Opened in Hong Kong. P&P and enjoyed slowly; by the time I got there and had a glass it was already 1h+ in.
This surprised me in a good way. Having previously consumed 2 cases of the '95 Pavillon Rouge back in 2018/19, I expected this to be more tertiary and perhaps on the decline. You can definitely feel the age here, but it's still got some dark fruit and isn't going downhill just yet. Smooth tannins, solid Bordeaux palate befitting of the pedigree.
I don't see any upside, so I'd recommend drinking up. But if you have bottles which are from good provenance and were stored properly, this should have the stuffing to hold up at least a few more years.
Thanks to K for sharing!
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The "2nd wine" of Château Margaux. Historically this wine was made from grapes that were not used to make the grand vin, but today the wine sees quite as strict selection of fruit as the grand vin itself - the fruit not used for Château Margaux or Pavillon Rouge are used for the 3rd wine or just sold off. The blend follows the percentage of planted vines quite closely, typically being mainly Cabernet Sauvignon (65% to 75% of the blend), the remainder being Merlot (20% to 30%), Petit Verdot (3-5%) and Cabernet Franc (2-3%). 12,5% alcohol. Tasted blind.
Somewhat evolved and slightly translucent cherry-red color with a developed maroon hue. The nose feels somewhat evolved and very harmonious with somewhat tertiary aromas of ripe dark fruits, some sweeter notes of prunes, a little bit of game, light old leathery tones, an autumnal hint of dried leaves and a touch of cassis. The wine is evolved and somewhat tertiary yet not too old on the palate with a dense and even somewhat chewy medium body and savory flavors of wizened red plums, some old leathery notes, a little bit of game and pouch tobacco, light crunchy notes of tart cranberries, a hint of gravelly minerality and a sweeter touch of prunes and dried blackcurrants. The wine retains quite an impressive structure with its high acidity and still quite assertive and grippy tannins. The finish is long, savory and quite tannic with evolved, moderately tertiary flavors of tart cranberries and ripe red plums, some gravelly mineral notes, a little bit of old leather, light earthy tones, a hint of sour cherry bitterness and a touch of old wood spice.
A savory and somewhat tertiary Margaux at full maturity. With our guesses we homed in Bordeaux quite quickly, but not immediately - so in that sense age might have muddled some of the sense of place from this wine. However, it is still fully enjoyable with its good sense of structure, impressive intensity and great complexity. I really see no benefit in further aging as the tannins are most likely going to outlast the fruit; aging the wine some more might help in resolving those still quite tough and assertive tannins, but I doubt the fruit is going to go anywhere from here but down. Terrific stuff right now. No need to let the wine breathe more than how long it takes to decant it carefully off the deposit, but pairing it with something that can soften those tannins is recommended.
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High fill and perfect, barely wet, cork. Small amount of sediment. Decanted for about half an hour. The colour is dark ruby garnet with a slight bricking at the rim. The nose is subtle brambly black and dark red fruits, black currant leaf, a hint of bell pepper, lots of graphite and an overall lifted freshness. Medium bodied, slightly tart and very dry in the mouth with almost the exact same flavour profile as on the nose. The fruit flavours feel just a bit dried out and stalky, but not in an unpleasant way - more in a much better with food way. Still quite high, "strong black tea"-like tannins and minerals on the finish that is very dry, moderately long and a bit tart.
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Took to a friend's house my second outing after relaxation of lockdown restrictions. Decanted and aerated for about 90 minutes than drank over an hour. At first the nose mainly had dust and black currants. Ruby red color, the wine took 2 hours to balance out to a nose of black currants, aged tobacco, some earth and some cassis. Hints of green there but barely. On the palate medium bodied, very precise mid palate with dark red fruit and tobacco, and a decent finish but not sufficiently complex. At the same price point I would shun most Margaux 96s except the Grand Vin and focus on Pauillac and St Estephe.
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Evolved crimson color. Dusty nose with perfumed cassis, flowers. Decanted and aerated for an hour and drank over 2. Seemed a bit light weight so maybe more time in decanter could have helped. A bit one dimensional albeit with reminders of the terroir with some noble earthy notes on the palate. Finished long and well balanced but a huge step down from the Grand Vin. Another bottle remains and I will test in few months to determine whether this wine will go somewhere or not.
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Vinetasters: 1996 Bordeaux (Skokie, IL): Served double blind in a flight of 1996 Bordeaux. A slight amount of bricking only. There's a little bit of barnyardy funk on the nose of this wine, and a hint of cherry on the nose. The palate has a good amount of tannin as well. The palate is fairly structured and tight; probably some extra age will do this wine good. My 6th, group's 5th.
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Fully developed, the secondary notes of tobacco leaf, kirsch, spice and cedar are easy to find. On the palate, the wine is medium bodied, and shows notes of green herbs and leaf, along with the light, red cherries. Better on the nose than the palate, this needs to be consumed sooner than later, to retain the remainder of the fruit.
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Best bottle in a long while. Decanted and aerated for about two hours and drank over 2. Ruby red with some bricking at the rim and throughout the body of the wine. Unlike previous bottles, less earth and dust, and more fruit reminiscent of the Grand Vin with 96 one of my favorites for Margaux. Perfumed cassis, some spice, gravel, iodine and dare I say pencil lead on the nose. On the palate lush entry, great acidity mid palate, dark red and black fruits exploding, tannins very velvety although present and a nice dry persisting finish. Excellent bottle!
