Pavie 2017

The wine in this vintage

The late-April frost left a deep mark on 2017 in Bordeaux, hitting lower-lying areas hardest; vineyards on Saint-Émilion's limestone plateau and slopes, such as Pavie's, were largely spared. The year produced elegant, fragrant, medium-bodied wines, yet in the best terroirs also ones of real depth. Pavie 2017 offers black cherry, blackberry, violet, sweet spice, graphite and a floral hint; a refined, fresh palate with silky tannins and a long finish. Robert Parker awarded it 99 points and Wine Spectator 97. The wine is already in good shape but can be cellared for many years, continuing to improve.

The producer · Château Pavie

Château Pavie is one of Saint-Émilion's oldest and most prestigious estates, with vines planted since Roman times on the slopes south-east of the medieval town. Its roughly forty hectares run uninterrupted from the limestone plateau down to the foot of the Côte Pavie, across limestone, clay and sandy soils that give the wine power, structure and a fine mineral streak. In 1998 the estate was bought by Gérard Perse, who undertook a thorough renovation of vineyard and cellar, with parcel-by-parcel selection, low yields and a new winery inaugurated in 2013. These efforts were rewarded in 2012 with promotion to Premier Grand Cru Classé A, the summit of the Saint-Émilion classification. The blend is led by Merlot, completed by Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Initially opulent and concentrated, the style has evolved over the past decade towards greater freshness and precision, while retaining the depth and very long ageing potential that make Pavie one of Bordeaux's great reds.

Critics' scores

• 99 Robert Parker
• 97 Wine Spectator
• 95 Wine Enthusiast

Technical details

Producer

Château Pavie

Region

Bordeaux

Country

Francia

Type

Rosso

Vintage

2017

When to drink

Hold, still evolving

Critics' average

97/100

Sizes

75 cl, Magnum 150 cl, Case of 6 × 75 cl

eWibe code

0120117