made with 100% organically farmed vines was the Grand Vin from the 2017 vintage.

Since then, most of the grapes used for Pavillon Rouge are also cultivated organically.

Next, let’s discover how Pavillon Rouge is made.

Pavillon Rouge Winemaking

After harvesting the grapes go through:

Fermentation: It is done in temperature-controlled stainless steel and oak vats. Regular pump-overs are made during this stage. After that, the wine goes through malolactic fermentation at a temperature of 20°C.
Maceration: It usually lasts for seven days. At this stage, the wine goes through running off, and the liquid is separated from the grapes.
Pressing: The grape marc is pressed in the barrels, which results in a full-bodied wine with a dense texture.
Aging: The wines age for about 22 months in 100% new French oak barrels.
Fining: Each barrel undergoes fining with egg whites.
Blending: The finished wines are blended to create the sophisticated Pavillon Rouge and other Margaux wines.

Now comes the best part - the best Pavillon Rouge vintages you can buy this year!

8 Outstanding Pavillon Rouge Wines to Buy in 2023

Here are some of our favorite Pavillon Rouge wines:

1. Pavillon Rouge du Chateau Margaux 1982

This older Cabernet dominant vintage has well-preserved acidity, supple tannins, and elegant alder accents. The dark blueberry flavors are accompanied by hints of cedar chest and exotic spices. The aroma bouquet includes perfumed lilac scent and gentle black currant preserves.

Price of Pavillon Rouge du Chateau Margaux 1982: $319

2. Pavillon Rouge du Chateau Margaux 1989

This exquisite Cabernet blend has lively acidity, pleasant freshness, and a beautiful perfume of steeped fig. On the palate, tobacco and leather hints unravel under a concentrated velvety plum flavor.

Price of Pavillon Rouge du Chateau Margaux 1989: $264

3. Pavillon Rouge du Chateau Margaux 1997

Here we have a complex red wine with a core of black cherry, black raspberry, plum, and a hint of exotic spices. The opulent spring flower scent is accompanied by silky tannins and bright acidity.

Price of Pavillon Rouge du Chateau Margaux 1997: $247

4. Pavillon Rouge du Chateau Margaux 2000

This outstanding vintage has a silky mouthfeel and intense black fruit, plum, and cassis flavor profile. The wine’s gentle fragrance reveals currant, spice, graphite, and leather hints, which transition into a pleasant long finish.

Price of Pavillon Rouge du Chateau Margaux 2000: $290

5. Pavillon Rouge du Chateau Margaux 2005

Here we have another marvelous Pavillon Rouge with a deep garnet color, subtle red fruit hint, high tannin levels, and lively acidity. The gentle minerality lurks under opulent black raspberry and cassis fruit aroma.

Price of Pavillon Rouge du Chateau Margaux 2005: $307

6. Pavillon Rouge du Chateau Margaux 2009

This rich and opulent vintage unravels an array of fruit flavors and an intense fragrance of perfumed lilac and spring flower. On the palate, distinct black cherry, steeped fig, and black currant preserves emerge under the supple tannins, freshness, and pleasant acidity.

Price of Pavillon Rouge du Chateau Margaux 2009: $299

7. Pavillon Rouge du Chateau Margaux 2010

This red wine blend surprises with layers of black fruit and red fruit flavors. The silky tannins are followed by gentle alder accents and cedar chest aromas. The finish is long-lasting, with hints of spice, tobacco, and leather.

Price of Pavillon Rouge du Chateau Margaux 2010: $272

8. Pavillon Rouge du Chateau Margaux 2015

Here we have a young Pavillon Rouge vintage with mesmerizing velvety plum and dark blueberry flavors and floral perfume. The wine’s minerality lurks underneath a layer of chewy tannin and bright acidity.

Price of Pavillon Rouge du Chateau Margaux 2015: $288

Let’s see what makes Pavillon Rouge wines a good long-term investment option.

Investing in Pavillon Rouge

Investing in Pavillion Rouge: Pavillion Rouge du Chateau Margaux 2015

Like other Margaux wines, Pavillon Rouge has a good aging potential of about 30 to 40 years. The wine gets great reviews from renowned wine critics like James Suckling and Robert Parker (Wine Advocate) and by the Wine Spectator magazine.

The Margaux second wine is a safe and stable investment choice. Here are some examples of how the price has been trending:

According to Liv-Ex, Pavillon Rouge 2014 showed a 17% compound annual growth rate in 2020.
Pavillon Rouge 2002 grew by 16% between 2020 and 2021.

At auctions, Pavillon Rouge is a regular favorite:

At a 2020 Bonhams auction, 12 bottles of Pavillon Rouge 2010 were sold for $2,070+.
12 bottles of Pavillon Rouge 1989 sold for $1,126 at an Artcurial auction in 2010.

So, how can you easily invest a Pavillon Rouge or any other fine wine from your wishlist?

Buy Pavillon Rouge and Other Collectible Wines Through Vinovest

Vinovest is a leading wine investment company that offers you the easiest way to buy, sell, grow, and manage a successful wine portfolio.

How it Works

To get started, just follow the steps:

Sign up on the Vinovest platform.
Answer a few questions to determine your investment style (conservative, balanced, or aggressive.)
Keep your fund balance at a minimum of $1,000.
Start growing a successful wine portfolio while sipping on a glass of fancy Cabernet from the comfort of your home!

Benefits

Vinovest also offers some great benefits such as:

1. Easy Buying and Selling Using AI-driven Technology

Vinovest’s AI-based platform allows for easy buying and selling of fine, rare wines from around the world with just a few simple clicks.

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Vinovest sources all their wines directly from wine merchants, global wine exchanges, and wholesalers so you get accessibility to the finest wines at the best possible prices.

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Don’t have a wine cellar? No worries! Vinovest has bonded warehouse facilities with optimal storing conditions in some of the best wine region locations. This way, your wines are stored safely without you having to invest in a costly wine storage space.

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If you’re not quite a wine expert yet, Vinovest’s master sommeliers and data scientists will take care of your portfolio and ensure you include only high-performing wines in it.

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Worried about getting counterfeit bottles when you purchase wine online? Not anymore. Vinovest’s wine expert team traces each bottle’s provenance and guarantees its authenticity before the money leaves your bank account.

6. Low Overall Costs

Vinovest offers one of the lowest fee tariffs in the industry - an annual fee of 2.5% (or 1.9% for portfolios exceeding $50,000) covers all your expenses like wine buying, selling, storing, and fraud detection. The fee also includes a full insurance policy and the management of your portfolio.

7. Tax Advantages

Since the bonded warehouse facilities charge no VAT or excise duty, you get significant tax advantages.

8. Easy Delivery

Want to try that Pavillon Rouge you just bought through Vinovest? Just let them know about the shipping address, and you’ll get your wine delivered to your doorstep in no time.

They’ll also deliver it safely to your buyer if you sell it.

A Toast to Pavillon Rouge!

The best part about Pavillon Rouge is that the red wine can be cellared for a few decades or you can drink it young!

If you want to get a bottle of two of Pavillon Rouge or any other investment-worthy wine for your collection, a safe platform like Vinovest is your smartest bet. So, sign up and start building a winning wine portfolio today.