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Very fragrant bouquet of leather, black berries, earthy pebbles and farmhouse. Good structure, elegant with rounded finish. Still fresh. In the mouth, notes of blackfruits, cedar and savoury oregano. Silky mid-palate. Tannins are extremely fine grained.
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Joli Margaux, frais, fin, poivronnant légerement, sur des notes de tabac et de fruits rouges délicats. Cependant, peut-être un probleme lié à cette bouteille, il manquait un peu de chair et de structure, et le temps ayant fait son oeuvre, c'est son élégance qui le sauvait.
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Don't think this wine can improve with age but what do I know. Starts very rustic and dusty then perfumed red fruits and tobacco emerge with some black currant undertones. However the second wine remains a mere shadow of the its stupendous big brother, le Grand Vin. See previous notes.
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Chateau Margaux Masterclass Dinner (67 Pall Mall): (en Jeroboam) Still fresh & young which probably is down to the size of the bottle. Nose of berries, dark fruit and spice. Rich deep palate with still some tannins.
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This surprised significantly on the upside- opened on a whim for a very casual Sunday lunch, so <30 mins in the decanter before the first glass. Showed well immediately though and got better, though bottle was finished within an hour or so. Little noticeable signs of age to the colour; strong blackcurrant and vanilla notes, soft and elegant. Suspect it is at peak right now so will start drinking up.
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During a merchant tasting. Medium dark brick. Expressive nose of cigar box, earth, red fruit, cloves, good typicity, similar to the 1995 but a tic more earthy. Medium bodied, good mid mouth presence, tannins are a tad rustic.
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PnP and drunk over the course of an hour. Very expressive nose of vanilla, cedar, cassis, pencil lead and tobacco. Still very vibrant on the palate; tannins totally integrated; wonderful elegance and softness. Medium finish. This is at its peak but well stored bottles should be able to hold at this level for a couple of years.
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The wine looks brick colored. The legs are medium. There is heavy sediment in the bottle. It smells like forest floor, cedar and lead pencil. The body is full. The wine has smooth texture. The wine finishes long. The wine has low acidity.
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Decanted and aerated for two hours then drank over another hour. Crimson red, nose dominated by cedar, cigar box, cherries, earth and dark red currants fully reflected on the palate. This bottle was slightly rustic so possibly an aberration. Decent balance, not overly complex, good finish with some tension in the finish between fruit and tannins.
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From jéroboam. Gorgeous nose, open, scented without much depth but nicely evolved and pretty. Still good texture although there doesn't seem to be lot of tannins left. Fresh, round, gentle and elegant. Good finish. Ready to drink especially in standard format bottles. 89-91
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I love Margaux; this is my second time with Pavillon and again it doesn't bear quite as much resemblance to the maitre as you might hope. Dark fruited and cedary to start, showing a powdery geranium nose with mineral undertones with a couple of hours in the decanter. Just not quite as much depth as you'd hope. From 375.
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Aerated for 2 hours, then decanted and consumed over another hour. Deep crimson color. Nose of black currants, graphite and leather. Medium body, silky tannins and good acidity. A little hollow towards midpalate but with a nice steely cut to it. Finishes long with notes of Margaux floral spice. Probably at its plateau now but certainly no rush to drink. Excellent.
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One of the better bottles of this wine. Decanted, aerated for two hours and drank over another two hours. Deep crimson color, bricking at the rim, massive nose reflecting the terroir and vintage including leather, earth, cassis, blackcurrants fully reflected on the palate. Excellent balance and secondary elements emerging. Full bodied, this is as brawny as a Margaux will get, very good structure, decent complexity and acidity to the wine, good finish with tannins still unresolved, ending on a note of bitter coffee, leather and blackcurrants. My kind of wine. Two more bottles.
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Consistent with previous bottles. Crimson color with slight hints of bricking. On the nose earth, tobacco, cherry and black currants dominating. On the palate strawberries, currants, sweet tobacco and earth, excellent balance, acidity, slight hole mid palate and a decent finish.
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Opened an hour before dinner, then decanted and drank over 2h. Would not decant for more than 30 min. Garnet. A wonderful, complex nose with dark fruit, earth, barnyard and some herbs. The somewhat simpler palate has plenty of sweet fruit and (initially) a fair bit of toast. Later also some cedar. A very soft wine as it still has an impressive amount of fruit while the tannins have entirely disappeared. Medium finish.
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Having had the Grand Vin a while back, I was eager to retry the Pavilion 96. Deep crimson color, hardly any bricking, decanted and aerated for an hour then drank over another. Nice nose of black currants, cassis, old leather, iron and sweet tobacco. Soft entry on the palate, cassis and black fruits reflected mid palate, nice acidity, balance, medium bodied, reminiscent of the Grand Vin with a decent finish. Tannins almost fully resolved this wine is clearly in a good drinking window.
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This is gorgeous, silky Bordeaux that is medium-bodied but chock full of elegance and fineness. Excellent flavors of black currants and cassis with that classic steely cut that I love in Bordeaux. This is aging beautifully and shows a fine concentration on the finish with complex notes of Margaux floral spice and minerals. Perhaps the finest vintage of Pavillon Rouge I've tasted as it shows off the best qualities of this great vintage. Ready now but will hold.
