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

Bettane & Desseauve

About wine:

Dense, rich and sap, ripe length.

About the estate:

The pharaonic cellars of Château Pavie live up to 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 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, its dense and deep clay hillside, and its slightly gravelly sandy-clay foothills, justified its inclusion in 2012 among the elite of the Premier Grand Cru Classé A wines. This elevation was 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

About wine:

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

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, the 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.

Wine Enthusiast

About wine:

Château Pavie's second wine is dense with black tannins and overripe fruit. Bold and concentrated, it further highlights the fruitiness of the vintage. Although it has big tannins and great potential, the wine also shows a lot of freshness. Drink from 2024 onwards.

James Suckling

About wine:

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

Jeb Dunnuck