Pavie 2002

Offering cedary notes with some hints of black olive tapenade, grilled meats, spice box and wood with black and red currants, this wine seems fully mature, lusty, rich and undeniably a major success in this vintage. The tannins are largely resolved and the wine is drinking beautifully, so there is no reason to defer your gratification for this wine. Drink now through 2025.


Pavie is widely acclaimed as one of Bordeaux’s greatest terroirs, of largely limestone and clay soils. Brilliantly situated with a sunny, southern exposure and exceptional drainage, Pavie potentially rivals nearby Ausone, the oldest and possibly the most famous estate in Bordeaux. Pavie’s other nearby neighbors include, Pavie-Macquin and Troplong-Mondot to the north, Larcis-Ducasse to the southeast and La Gaffelière and Saint-Georges Côte Pavie to the west.
Until 1978, previous owners rarely produced great wine, but of course that all changed with the acquisition of the 92-acre, single vineyard by Chantal and Gérard Perse. In short, they dramatically raised the quality. Currently, the vineyard is planted with 60% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, but the actual blend for each vintage tends to possess slightly higher amounts of Merlot. A perfectionist, owner Gérard Perse is flexible with the percentage of new oak, as well as how long the wine is aged in cask. Great vintages can get 100% new oak and spend up to 32 months in barrel. Lesser years are bottled after 18 months and see at least 30% less new oak.
There is no fining or filtration. The resulting wine has been considered one of the superstars of Bordeaux since 1978.

Tasted blind at Farr's 2002 Bordeaux tasting. I can still remember what a beast this was out of barrel. Good intensity on the nose, lifted red fruits, raspberry, wild strawberry, good definition and sense of minerality. A well balanced, modern palate, a lot of new oak, but I like the texture and the harmony. Very pure cassis and blueberry fruit on the slightly smudged finish. I am getting used to Pavie making a fool of me in blind tastings! Tasted October 2009.

Medium to deep garnet-brick in color, the 2002 Pavie waltzes out with ready-to-go notes of stewed black and red cherries, dried mulberries, and damp soil followed by touches of unsmoked cigars, wild sage, and leather. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers a chewy texture and well-knit acidity to support the savory-laced black fruits, finishing on lingering ferrous note.

Drink 2007-13 Mid crimson. Sweet, rather luscious nose. Quite a bit of alcohol sticks out and it's a little dusty but there's certainly fleshy pleasure to be had here. Grainy, slightly hot finish. But ready and giving pleasure.