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Consistent with previous bottles. Needs a couple of hours to decant, lovely balance, soft Margaux nose much less evolved than the Grand Vin but pleasant enough, very nice palate, fresh, decent acidity, dark red berries and sweet tobacco mid palate and soft tannins on the finish. Very enjoyable.
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Excellent nose after standing 60 minutes, of what is expected of a Margaux albeit second wine. Mid palate full of life and finish was decently long as well. Happy to have shared this with frds.
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Much better than in previous tastings. Got the bottle out of the cellar in the morning, decanted it for about 90 minutes. The wine was extremely very well balanced, the excessive acidity tasted in other bottles had disappeared. Good nose, excellent body and well integrated tannins. Earth and other tertiary aromas now have the upper hand on the the primary aromas (blackcurrant?). Long finish. Excellent with a roasted leg of lamb. Interesting that this wine is supposed to be reaching the end of its drinking period per Parker and others.
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really firing on all cylinders!! I drank one a couple of years back that was a little flat and lifeless but this one was great! Leather on the nose, long and even finish, a real treat! I'd say there are a few more years in this wine but is very enjoyable now.
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Succulent wine. Took time to open up on the nose and palate but 3 hours of decanting and this wine was more enjoyable than the 96 Palmer I had drunk a couple of months ago. Deep ruby color, ever some slight sign of ageing, austere earthy nose at the beginning which opened up to sweet tobacco, some leather, toast, rasberries and black currants. Full bodied, this is a dense wine with excellent attack on the palate, fills it with dark red and black fruits mid palate, fully integrated tannins and a nice finish. Nice structure and balance, compares as well as if not better to Margaux super seconds of same vintage although the Grand Vin is still leagues ahead.
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Lovely nose of cassis, slightly muted with nice barnyard notes, blackcurrant and some vanilla notes. Lovely taste, game sauce a little touch of port and cassis notes. In it's drinking window now. Lovely autumn wine. Not to keep longer.
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Clear med garnet Slightly muted nose, vanilla, blackcurrant, violets. Touch of wood? Dry, crisp yet soft. Good acidity. Gentle. Long finish. Med body. Med tannin.
Very good.
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Opened both a couple of 94's and 96's at a new year eve's party. The 94 took quite a bit of time to open up but the 96's were just right and needed no decanting. Was considered a real winner by many of the connoisseurs present, rating a clear 89 .
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Opened and left open for 2 hours, did not decant. Consumed over one hour. The nose is very nicely balanced with some very typical Bordeaux features. Very earthy on the nose with some nice leather. The tannin are mostly resolved and well-balanced with the fruit. Some nice fruit on the palate, mostly medium-dark fruit with a medium finish. This wine is in its drinking window now but should hold and continue to develop for at least another 3 years. Worth buying at a good price.
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Not decanted. Drink after about 5 minutes of opening.
Color: Garnet with a hint of orange on the rim. Looks like an 8 - 10 yr old bordeaux
Nose: Lots of alcohol and oak at first. Not revealing much. After about 20 - 30 minutes the nose started to open up with attractive mature fruit and classic Margaux flavors, reflective of the strong 96 vintage. After an hour the nose seemed to have completely opened - spice box along with concentrated black currant tingling your nasal sensations.
Palate: Believe this bottle has just reached the beginning of its drinking window. Mouth filling with loads of black currant and black fruits masked by tannins that seem to be maturing (still in the midst of an evolution which indicates the possibility of improvement if further cellared). 1 hr later similar to the 2000 Lascombes in terms of opulence and attractiveness.
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Initially strawberry flavors and quite tart (surprisingly). Wine benefited with some air, with earth, flowers and a lovely, Margaux nose emerging. But less tannic that prior bottles we had ... and less concentrated, too. (Our previous bottles were 94 or 95 points). Maybe this one was a little off?
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One of the best expressions of a second wine. Well crafted, soft and enticing on the palate. Nicely balanced, sweet tannins and a good finish. What's not to like....but as with second wines, will not have the wow factor of the grand vin to merit the 95 point+ scale.
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lead and cedar on the nose. plenty of fruit but showing its age nicely with very fine tannins. A very seductive and easy to drink wine and still kicking for a few more years.
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Bordeaux Second Wines (LSE): Ruby and beginning to fade, a lovely consistency. The fruit on the nose is bright with some cedarwood. Chocolate, spicy christmas cake and raisin character follow. On the palate the fruit is black, the spices are there and some coffee too. Very full, long warming coffee finish. Lots of everything, a lovely voluptuous wine. Still tannic, come back in another couple of years or so.
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On the nose cool herbs, forest floor, crisp red berries, sweet earth, hints of flowers and truffles. Flawlessly balanced, medium bodied, some lactic notes. Crisp and juicy sweet red fruit, tannins still present but unobtrusive. Finishes long and crisp and delightful. Overall classic and immediately recognizable bordeaux profile. Entering it's drinking window but will be better with a few more years of development.
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SFWS tasting of 1996 Vintgae Wines; Medium red colour, no browning; developing bouquet, quite perfumed & attractive; MF on the palate, attractive fruit , soft tannins. Will keep further.
