Pavillon Rouge is a wine that has always impressed me. I've tasted the fabulous 2010, and a very impressive 1990, and now this 1983 which is almost as good.
This has a glorious fresh and complex nose, but there's not a whole lot of fruit to be found. Lacking the floral element of a great Margaux, but does have the meaty flavors. Delicious taste, and very nicely structured. Very dry, particularly by today's standards, and definitely a food wine.
The Grand Vin in 1983 can be a magical wine; this Pavillon Rouge has lots of the same qualities, but lacks that ethereal quality of its bigger sister. Definitely a lovely wine if you view it on its own merits. For a similar price though I'd rather have the d'Issan of the same year.
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Opened in AM and double decanted one hour before dinner. Not much bouquet but delicious with nicely tart acidity. Tannins resolved. Still a pleasant, sophisticated, elegant Margaux with at least a few years good to go for any unopened bottles out there. This was pristine buy from Fine Wines International from a Bordeaux negociant. Fill not noticeably reduced and not recorked, teased it out in two pieces with no crumbling.
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A "bonus" singleton purchased in a mixed lot of other wines. 2 hour decant (would recommend no more than half that time in retrospect). Nose of ripe blackcurrant and cherry, a touch of truffle, liquorice and integrated oak. Focussed in the mouth, remarkably elegant for its age although the fruit had faded somewhat from my initial tasting glass. Good length. Only a marginally aggressive acidity prevented this excellent wine from exceeding the 90 points awarded. This bottle was in relatively good knick but probably 10yrs past its best - so drink up!
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Decanted for around 2 hours, dark garnet core with youthful brick-crimson rims. It opens up nicely to show lots of tobacco, pencil lead, black-fruits and cassis on the nose. Solid and robust entry, with rich mouthfeel and good balance. This is very impressive for a 30 years old bottle, holding up excellent. Finishes long and lingering with fine and sweet tannins. My companion liked it and said it is a full bodied, supercharged Bordeaux.
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delicious but...great color.nice fruit on the nose..a bit of stem...the last review in '02 said perfectly ready to drink, We thought it might need a little more time.
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An easy afternoon with close friends: Complex and elegant in the bouquet as well as the taste. A lot of good oak and still juicy ripe red forest fruits. Medium bodied, and at its peak now. Really complex and very pleasant drinking.
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Deep dark ruby. Expressive complex bouquet with fruits and luxury oak. Very rich, elegant and powerful. Long creamy aftertaste. Needs some more time to reach full maturity.
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With K at Les Domaines wine bar in Paris. Brilliant dark ruby. Deep cabernet fruit in the nose. Extremely satisfying flavor. Anise. Deep, ripe, great. Excellent long finish. Lots of body. Excellent. 5-10-17-8: 90/100.
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12/23/2023 - The Wine Monkeys wrote:
Meh. No fruit, some secondary and acidity. Mostly dead. They say there’s no good old wines, just good old bottles, this wasn’t one of them.
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3/4/2023 - NewFrenchClaret Likes this wine: 92 Points
Pavillon Rouge is a wine that has always impressed me. I've tasted the fabulous 2010, and a very impressive 1990, and now this 1983 which is almost as good.
This has a glorious fresh and complex nose, but there's not a whole lot of fruit to be found. Lacking the floral element of a great Margaux, but does have the meaty flavors. Delicious taste, and very nicely structured. Very dry, particularly by today's standards, and definitely a food wine.
The Grand Vin in 1983 can be a magical wine; this Pavillon Rouge has lots of the same qualities, but lacks that ethereal quality of its bigger sister. Definitely a lovely wine if you view it on its own merits. For a similar price though I'd rather have the d'Issan of the same year.
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10/26/2022 - rhonecoldkiller wrote:
It took 8 hours in the decanter before the oxidation nose and taste subsided and were replaced with dried herbs.
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10/16/2021 - Sacramento Geezer Likes this wine: 90 Points
Opened in AM and double decanted one hour before dinner. Not much bouquet but delicious with nicely tart acidity. Tannins resolved. Still a pleasant, sophisticated, elegant Margaux with at least a few years good to go for any unopened bottles out there. This was pristine buy from Fine Wines International from a Bordeaux negociant. Fill not noticeably reduced and not recorked, teased it out in two pieces with no crumbling.
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8/25/2020 - G_H wrote: 93 Points
Dried bread, sweet bell peppers, swiss beef seasoning (Streu-Mi), warm, fills the whole palate but remains elegant. Stunning for a second wine!
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7/4/2019 - heegaard Likes this wine: 91 Points
Still great wine. It opens up in the glass in several hours.
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6/7/2019 - SinawoyCellars wrote: 94 Points
Still in a great place - a real treat
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12/23/2016 - enofilene Likes this wine: 91 Points
Dark brick red, good balance, great fruit, nice acidity. Overall a good food wine.
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12/18/2016 - heegaard Likes this wine: 94 Points
Still perfect
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7/16/2015 - NickBurwood Likes this wine: 90 Points
A "bonus" singleton purchased in a mixed lot of other wines.
2 hour decant (would recommend no more than half that time in retrospect). Nose of ripe blackcurrant and cherry, a touch of truffle, liquorice and integrated oak. Focussed in the mouth, remarkably elegant for its age although the fruit had faded somewhat from my initial tasting glass. Good length.
Only a marginally aggressive acidity prevented this excellent wine from exceeding the 90 points awarded. This bottle was in relatively good knick but probably 10yrs past its best - so drink up!
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4/30/2014 - hkm520240 wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for around 2 hours, dark garnet core with youthful brick-crimson rims. It opens up nicely to show lots of tobacco, pencil lead, black-fruits and cassis on the nose. Solid and robust entry, with rich mouthfeel and good balance. This is very impressive for a 30 years old bottle, holding up excellent. Finishes long and lingering with fine and sweet tannins.
My companion liked it and said it is a full bodied, supercharged Bordeaux.
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12/9/2007 - Neuman wrote: 90 Points
delicious but...great color.nice fruit on the nose..a bit of stem...the last review in '02 said perfectly ready to drink, We thought it might need a little more time.
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7/12/2002 - Zweder wrote: 90 Points
An easy afternoon with close friends; Bordeaux second wines (@ PdV): Beautiful wine. At its perfect peak now. Soft, juicy and good bitterness. Complex.
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5/31/2000 - Zweder wrote: 91 Points
What a wine! Perfectly at its peak. Good firm oak, powerful and complex. Lovely!
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12/27/1998 - Zweder wrote: 90 Points
An easy afternoon with close friends: Complex and elegant in the bouquet as well as the taste. A lot of good oak and still juicy ripe red forest fruits. Medium bodied, and at its peak now. Really complex and very pleasant drinking.
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4/23/1993 - Zweder wrote: 91 Points
Deep dark ruby. Expressive complex bouquet with fruits and luxury oak. Very rich, elegant and powerful. Long creamy aftertaste. Needs some more time to reach full maturity.
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3/15/1989 - MicklethePickle Likes this wine: 90 Points
With K at Les Domaines wine bar in Paris. Brilliant dark ruby. Deep cabernet fruit in the nose. Extremely satisfying flavor. Anise. Deep, ripe, great. Excellent long finish. Lots of body. Excellent. 5-10-17-8: 90/100.
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