Château Pavie St-Emilion 2019 - 1er Grand Cru Classé A

Bettane & Desseauve

About wine:

Perfect volume, formal perfection, sweetness without sugar, remarkable intensity and voluptuousness in its definition, great refinement of texture, restrained power, remarkable silky tannins—this 2019 has it all and will last a very, very long time. The symphony of caudalies is impressive!

About the estate:

The pharaonic cellars of Château Pavie are worthy of its status as a Premier Grand Cru Classé A, obtained in 2012. Both the vineyard and the cellars have been completely restructured in recent vintages by Gérard Perse, who has embodied the revival of the estate since its acquisition in 1998. His cultural and financial commitment is total: the plots combining the plateau and south-facing slopes now cover 37 hectares, between the Châteaux Pavie-Decesse, Larcis-Ducasse, and La Gaffelière. The style of the wine combines, in a balance that is unique on the right bank, the utmost fullness with a nobility of texture that is perfectly calibrated. The great terroirs speak with flamboyant majesty, provided you are willing to wait at least ten years, otherwise you risk missing out on the true complexity of the vintage. (The 2000 vintage tasted recently showed 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 tasty Bordeaux for less than €20!

Guide Hachette des vins

About wine:

When tasting, there is no mistaking it: Pavie is, as usual, a flamboyant, intense, solid, richly structured wine, haloed with ripe black fruit and all the attractions of a long 20-month aging in barrels. This substance, always spectacular in the youth of the wine, also ensures that it will age very well. 2028-2040

About the estate:

Truly established in the 19th century, Pavie extends its vast 37-hectare vineyard on the eponymous hillside, one of the cradles of local viticulture in the 4th century. Its unique terroir, divided into three parts—the limestone plateau, the dense, deep clay hillside, and the slightly gravelly sandy-clay foothills—justifies its inclusion in 2012 among the elite of the Premier Grand Cru Classé A wines. 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, decorator of palaces and luxury hotels, confirms the rise of the vintage and allows for even more precise winemaking.

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 of high concentration. Extremely low yields, the pursuit of highly mature grapes, extensive extraction and luxurious aging: all the factors that theoretically improve the quality of the wines are present. And the investments never stop... The impressive and massive extension of the cellars and winery, and above all the creation of a bright, Versailles-style reception room covering 600 m², inaugurated in June 2013. The estate does not seek to produce easy, immediate wines, but to take a long-term approach. The terroir of the south coast, one of the very best in Saint-Émilion, promotes the longevity of the wines. Without losing any of their monumentality, the latest vintages nevertheless show a slight shift towards greater flexibility in the early years, with a more natural expression.

James Suckling

About wine:

Lots of blackberry and grilled meat flavors with earthy and spicy notes. Some smoky aromas as well. Blackcurrant. Complex. Full-bodied, with round and juicy tannins, but extremely fine and very linear, which linger for several minutes. Great length. Blend of 50% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Franc, and 18% Cabernet Sauvignon. Try after 2027, but already a pleasure to drink.

Terre de Vins

About wine:

The first nose reveals great depth and density, leading us to complex notes of licorice and maritime pine. A force of nature: powerful and distinguished, this exponential wine builds in layers, evolving between inky and warm stone notes, with a rich texture and remarkable structure built around refined tannins and great minerality. This is the world of Pavie, naturally powerful, with an added touch of grace. Very accomplished.

Yves Beck

About wine:

Deep purplish purple. Like some of the great 2019 wines, Pavie sets the tone from the outset and clearly displays its ambitions. It combines fruity, floral, and mineral notes. What complexity and diversity! The attack is fresh, fruity, and slightly juicy. On the palate, Pavie reveals itself step by step, gaining intensity and character thanks to its structure, which gives it temperament and bite, while the tannins work behind the scenes. They are fine-grained and play their supporting role perfectly, while the acidity perfectly supports the aromatic expression right through to the finish, where it gains even more amplitude. They are fine-grained and supportive, while the acid structure perfectly supports the aromatic expression right through to the finish, where the fruity intensity gains in amplitude. A very great Pavie, confirming its ambitions for finesse and freshness. A very pertinent choice. 2026-2049

Vert de Vin

About wine:

The nose is elegant, refined, beautifully defined, precise, and offers power, intensity with finesse, depth, and refined power (with finesse/control). There are notes of ripe wild blackberry, crushed blackcurrant and, more subtly, chocolate, combined with hints of cardamom, crushed strawberry, toast, subtle hints of caramelization, crushed ripe almonds and an imperceptible hint of saffron and licorice. The palate is fruity, elegant, nicely defined, precise, refined and offers a lovely finesse of grain, smoothness, power (in finesse), elegance as well as a very beautiful structure, a lovely velvety/delicate touch and depth. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of juicy blackberry, juicy blackcurrant and, more subtly, crushed raspberry, combined with hints of crushed small purple plums, crushed small berries and hints of chocolate, cardamom, crushed almond, ripe hazelnut, and subtle hints of zan, black tea, saffron, and sweet spices. The tannins are elegant, racy, powerful, but nicely integrated. Good length and persistence. A delicious finish that offers savory notes with subtle hints of dark chocolate and almond.

The Wine Cellar Insider - Jeff Leve

About wine:

With a beautiful dark, rich color, the wine opens up to reveal a bouquet of flowers, crushed stone, black cherries, blackberries, espresso, and cigar box. The wine is intensely concentrated, opulent, fresh, and above all, balanced. Everything comes together here. Rich and coating the palate, the fruit displays purity and hints of salty minerality. The finish develops and extends in all the right directions. 2019 is the first vintage in which Merlot does not dominate the blend. The wine was made with 50% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Franc, and 18% Cabernet Sauvignon. Like all great Pavie vintages, the wine needs time to age and evolve. Drink between 2035 and 2060.