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Deep ruby in color with a small lightening at the edge. Nice bouquet, sweet and spicy with almost a cinnamon-like edge. Just starting to gather together into that pleasing meld of flavors mature Bordeaux gets. Acidity present for spine but not intrusive. Tannins are well integrated. A nice bottle of wine, better yet in a few years.
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(At Bouley – NYC, 375ml) – At bit tight upon opening, but then Wow. What a wine. A wonderful combination of depth, richness, elegance and purity. Textbook Bordeaux in every sense. I found this to be outstanding. I can only imagine what its big sister is like. (18)
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Pure velvet. Ripe blackberry and plum fruit on the nose. This wine has a pure, silky mouthfeel. It is perfectly balanced and a modest 12.5% alcahol. Absolute pleasure to drink now but likely has plenty of life left.
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Ruby/purple colour,huge nose of blackberries,cassis and toast.Wow this wine is extraordinary,so dense and tannic yet beautifully balanced. Amazing to think this is a second wine albeit of a great Margaux vintage. Wish I had not opened this because it obviously needs a few more years but this is one of the best Bordeaux I have drunk from this vintage and is a deeply impressive wine.
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Disappointing. Closed and hardly to be moved to be accessible even with a lot of oxygen. Cassis tones on the nose. Black fruits on the palate, but all very constricted.
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12/28/2023 - oxwombat Likes this wine: 91 Points
Opened in Hong Kong. P&P and enjoyed slowly; by the time I got there and had a glass it was already 1h+ in.
This surprised me in a good way. Having previously consumed 2 cases of the '95 Pavillon Rouge back in 2018/19, I expected this to be more tertiary and perhaps on the decline. You can definitely feel the age here, but it's still got some dark fruit and isn't going downhill just yet. Smooth tannins, solid Bordeaux palate befitting of the pedigree.
I don't see any upside, so I'd recommend drinking up. But if you have bottles which are from good provenance and were stored properly, this should have the stuffing to hold up at least a few more years.
Thanks to K for sharing!
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10/7/2023 - wu_wine wrote:
Ready to drink in 2006; bought just to relive an experience and out of curiosity
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5/11/2023 - SilverSavvy wrote: 92 Points
Wonderful bottle for our Anniversary -- married in 1996 and saved for the occassion
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3/22/2023 - Tao wrote: flawed
More than twenty years of storage time wasted! What a shame!
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11/19/2022 - forceberry wrote: 92 Points
The "2nd wine" of Château Margaux. Historically this wine was made from grapes that were not used to make the grand vin, but today the wine sees quite as strict selection of fruit as the grand vin itself - the fruit not used for Château Margaux or Pavillon Rouge are used for the 3rd wine or just sold off. The blend follows the percentage of planted vines quite closely, typically being mainly Cabernet Sauvignon (65% to 75% of the blend), the remainder being Merlot (20% to 30%), Petit Verdot (3-5%) and Cabernet Franc (2-3%). 12,5% alcohol. Tasted blind.
Somewhat evolved and slightly translucent cherry-red color with a developed maroon hue. The nose feels somewhat evolved and very harmonious with somewhat tertiary aromas of ripe dark fruits, some sweeter notes of prunes, a little bit of game, light old leathery tones, an autumnal hint of dried leaves and a touch of cassis. The wine is evolved and somewhat tertiary yet not too old on the palate with a dense and even somewhat chewy medium body and savory flavors of wizened red plums, some old leathery notes, a little bit of game and pouch tobacco, light crunchy notes of tart cranberries, a hint of gravelly minerality and a sweeter touch of prunes and dried blackcurrants. The wine retains quite an impressive structure with its high acidity and still quite assertive and grippy tannins. The finish is long, savory and quite tannic with evolved, moderately tertiary flavors of tart cranberries and ripe red plums, some gravelly mineral notes, a little bit of old leather, light earthy tones, a hint of sour cherry bitterness and a touch of old wood spice.
A savory and somewhat tertiary Margaux at full maturity. With our guesses we homed in Bordeaux quite quickly, but not immediately - so in that sense age might have muddled some of the sense of place from this wine. However, it is still fully enjoyable with its good sense of structure, impressive intensity and great complexity. I really see no benefit in further aging as the tannins are most likely going to outlast the fruit; aging the wine some more might help in resolving those still quite tough and assertive tannins, but I doubt the fruit is going to go anywhere from here but down. Terrific stuff right now. No need to let the wine breathe more than how long it takes to decant it carefully off the deposit, but pairing it with something that can soften those tannins is recommended.
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9/22/2022 - Rbtrage wrote: 92 Points
The wine is so fresh. All the good things you expect from a well aged Bordeaux wine.
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7/24/2021 - winesnout Likes this wine: 93 Points
In excellent shape tonight. Fully mature, terrific nose. Quite full-bodied, juicy and vibrant. Kirsch and some spice. Medium/long finish.
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8/20/2020 - kfrench150 Likes this wine: 90 Points
High fill and perfect, barely wet, cork. Small amount of sediment. Decanted for about half an hour. The colour is dark ruby garnet with a slight bricking at the rim. The nose is subtle brambly black and dark red fruits, black currant leaf, a hint of bell pepper, lots of graphite and an overall lifted freshness. Medium bodied, slightly tart and very dry in the mouth with almost the exact same flavour profile as on the nose. The fruit flavours feel just a bit dried out and stalky, but not in an unpleasant way - more in a much better with food way. Still quite high, "strong black tea"-like tannins and minerals on the finish that is very dry, moderately long and a bit tart.
