Arômes de Pavie Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2016 - Second Vin

Dense, rich, and full of vitality, with a ripe, lingering finish.

Château Pavie’s grand cellars live up to its status as a Premier Grand Cru Classé A, a designation it earned 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 viticulture and financial investment—is total: the plots, encompassing both the plateau and the southern slope, now span 37 hectares, situated between the châteaux Pavie-Decesse, Larcis-Ducasse, and La Gaffelière. The wine’s style combines, in a balance hitherto unique on the Right Bank, the utmost richness with 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 cru. (The 2000 vintage, tasted recently, demonstrated exceptional elegance and fullness.) The 2016 and 2017 vintages have gained even more nuance and are reaching their peak. Those in a hurry can already invest in Esprit-de-Pavie: a sappy and very flavorful Bordeaux for less than 20 euros!

Truly 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, comprising three distinct sections—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 ranks of the First Grand Crus Classé A. This rise to prominence is also due to the considerable investments made by its owner since 1998, Gérard Perse, a businessman who made his fortune in the retail sector. Inaugurated in 2013, a new winery designed by Alberto Pinto—an interior designer known for his work on palaces and luxury hotels—seals the estate’s rise to the pinnacle of the wine world and enables even more precise winemaking techniques.

The 2016 Arômes de Pavie has a deep garnet-purple color and is a bit closed at first, slowly revealing notes of crushed red and black cherries, raspberry jam, plum pudding, blueberry tart, and prunes, with hints of espresso, star anise, cumin seed, and wood smoke, plus a hint of dusty earth. Full-bodied, firm, and with a grainy structure, its rock-solid framework supports all the generous notes of black and red fruit preserves, with plenty of nuances of exotic spices and a long, earthy finish.

Acquired in 1997 by Gérard Perse, the estate has gone from success to success ever since, championing a resolutely modern style characterized by high concentration. Extremely low yields, a focus on achieving full ripeness in the grapes, intensive extraction, and lavish 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 winemaking facilities—and above all, the creation of a bright, Versailles-style 600 m² reception hall, inaugurated in June 2013. The estate does not seek to produce easy, immediate wines, but rather to establish a long-term vision. The terroir of the southern slope—one of the very best in Saint-Émilion—fosters the wines’ longevity. Without losing any of their grandeur, the most recent vintages nevertheless show a slight shift toward greater flexibility in their early years, with a more natural expression.

Château Pavie's second wine is dense, with dark tannins and overripe fruit. Bold and concentrated, it further highlights the vintage's fruitiness. Although it has heavy tannins and great potential, the wine also displays plenty of freshness. Best enjoyed starting in 2024.

Extremely floral and magnificent, with aromas of plum and black berries. Medium- to full-bodied, with round, silky tannins and a savory finish. Château Pavie’s second wine. Best enjoyed after 2023.