CHATEAU PAVIE 1er Grand Cru Classe A, Saint-Emilion 2022 Bottle

Description

Château Pavie, a prestigious 1er Grand Cru Classé estate, is celebrated for its stunning wines and remarkable complexity. The 2022 vintage showcases a blend of 52% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, and 18% Cabernet Sauvignon, earning praise from critics: 96 points from Decanter for its aromatic complexity of dried herbs, blackcurrant leaf, and vanilla, along with a chewy, mouthfilling texture balanced by vibrant acidity. James Suckling awarded it 95-96 points, noting its intense aromas of cherries and spices, and powerful structure with salty edges. Vinous highlighted its decadent bouquet of black cherry and blueberry, scoring it 94 points. With a drinking window from 2029 to 2050, this wine promises both power and elegance, making it a must-have for collectors.

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Château Pavie is the largest St.Emilion 1er Grand Cru Classé, with over 35 hectares of vineyards located exclusively on the St-Emilion Côtes. Pavie is situated south-east of the village of St-Emilion and its vineyards lie on a south-facing slope of the famous limestone plateau.

Pavie's vineyards are bordered by those of Château La Gaffelière and Château Pavie-Decesse. For many years the property was owned and run by Jean-Paul Valette. In 1998 Gérard Perse, who also owns Pavie-Decesse and Monbousquet, purchased it.

Pavie's wine is typically a blend of 55% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. Since 1998, the grapes have been fermented in spanking new wooden vats with the wine then being aged in 100% new oak bariques for 18 months. It is bottled unfiltered.

Pavie produces elegant, harmonious and stylish St-Emilions that typically display a fine bouquet with good depth of fruit on the palate. Under the Perse regime Pavie has become richer, more intense and more concentrated.

DECANTER 96 points
Drinking Window: 2029 - 2050 - Ripe and expressive on the nose, clearly concentrated with opulent aromas but also so much florality - roses, irises and violets with bitter orange peel, chocolate and flint. Smooth and supple, filling and round, this has depth but also real tension giving a push-pull between density and direction. Tannins are fine and have bite as well as flesh - the generous Merlot with more structured Cabernet fighting each other for dominance right now. Layered and mutifaceted with juice and balancing acidity. Feels well made, and deep with both freshness and power. Refined if not totally elegant as it’s got heft, strength and muscles. Characterful and stylish. 3.67pH. Acidity 3.71. A yield of 31hl/ha. The 25th vintage of Gerard Perse at Pavie, and the 10th anniversary of being a Premier Grand Cru Classé A estate. 2022 is the first year to incorporate Pavie-Decesse and Bellevue-Mondotte into the blend. Harvest 19 September - 1 October - the same dates as 2020. Ageing 75% new oak, 25% one year old barrels. - Georgina Hindle Apr 23

DECANTER 97 points
Tasted by: Georgie Hindle
(at Bordeaux, 15 Dec 2024) Part of The best St-Emilion 2022 in bottle
Drinking Window: 2029 - 2050
A mixture of dried herbs, blackcurrant leaf, blueberry, violets, vanilla and salty stones on the nose. Intense and complex, it’s upfront and mouthfilling with chewy, fleshy tannins but lifted by vibrant acidity. Controlled power, pure fruit focus and a joyful, crunchy texture. Salty spice, liquorice, black chocolate and clove add depth to the finish. A charming, structured wine, full of promise.

JAMES SUCKLING 95-96 points
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.

VINOUS 94 points
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. - Neal Martin

JANCIS ROBINSON 18 points
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)