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5/9/2020 - the player Likes this wine: 92 Points
Took to a friend's house my second outing after relaxation of lockdown restrictions. Decanted and aerated for about 90 minutes than drank over an hour. At first the nose mainly had dust and black currants. Ruby red color, the wine took 2 hours to balance out to a nose of black currants, aged tobacco, some earth and some cassis. Hints of green there but barely. On the palate medium bodied, very precise mid palate with dark red fruit and tobacco, and a decent finish but not sufficiently complex. At the same price point I would shun most Margaux 96s except the Grand Vin and focus on Pauillac and St Estephe.
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4/24/2020 - 52winelover wrote: 92 Points
Enjoyed it with a virtual dinner party, which meant we did not have to share. Loved it to the last drop
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2/27/2020 - the player Likes this wine: 92 Points
Evolved crimson color. Dusty nose with perfumed cassis, flowers. Decanted and aerated for an hour and drank over 2. Seemed a bit light weight so maybe more time in decanter could have helped. A bit one dimensional albeit with reminders of the terroir with some noble earthy notes on the palate. Finished long and well balanced but a huge step down from the Grand Vin. Another bottle remains and I will test in few months to determine whether this wine will go somewhere or not.
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3/4/2018 - acyso wrote: 88 Points
Vinetasters: 1996 Bordeaux (Skokie, IL): Served double blind in a flight of 1996 Bordeaux. A slight amount of bricking only. There's a little bit of barnyardy funk on the nose of this wine, and a hint of cherry on the nose. The palate has a good amount of tannin as well. The palate is fairly structured and tight; probably some extra age will do this wine good. My 6th, group's 5th.
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2/25/2018 - Jeff Leve wrote: 88 Points
Fully developed, the secondary notes of tobacco leaf, kirsch, spice and cedar are easy to find. On the palate, the wine is medium bodied, and shows notes of green herbs and leaf, along with the light, red cherries. Better on the nose than the palate, this needs to be consumed sooner than later, to retain the remainder of the fruit.
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12/5/2017 - popopdrops wrote: flawed
Corced
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10/21/2017 - the player Likes this wine: 92 Points
Best bottle in a long while. Decanted and aerated for about two hours and drank over 2. Ruby red with some bricking at the rim and throughout the body of the wine. Unlike previous bottles, less earth and dust, and more fruit reminiscent of the Grand Vin with 96 one of my favorites for Margaux. Perfumed cassis, some spice, gravel, iodine and dare I say pencil lead on the nose. On the palate lush entry, great acidity mid palate, dark red and black fruits exploding, tannins very velvety although present and a nice dry persisting finish. Excellent bottle!
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10/8/2017 - Anders C J wrote: 92 Points
Still vibrant tannins. Elegant and fullbodied with long tongue. Need 30 min decanting. Will not be better. Time to drink. Lovely.
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8/19/2017 - Psdycp Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very fragrant bouquet of leather, black berries, earthy pebbles and farmhouse. Good structure, elegant with rounded finish. Still fresh. In the mouth, notes of blackfruits, cedar and savoury oregano. Silky mid-palate. Tannins are extremely fine grained.
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12/31/2016 - Raage wrote: 90 Points
Joli Margaux, frais, fin, poivronnant légerement, sur des notes de tabac et de fruits rouges délicats. Cependant, peut-être un probleme lié à cette bouteille, il manquait un peu de chair et de structure, et le temps ayant fait son oeuvre, c'est son élégance qui le sauvait.
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12/22/2016 - the player Likes this wine: 92 Points
Don't think this wine can improve with age but what do I know. Starts very rustic and dusty then perfumed red fruits and tobacco emerge with some black currant undertones. However the second wine remains a mere shadow of the its stupendous big brother, le Grand Vin. See previous notes.
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12/7/2016 - RayOB wrote: 92 Points
Chateau Margaux Masterclass Dinner (67 Pall Mall): (en Jeroboam) Still fresh & young which probably is down to the size of the bottle. Nose of berries, dark fruit and spice. Rich deep palate with still some tannins.
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11/13/2016 - jadedw11 Likes this wine: 93 Points
This surprised significantly on the upside- opened on a whim for a very casual Sunday lunch, so <30 mins in the decanter before the first glass. Showed well immediately though and got better, though bottle was finished within an hour or so. Little noticeable signs of age to the colour; strong blackcurrant and vanilla notes, soft and elegant. Suspect it is at peak right now so will start drinking up.
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7/30/2016 - Collector1855 wrote: 91 Points
During a merchant tasting. Medium dark brick. Expressive nose of cigar box, earth, red fruit, cloves, good typicity, similar to the 1995 but a tic more earthy. Medium bodied, good mid mouth presence, tannins are a tad rustic.
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6/21/2016 - mwneil Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nice aged Bordeaux, good flavor, enjoyed with steak.
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12/23/2015 - danielk168 wrote: 92 Points
fully matured, great acidity, surprisingly, a little more fruit would be perfect
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11/21/2015 - hiroshisugi wrote:
Beautifully developed Bordeaux. Unfortunately, cork was wet imparting slightly musty flavors, hence NR
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11/19/2015 - dchoo077 wrote: 93 Points
PnP and drunk over the course of an hour. Very expressive nose of vanilla, cedar, cassis, pencil lead and tobacco. Still very vibrant on the palate; tannins totally integrated; wonderful elegance and softness. Medium finish. This is at its peak but well stored bottles should be able to hold at this level for a couple of years.
