2016 Chateau Pavie Saint Emilion Grand Cru Classe (A)

Only 1 bottle left
  • Double Perfection in a bottle
  • The top of the top for Right Bank Merlot blends
  • 98 pt Vintage ~ Vinous Media

The history of the Pavie estates on the right bank of the Dordogne river dates back to the Roman era, when vines were planted there. Fast forward to the 1800s, and the Pavie estate was broken into three different parcels: Pavie, Pavie-Macquin and Pavie-Decesse.

The modern era of the Pavie estate dates to 1989 when Gerard Perse acquired the property and installed an aggressive modernization program. New vines, a polished Chateau, an updated winery and cellar and the hiring of Michel Rolland and other famous oenologists to consult on how to make Pavie the best property in St. Emilion. It now ranks alongside Ausone and Petrus as a top property, not only in the Right Bank, but all of Bordeaux and the world. Indeed, Pavie is now considered one of the benchmarks for Merlot and Cabernet Franc blended wines in the world.

The vineyard is planted to 50% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. The top wine tends to rely on a hefty dose of new French oak, which is much loved by the likes of Robert Parker. Since 2000, Chateau Pavie has seen more than half a dozen 100 point scores from various critics.

Any serious collector of Bordeaux would be fortunate to have Pavie in their cellar for near or long-term enjoyment. It's a tour-de-force wine.

The 2016 Pavie a blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc. Very deep purple-black in color, it needs a little coaxing to begin, slowly unfurling to reveal a fragrant perfume of violets, chocolate-covered cherries, crushed blueberries and eucalyptus over a core of preserved plums, kirsch, black raspberries and crème de cassis plus hints of licorice and chargrilled meat. Full-bodied and built like a brick house, it has a solid foundation of firm, super ripe, grainy tannins and seamless freshness interknit with the black fruit preserves and minerally layers, finishing very long and very decadent. Superb! ~100 Wine Advocate

Spectacular aromas of crushed berries, such as blueberries and raspberries. Fresh flowers with hints of sandalwood. Exotic. Saturated palate of so much fruit, yet remains agile and energetic. Great length and texture. Fills your mouth. This needs time, but a classic. Twin brother of the perfect 2015. ~100 James Suckling

The 2016 Pavie is simply magnificent. Gracious, perfumed and exquisitely beautiful, the 2016 has it all. I can't remember seeing a Pavie with this much translucent energy and nuance. Black cherry, plum, lavender, spice and menthol all infuse this explosive, young wine with tremendous character. In the glass, the 2016 is vivid, aromatically deep and full of saline-infused energy. It is without question one of the wines of the vintage. As it turns out Gerard Perse also opened the 2008. Although the two vintages (2016 and 2008) in question are quite different in style and quality, the trajectory Pavie has taken in recent years is evident. The 2016 is a thrilling wine. That's all there is to it. The blend is 60% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc and 18% Cabernet Sauvignon. Tasted two times. ~98+ Vinous Media

Turning the dial up considerably, the 2016 Château Pavie leaps out of the glass with a thrilling bouquet of crème de cassis, toasty oak, graphite, white truffle, crayons, and flowers. A blend of 60% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc, and 18% Cabernet Sauvignon brought up in 85% new French oak (the new oak has been dialed back in recent vintages), this full-bodied Pavie is made in a more elegant, seamless style compared to prior great vintages, yet it still has brilliant depth of fruit and concentration, ripe, present tannins, a seamless texture, and an awesome finish. ~99 Jeb Dunnuck