Chateau Margaux - Pavillon Rouge 2005

DECANTER: DECANTER:"Silky textured, full of sweet tobacco, fleshy raspberry and red cherry notes,. A little more open than its Pauillac siblings at this point, with the finely-boned structure and multi-layered aromatics that you look for in the wines of Château Margaux. A high percentage of Merlot in this vintage because the late-ripening Cabernet Sauvignon performed so well that it was given precedence in the main estate wine. One of the richest in alcohol and tannins produced at the property to date, and ready to go at 15 years old."

FALSTAFF: FALSTAFF:"Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung, in der Nase frisches Cassis, süße Holzanklänge, süße Brombeeren, etwas Vanille. Am Gaumen stoffig und süß, sehr ausgewogen, rund und opulent, süßer Schokonachhall, bereits bald antrinkbar."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER:"With a nose of fresh squeezed citrus, honeysuckle, vanilla and grapefruit in the nose, the wine is fresh, lively and packed with sweet lemons that offer bracing acidity with sweetness."

WINE SPECTATOR: WINESPECTATOR:"Dense and powerful. Very tight, with aromas of flint, apples and citrus fruit that follow through to a full body, with honey and vanilla character. Needs time. Like a premier cru white Burgundy. Best after 2010."

WEINWISSER: WEINWISSER:"Tiefes Rubin-Granat, lila Reflexe. Würziges Bouquet, dunkle Rosen, floraler Duft, erstaunlich tiefgründig, reife, rote Pflaumen dahinter. Viel dunkle Aromen im Gaumen, stützendes Extrakt, feine Muskeln zeigend, fast maskuliner Hintergrund, deutliche Adstringenz, vielversprechendes Potenzial."

JANCIS ROBINSON: JANCIS ROBINSON:"Very green fruits rather than creamy/oaky side of Pavillon. Weight is more obvious on the palate. Not especially concentrated. Quite fresh – not as zippy and exciting as 2004 (though the alcohol and acidity are pretty much the same). A bit astringent on the finish."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: WINE ENTHUSIAST:"Because of the high proportion of Merlot this is an opulent, sweet and ripe wine, more new world than Margaux. It's less of a second wine than a beautifully polished wine in its own right."