2015 Pavie
By Chateau Pavie
2015 Pavie by Château Pavie, Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux, France
The 2015 vintage in Bordeaux was met with resounding praise, a sentiment that stands particularly true for the 2015 Pavie from Château Pavie. This vintage is an exuberant celebration of what Saint-Émilion can produce under near-perfect conditions. Having journeyed through countless seasons and vintages, I find the 2015 offering from this renowned estate to be among the most compelling expressions of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon harmoniously intertwined.
A Vintage Defined by Elegance and Balance
There exists a certain equilibrium within the 2015 Pavie that astutely captures the climatic serendipity of its birth year. A season marked by a hot June and July was moderated beautifully by cooler nights, followed by sufficient rainfall in August to bring balance to the maturing grapes. The ripening period proceeding this rain, blessed by warm days and cooler nights again, allowed for optimal phenolic development while preserving crucial acidity.
Distinguished Terroir Expression
The impeccable terroir of Château Pavie, a mixture of limestone and clay, has indeed found its muse in the conjunction of elements that fashioned the 2015 vintage. On tasting, one is welcomed with a sophisticated array of black and red fruits, subtly adorned with nuances of smoky graphite and a touch of spice—a tapestry of flavours that weaves through every sip. The concentration is magnificent without being overbearing, showcasing deft crafting in the winery.
For any perceptive fine wine investor looking towards a Saint-Émilion capable of amassing both value and prestige over time—a true jewel in Bordeaux's opulent crown—the astute structure and exquisite poise of 2015 Pavie represent an envious addition to any collection.
In Summary: An Exceptional Inheritance
I take pride in spotlighting such wines as the 2015 Pavie from Château Pavie; it is a year that will undoubtedly ascend in the estimations of connoisseurs and investors alike for decades to come. With every taste, it offers profound layers of flavour balanced with precise tannins—attributes that bespeak not just immediate appeal but foresight for maturation appealing to those seasoned in wine investment.
Market price (GBP)
£2,420.00
12x75cl
Highest score
98
POP score
134.44
Scores and tasting notes
In 2015, the blend is 60% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc and 18% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the wine was matured 80% in new French oak. Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2015 Pavie is still sporting a bit of its oak to begin, giving way to a glorious nose of crushed black cherries, blackberries and mulberries plus hints of dried roses, stewed tea, unsmoked cigars and garrigue. The rich, concentrated, full-bodied palate delivers an incredible structure of very firm, very ripe tannins and a racy line of freshness cutting through the dense layers of perfumed black fruits and savory notions, finishing with epic length.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown - The Wine Advocate, 21 February 2018
The 2015 Pavie is a blend of 60% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc and 18% Cabernet Sauvignon that is matured in 80% new oak and 20% one-year-old barrels. It has a really quite glorious bouquet that is sensual and very well defined and pure. In my opinion, just dialing down the new oak even by 15% is allowing more personality and more terroir-expression to filter through. The palate is medium-bodied with supple, ripe, lace-like tannins and a fine bead of acidity. It feels caressing and sensual in the mouth with superb mineralité and purity on the vivacious and sustained finish. This is unquestionably the best wine from Gérard Perse in 2015: a great Pavie with a very long life ahead, though I would cellar it for at least a decade to witness it in full flight.
Neal Martin - eRobertParker.com, #224, April 2016
This delivers some serious fruit firepower, with blueberry, blackberry and plum notes that pump along authoritatively, pulling the creamy tannins along with them. Echoes of tobacco and violet emerge through the finish, along with a buried mineral accent. A contender for wine of the vintage on the Right Bank.—J.M.
Wine Spectator - James Molesworth - winespectator.com
No tasting note available.
Tim Atkin - timatkin.com
60% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon. 37 ha. 36 hl/ha. No need for over-extraction because the grapes were naturally ripe. Picked until 9 October. Rich and silky. Blackish crimson. Massive build. Very sweet - but there is some freshness too. Very round tannins. More fluid and less astringent than many vintages.
Jancis Robinson - jancisrobinson.com