Pavie 2019

The wine in this vintage

Warm and dry, but with cool nights that preserved acidity and aromatics, 2019 extended Bordeaux's run of great vintages, producing deep, balanced and well-defined wines. Pavie 2019 conveys full ripeness with a touch of elegance: cassis, blackberry, black cherry, violet, graphite and sweet spice; a dense yet harmonious palate with velvety tannins, lively freshness and a long, mineral finish. Robert Parker rated it 98 points and Jancis Robinson 17.5/20. Still at the beginning of its journey, it already shows its potential but should be cellared for several years to reach its peak.

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

• 98 Robert Parker
• 17.5/20 Jancis Robinson

Technical details

Producer

Château Pavie

Region

Bordeaux

Country

Francia

Type

Rosso

Vintage

2019

When to drink

Hold, still evolving

Critics' average

98/100

Sizes

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

eWibe code

0120119