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9/13/2015 - walsht Likes this wine: 92 Points
The wine looks brick colored. The legs are medium. There is heavy sediment in the bottle. It smells like forest floor, cedar and lead pencil. The body is full. The wine has smooth texture. The wine finishes long. The wine has low acidity.
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9/5/2015 - the player Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted and aerated for two hours then drank over another hour. Crimson red, nose dominated by cedar, cigar box, cherries, earth and dark red currants fully reflected on the palate. This bottle was slightly rustic so possibly an aberration. Decent balance, not overly complex, good finish with some tension in the finish between fruit and tannins.
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8/15/2015 - the player Likes this wine: 93 Points
One of the best bottles so far. See previous notes.
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6/18/2015 - rossi.wine wrote: 90 Points
From jéroboam. Gorgeous nose, open, scented without much depth but nicely evolved and pretty. Still good texture although there doesn't seem to be lot of tannins left. Fresh, round, gentle and elegant. Good finish. Ready to drink especially in standard format bottles. 89-91
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3/4/2015 - englishman's claret wrote: 92 Points
I love Margaux; this is my second time with Pavillon and again it doesn't bear quite as much resemblance to the maitre as you might hope. Dark fruited and cedary to start, showing a powdery geranium nose with mineral undertones with a couple of hours in the decanter. Just not quite as much depth as you'd hope. From 375.
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2/15/2015 - Saint-Exupéry Likes this wine: 91 Points
Aerated for 2 hours, then decanted and consumed over another hour. Deep crimson color. Nose of black currants, graphite and leather. Medium body, silky tannins and good acidity. A little hollow towards midpalate but with a nice steely cut to it. Finishes long with notes of Margaux floral spice. Probably at its plateau now but certainly no rush to drink. Excellent.
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12/29/2014 - the player Likes this wine: 93 Points
One of the better bottles of this wine. Decanted, aerated for two hours and drank over another two hours. Deep crimson color, bricking at the rim, massive nose reflecting the terroir and vintage including leather, earth, cassis, blackcurrants fully reflected on the palate. Excellent balance and secondary elements emerging. Full bodied, this is as brawny as a Margaux will get, very good structure, decent complexity and acidity to the wine, good finish with tannins still unresolved, ending on a note of bitter coffee, leather and blackcurrants. My kind of wine. Two more bottles.
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12/17/2014 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine: 93 Points
Really drinking very well right now... at the plateau... not at all fading yet!
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12/11/2014 - the player Likes this wine: 92 Points
Consistent with previous bottles. Crimson color with slight hints of bricking. On the nose earth, tobacco, cherry and black currants dominating. On the palate strawberries, currants, sweet tobacco and earth, excellent balance, acidity, slight hole mid palate and a decent finish.
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11/16/2014 - stefad wrote: 93 Points
Épaulé 2 heures, graphite, cèdre, tabac, légère verdeur poivron vert (Cab. Sauvignon a manqué de maturité ?) tanins soyeux, toucher de bouche aristocratique, mentholé. À parfaite maturité... j'aime ! 92-94/100
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9/7/2014 - pavel_p Likes this wine: 91 Points
Opened an hour before dinner, then decanted and drank over 2h. Would not decant for more than 30 min. Garnet. A wonderful, complex nose with dark fruit, earth, barnyard and some herbs. The somewhat simpler palate has plenty of sweet fruit and (initially) a fair bit of toast. Later also some cedar. A very soft wine as it still has an impressive amount of fruit while the tannins have entirely disappeared. Medium finish.
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8/10/2014 - the player Likes this wine: 92 Points
Having had the Grand Vin a while back, I was eager to retry the Pavilion 96. Deep crimson color, hardly any bricking, decanted and aerated for an hour then drank over another. Nice nose of black currants, cassis, old leather, iron and sweet tobacco. Soft entry on the palate, cassis and black fruits reflected mid palate, nice acidity, balance, medium bodied, reminiscent of the Grand Vin with a decent finish. Tannins almost fully resolved this wine is clearly in a good drinking window.
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4/20/2014 - stefad wrote: 94 Points
Conservé en cave à 12°C depuis toujours - graphite, cèdre, mentholé, toucher de bouche soyeux, à parfaite maturité, superbe !
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11/19/2013 - broadband013 wrote: 87 Points
tiens la route mais a pssé le cap.. assez fin tout de meme
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11/1/2013 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine: 93 Points
Every time I wait to open another bottle of this wine it is better than the last!
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10/16/2013 - dream Likes this wine: 93 Points
This is gorgeous, silky Bordeaux that is medium-bodied but chock full of elegance and fineness. Excellent flavors of black currants and cassis with that classic steely cut that I love in Bordeaux. This is aging beautifully and shows a fine concentration on the finish with complex notes of Margaux floral spice and minerals. Perhaps the finest vintage of Pavillon Rouge I've tasted as it shows off the best qualities of this great vintage. Ready now but will hold.
