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

Bettane & Desseauve

About the wine:

Perfect volume, formal perfection, sweetness without sugar, remarkable intensity and richness in its profile, exquisite texture, restrained power, and remarkably silky tannins—this 2019 has it all and will age exceptionally well. The symphony of the Caudalies is truly impressive!

About the estate:

The grand cellars of Château Pavie are befitting of its status as a Premier Grand Cru Classé A, achieved in 2012. The vineyard, like the cellars, has been completely restructured over the last few vintages by Gérard Perse, who has embodied the estate’s revival since its acquisition in 1998. His commitment to both viticulture and finance is total: the plots spanning the plateau and 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 richness 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 wine:

On the palate, there’s no mistaking it: Pavie is, as always, a flamboyant, intense, robust, and richly structured wine, radiating ripe black fruit and all the charms of a long 20-month aging in barrels. This substance, always spectacular in the wine’s youth, also ensures it has a very long aging potential. 2028–2040

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 the retail sector. 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.

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 ever since, championing a resolutely modern style characterized by intense concentration. Extremely low yields, a focus on achieving full ripeness in the grapes, aggressive 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 fermentation 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 vision. The terroir of the southern slope, one of the very best in Saint-Émilion, favors 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

About the wine:

Plenty of blackberry and grilled meat flavors with earthy and spicy notes. Some smoky aromas as well. Blackcurrant. Complex. Full-bodied, with round, juicy tannins that are extremely fine and very linear, lingering for several minutes. Long finish. A blend of 50% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Franc, and 18% Cabernet Sauvignon. Best enjoyed after 2027, but already a pleasure to drink.

Terre de Vins

About the wine:

Great depth and density are evident from the very first whiff, which reveals complex notes of licorice and maritime pine. A force of nature: powerful and distinguished, this multi-layered wine evolves between inky depths and warm stone, with a rich, enveloping texture and a remarkable structure built around refined tannins and intense minerality. We are in the world of Pavie, naturally powerful, with an added touch of grace. Very accomplished.

Yves Beck

About the wine:

Deep purplish red. Like some of the great 2019 vintages, Pavie sets the tone from the outset and clearly signals 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; it gains in intensity and character thanks to a structure that lends it temperament and bite, while the tannins work behind the scenes. They have a fine grain and perfectly fulfill their supporting role, while the acidity perfectly sustains the aromatic expression all the way to the finish, where it gains even more depth. They have a fine grain and provide structure, while the acidity perfectly supports the aromatic expression right through to the finish, where the fruity intensity gains in amplitude. A truly great Pavie, confirming the winemaker’s ambitions for finesse and freshness. A very apt choice. 2026–2049

Vert de Vin

About the wine:

The nose is elegant, refined, beautifully defined, and precise, offering power, intensity with finesse, depth, and refined power (subtle and well-controlled). It features notes of ripe wild blackberry, crushed blackcurrant, and a hint of chocolate, combined with touches of cardamom, crushed strawberry, and toasted notes, along with subtle hints of caramelization, crushed ripe almond, and an imperceptible hint of saffron and licorice. The palate is fruity, elegant, beautifully defined, precise, and refined, offering lovely finesse of texture, smoothness, power (expressed with 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/ripe blackberry, juicy/ripe blackcurrant, and more subtly crushed raspberry, combined with hints of crushed small purple plums, crushed small berries, as well as hints of chocolate, cardamom, crushed almond, ripe hazelnut, and subtle hints of ginger, black tea, saffron, and sweet spices. The tannins are elegant, refined, powerful yet beautifully integrated. Good length and persistence. A rich, savory finish with subtle hints of dark chocolate and almond.

The Wine Cellar Insider - Jeff Leve

About the wine:

With a beautiful deep, 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 perfectly here. Rich and enveloping on the palate, the fruit displays purity and hints of salty minerality. The finish develops and expands 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. Best enjoyed between 2035 and 2060.