Esprit de Pavie 2012

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

The grand cellars of Château Pavie are befitting of its status as a Premier Grand Cru Classé A, achieved in 2012. Both the vineyard and the cellars have been completely restructured over the past few vintages by Gérard Perse, who has embodied the estate’s revival since his acquisition in 1998. His commitment—both in terms of cultivation and financial investment—is total: the plots spanning the plateau and the southern slope now cover 37 hectares, situated between the estates of Pavie-Decesse, Larcis-Ducasse, and La Gaffelière. The wine’s style achieves a balance—unique so far on the Right Bank—between the utmost fullness and a precisely calibrated nobility of texture. The great terroirs speak with flamboyant majesty, provided one is willing to wait at least a decade; otherwise, one risks missing the true complexity of the estate. (The 2000 vintage, tasted recently, demonstrated exceptional elegance and fullness.) The 2016 and 2017 vintages have gained even more nuance and have reached their peak. Those in a hurry can already invest in Esprit-de-Pavie: a sappy and very flavorful Bordeaux for less than 20 euros!

Guide Hachette des vins

About the estate:

Established in the 19th century, Pavie’s vast 37-hectare vineyard stretches across the eponymous hillside, one of the cradles of local viticulture dating back to the 4th century. Its unique terroir, divided into three distinct zones—the limestone plateau, the hillside with its dense, deep clay, and the sandy-clay foothills with a touch of gravel—justifies its inclusion in 2012 among the elite of the First Growths. This elevation is also due to the considerable investments made by its owner since 1998, Gérard Perse, a businessman who made his fortune in mass retail. Inaugurated in 2013, a new winery designed by Alberto Pinto, a decorator of palaces and luxury hotels, marks the estate’s rise to the pinnacle of the industry and enables even more precise winemaking.

Guide des Vins Gault & Millau

About the wine:

A great wine from a “small” appellation, crafted with the expertise of the Perse team. This wine offers great suppleness and a touch of freshness, built on licorice-like tannins bursting with black fruit.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the estate:

Acquired in 1997 by Gérard Perse, the estate has gone from strength to strength, championing a resolutely modern style characterized by high concentration. Extremely low yields, a focus on achieving full ripeness in the grapes, intensive extraction, and luxurious aging: all the factors that theoretically enhance wine quality are in place. And the investments never stop... The impressive and massive expansion of the cellars and the vinification facilities, and above all the creation of a bright, Versailles-style reception hall spanning 600 m², inaugurated in June 2013. The estate does not seek to produce easy, immediate wines, but rather to establish a long-term approach. The terroir of the southern slope, one of the very best in Saint-Émilion, promotes the longevity of the wines. Without losing any of their grandeur, the latest vintages nevertheless show a slight shift toward greater flexibility in the early years, with a more natural expression.

James Suckling

Jeb Dunnuck