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10/9/2013 - Puteljen! wrote: 87 Points
A bit dusty, thin and harsh. Not really giving much. Seems almost dryed out. Still some enjoyment to be had, but frankly a dissapointment.
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6/6/2013 - mikechw wrote: 90 Points
Good quality 2nd wine... Bad QPR...
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4/3/2013 - danielk168 wrote: 91 Points
About same as last time, but felt a bit more youthful.
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1/27/2013 - danielk168 wrote: 91 Points
Slight better bottle than last, more layers and some kicks left, but again good but not great and not worth the $$$.
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12/9/2012 - danielk168 wrote: 90 Points
Good but not great, had the Margaux nose but not much compexity and intensity.
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9/16/2012 - fournet wrote: 88 Points
Disappointing, but to be fair, I never rarely enjoy wines from Margaux region. I felt it was way too thin, possibly in a dead phase.
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9/6/2012 - toontune wrote: 90 Points
Breathed for an hour, then two, at best was smooth and pleasant. Nothing impressionable.
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6/19/2012 - Ridgerunner Likes this wine: 92 Points
Just a really vibrant second wine... good probably for another 5-8 years. Still improving... maybe!
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9/25/2011 - the player wrote: 92 Points
Consistent with previous bottles. Needs a couple of hours to decant, lovely balance, soft Margaux nose much less evolved than the Grand Vin but pleasant enough, very nice palate, fresh, decent acidity, dark red berries and sweet tobacco mid palate and soft tannins on the finish. Very enjoyable.
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7/19/2011 - bosekk wrote:
Excellent nose after standing 60 minutes, of what is expected of a Margaux albeit second wine. Mid palate full of life and finish was decently long as well. Happy to have shared this with frds.
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6/11/2011 - the player wrote: 92 Points
Very nice but needs 2 - 3 hours of decanting. Same as previous notes. Very enjoyable.
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5/16/2011 - the player wrote: 92 Points
Same as previous note. Drinking beautifully.
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4/24/2011 - cstir wrote: 90 Points
Good balance; soft tannins; not particularly powerful in taste; pleasant finish.
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4/23/2011 - MichelPlatini wrote: 90 Points
Much better than in previous tastings. Got the bottle out of the cellar in the morning, decanted it for about 90 minutes. The wine was extremely very well balanced, the excessive acidity tasted in other bottles had disappeared. Good nose, excellent body and well integrated tannins. Earth and other tertiary aromas now have the upper hand on the the primary aromas (blackcurrant?). Long finish. Excellent with a roasted leg of lamb. Interesting that this wine is supposed to be reaching the end of its drinking period per Parker and others.
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4/13/2011 - PBCguy wrote: 90 Points
really firing on all cylinders!! I drank one a couple of years back that was a little flat and lifeless but this one was great! Leather on the nose, long and even finish, a real treat! I'd say there are a few more years in this wine but is very enjoyable now.
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2/25/2011 - the player wrote: 92 Points
Succulent wine. Took time to open up on the nose and palate but 3 hours of decanting and this wine was more enjoyable than the 96 Palmer I had drunk a couple of months ago. Deep ruby color, ever some slight sign of ageing, austere earthy nose at the beginning which opened up to sweet tobacco, some leather, toast, rasberries and black currants. Full bodied, this is a dense wine with excellent attack on the palate, fills it with dark red and black fruits mid palate, fully integrated tannins and a nice finish. Nice structure and balance, compares as well as if not better to Margaux super seconds of same vintage although the Grand Vin is still leagues ahead.
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1/30/2011 - TKendrickIV wrote: 92 Points
drinks like a champ. Very smooth, still nice tannins. Has several years left.
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11/13/2010 - Ltim BE wrote: 90 Points
Lovely nose of cassis, slightly muted with nice barnyard notes, blackcurrant and some vanilla notes. Lovely taste, game sauce a little touch of port and cassis notes. In it's drinking window now. Lovely autumn wine. Not to keep longer.
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11/5/2010 - MarkL wrote: 91 Points
Clear med garnet
Slightly muted nose, vanilla, blackcurrant, violets. Touch of wood?
Dry, crisp yet soft. Good acidity. Gentle. Long finish. Med body. Med tannin.
Very good.
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4/2/2010 - Le Vin wrote: 94 Points
decanted and let it aerate for 30 mins. Paired well with roast beef bonbon. Lighter than it's big brother, but easier to drink.
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1/1/2010 - Fiorina wrote: 90 Points
Opened both a couple of 94's and 96's at a new year eve's party. The 94 took quite a bit of time to open up but the 96's were just right and needed no decanting. Was considered a real winner by many of the connoisseurs present, rating a clear 89 .
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9/7/2009 - jorgerunfast wrote: 92 Points
Opened and left open for 2 hours, did not decant. Consumed over one hour. The nose is very nicely balanced with some very typical Bordeaux features. Very earthy on the nose with some nice leather. The tannin are mostly resolved and well-balanced with the fruit. Some nice fruit on the palate, mostly medium-dark fruit with a medium finish. This wine is in its drinking window now but should hold and continue to develop for at least another 3 years. Worth buying at a good price.
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7/23/2009 - Chisato wrote: 92 Points
Not decanted. Drink after about 5 minutes of opening.
