| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Right Bank > St Emilion |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
Gérard Perse has created a modern winery of marble, stainless steel and new oak barrels and, with very low yields, has been making wines of enormous concentration and power. Since 1998 Pavie has been rewarded with a string of high scores from the critics and has now attained Premier Grand Cru Classé 'A' status. The 37 hectare vineyard contains vines of an average age of 48 years.
The 2022 Pavie is a blend of 52% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, and 18% Cabernet Sauvignon with a pH of 3.67. Yields were 31 hl/ha. Deep garnet-purple in color, it erupts from the glass with powerful notes of juicy blackberries, black currant pastilles, and wild blueberries, followed by classic hints of violets, licorice, red loam, wood smoke, and crushed rocks. The full-bodied palate delivers fantastic tension between the intense, muscular black fruit flavors and a lively backbone, framed by beautifully ripe, rounded tannins, finishing long and fragrant. Superb.
Looking at the Grand Vin, the 2022 Château Pavie is 52% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, and 18% Cabernet Sauvignon raised in 75% new barrels for 20 months. It brings a more focused, precise style in its darker berries, graphite, crushed stone, and floral aromatics and flavors. These carry to a full-bodied Pavie with flawless overall balance, ultra-fine tannins, and a great finish. This pure, powerful, yet aristocratic Pavie will benefit from 7-8 years (you can drink it even today) and have 3-4 decades of longevity.
The 2022 Pavie is the first vintage that subsumes Pavie-Decesse and Bellevue-Mondotte after permission was granted by the INAO. Bottles come with a chic enamel engraving. It delivers a decadent bouquet compared to its peers, with black cherry, blueberry, cassis and violet scents all delivered in Pavie's ravishing style. These are aromatics that want to be noticed. The palate is medium-bodied with a touch of succulent ripe red fruit infused with blood orange and graphite notes. This is very structured with a conspicuous, powerful grip and, as such, does not possess the pinpoint crystalline finishes one finds on either Angélus or Ausone, both of which I tasted during the same afternoon. It is an uncompromising Pavie that perhaps tries a bit too hard, but let's see how it ages. I will retaste this blind in a year's time. 2030 - 2065
Big wine. The aromas are very opulent with blackberries, dark plums, ink and chocolate. It's full-bodied and very rich with plenty of fruit yet the tannins are fine and polished. This is a powerful and flavorful wine. Loads going on. This was the first year that included wines of Pavie-Decesse and Bellevue in the blend. Needs five years to come around.
Steel and spliced black fruits on the opening, juicy, powerful and intense with blueberry and damson, cedar and sandalwood, a slab of dark chocolate, and an edge of oyster shell salinity. Tension, power, beauty. No Pavie Decesse, no Bellevue Mondotte as of this vintage, both are now entirely included in Pavie, and both exceptional additions. 25 years of Perse ownership. 75% new oak.
52% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon. Includes parcels from Chx Bellevue Mondotte and Pavie Decesse integrated in the 2022 classification. Cask sample.
Deep purple-black colour to the rim. Lovely depth of fruit – raspberry coulis with a stony freshness. Sapid and savoury on the palate, the tannins muscular but the texture smooth and fine. Tight and firm on the finish, a saline note highlighting the terroir. Powerful but controlled. Built for the ages. (JL) 14.5%
Drink 2032– 2055
The 2022 Pavie was picked from 19 September to 1 October at 31hL/ha and matured in 75% new oak. The estate now comprises 42 hectares as it has absorbed Pavie-Decesse and Bellevue-Mondotte, ergo, these names are no more. This demonstrates a little over-ripeness on the nose: macerated black cherries, kirsch, cassis and a touch of fresh prune. Does that translate across onto the palate? Actually, no. It is undoubtedly decadent and rich, but it retains balance and delivers a very velvety texture, with mouth-filling tannins. Powerful and yet undeniably harmonious, it feels plush and luxuriant on the finish, with a touch of dark chocolate lingering on the aftertaste. I am intrigued to revisit this after bottling and, because of the aromatics and not the palate, I err on the side of caution, though repouring, it feels slightly fresher. 14.47% alcohol. NB It comes in a specially-designed engraved bottle without a label. 2030-2065
Intense aromas of cherries and spices. Full and layered without being heavy. It starts large and rich, but the tension and tannins tighten down. It's structured and powerful. Velvety, edgy tannins. Very salty at the end. Like an unpolished diamond. It now includes Pavie Decesse and Bellevue. Slightly overdone but wait and see. 52% merlot, 30% cabernet franc and 18% cabernet sauvignon.
Wonderfully intense and concentrated, this is an impressive Pavie, muscular, intense and well constructed. It has an exuberance to the aromatics that is striking, with incense, baked damson, milk chocolate and creamy black cherry fruits, almost overwhelming until the limestone fingerprints hit in the mid palate to add tentson and salinity, even a hint of savoury freshness. Powerful, will take the full ten years to come around. 75% new oak. Buno Lacoste consultant. First year with the inclusion of Pavie Decesse and Bellevue-Mondotte, bringing it to 42ha, which is the biggest fully classified footprint, with 30ha on the plateau. Harvest 19 to October 1. 10th anniversary of classification and 25th harvest of Gerard Perse.