Color: Garnet with a hint of orange on the rim. Looks like an 8 - 10 yr old bordeaux
Nose: Lots of alcohol and oak at first. Not revealing much. After about 20 - 30 minutes the nose started to open up with attractive mature fruit and classic Margaux flavors, reflective of the strong 96 vintage. After an hour the nose seemed to have completely opened - spice box along with concentrated black currant tingling your nasal sensations.
Palate: Believe this bottle has just reached the beginning of its drinking window. Mouth filling with loads of black currant and black fruits masked by tannins that seem to be maturing (still in the midst of an evolution which indicates the possibility of improvement if further cellared). 1 hr later similar to the 2000 Lascombes in terms of opulence and attractiveness.
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5/2/2009 - TashNYC wrote: 90 Points
Initially strawberry flavors and quite tart (surprisingly). Wine benefited with some air, with earth, flowers and a lovely, Margaux nose emerging.
But less tannic that prior bottles we had ... and less concentrated, too. (Our previous bottles were 94 or 95 points). Maybe this one was a little off?
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4/27/2009 - Whistler wrote: 91 Points
One of the best expressions of a second wine. Well crafted, soft and enticing on the palate. Nicely balanced, sweet tannins and a good finish. What's not to like....but as with second wines, will not have the wow factor of the grand vin to merit the 95 point+ scale.
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2/3/2009 - shakedown wrote: 91 Points
lead and cedar on the nose. plenty of fruit but showing its age nicely with very fine tannins. A very seductive and easy to drink wine and still kicking for a few more years.
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10/15/2007 - gravelld wrote: 92 Points
Bordeaux Second Wines (LSE): Ruby and beginning to fade, a lovely consistency. The fruit on the nose is bright with some cedarwood. Chocolate, spicy christmas cake and raisin character follow. On the palate the fruit is black, the spices are there and some coffee too. Very full, long warming coffee finish. Lots of everything, a lovely voluptuous wine. Still tannic, come back in another couple of years or so.
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7/12/2007 - pbjosh wrote: 92 Points
On the nose cool herbs, forest floor, crisp red berries, sweet earth, hints of flowers and truffles. Flawlessly balanced, medium bodied, some lactic notes. Crisp and juicy sweet red fruit, tannins still present but unobtrusive. Finishes long and crisp and delightful. Overall classic and immediately recognizable bordeaux profile. Entering it's drinking window but will be better with a few more years of development.
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5/2/2007 - Giladog wrote: 92 Points
Wine has improved since my last taste and appears to be entering its prime.
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2/11/2007 - kelgary wrote: 90 Points
Good
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1/16/2007 - gout wrote: 90 Points
SFWS tasting of 1996 Vintgae Wines; Medium red colour, no browning; developing bouquet, quite perfumed & attractive; MF on the palate, attractive fruit , soft tannins. Will keep further.
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12/7/2006 - jds wrote: 87 Points
Poor price performance ratio-- if just want to impres naive friends with a legendary name.
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11/12/2006 - aerlith wrote: 89 Points
Deep ruby in color with a small lightening at the edge. Nice bouquet, sweet and spicy with almost a cinnamon-like edge. Just starting to gather together into that pleasing meld of flavors mature Bordeaux gets. Acidity present for spine but not intrusive. Tannins are well integrated. A nice bottle of wine, better yet in a few years.
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10/2/2006 - dbkitc wrote:
(At Bouley – NYC, 375ml) – At bit tight upon opening, but then Wow. What a wine. A wonderful combination of depth, richness, elegance and purity. Textbook Bordeaux in every sense. I found this to be outstanding. I can only imagine what its big sister is like. (18)
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6/22/2006 - Giladog wrote: 92 Points
Pure velvet. Ripe blackberry and plum fruit on the nose. This wine has a pure, silky mouthfeel. It is perfectly balanced and a modest 12.5% alcahol. Absolute pleasure to drink now but likely has plenty of life left.
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6/21/2006 - keith prothero wrote: 95 Points
Decanted one hour
Ruby/purple colour,huge nose of blackberries,cassis and toast.Wow this wine is extraordinary,so dense and tannic yet beautifully balanced. Amazing to think this is a second wine albeit of a great Margaux vintage. Wish I had not opened this because it obviously needs a few more years but this is one of the best Bordeaux I have drunk from this vintage and is a deeply impressive wine.
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1/12/2006 - hcampana wrote: 88 Points
1996 Bordeaux Horizontal in Gusbo's honor (Pichon Lalande, Lynch Bages, Pichon Baron, Calon Segur, Sociando Mallet, Carruades de Lafite, Pavillon Rouge, 1990 Suduiraut & 1972 Don PX Toro Albala) (Monterrey, Mexico): Dark ruby colored with a deeper nose of black currant than wine No. 1. Medium to full bodied with sweet fruit and more expressive flavors. Lower acidity and fine tannins. This wine had a better palate than nose. I correctly guessed this was the Pavillon Rouge. My second favorite of the flight. (Three 1st place votes, Four 2nd place votes, Zero 3rd place votes).
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1/6/2006 - jusuf Does not like this wine: 84 Points
Disappointing. Closed and hardly to be moved to be accessible even with a lot of oxygen. Cassis tones on the nose. Black fruits on the palate, but all very constricted.
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5/18/1999 - pea wrote: 92 Points
Dark, purple color. Lots of fruit on the nose with mint and herbs. Full-bodied with flavors of dark fruit.
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