1998 Pavie
By Chateau Pavie
1998 Pavie from Chateau Pavie, Saint-Emilion, Bordeaux
Embarking upon a tasting of the 1998 Pavie from Chateau Pavie casts the critic into a narrative as rich and complex as the wine itself. It is a vintage that transcends mere ebullient praise, commanding a deeper understanding of its context within the storied terroirs of Saint-Emilion.
The Substance of a Millennium's Cusp
The year 1998 stood on the cusp of the millennium, encapsulating a time when Bordeaux's right bank was poised to craft wines that defined an era. Yet, among its illustrious peers, it is this vintage from Chateau Pavie that sets an exceptional standard. Intense care in selection and vinification brought forth a wine with a depth that belies its years. The composition sings primarily of Merlot, cradled by Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, synchronising in a harmonious crescendo.
The Precision of Conditions: A Masterstroke Vintage
A portrayal of 1998 climatic influences shines through in every sip of this remarkable Pavie. Late-season rain followed a splendid summer, creating ideal conditions that are masterly expressed in the wine's structure. The vintage showcases layers of dark fruit intertwined with hints of truffle and tobacco - nuances that only emerge under expert cultivation in this distinct microclimate.
Wine Investment: A Jewel Amongst Assets
The foresight to invest in the finesse of the 1998 Pavie from Chateau Pavie is underpinned by both its consummate reputation and consistent performance on the global stage. Beyond liquid luxury, this vintage stands as an asset with tangible allure for any portfolio or cellar.
In summing up the essence of this vintage, one uncovers a repertoire not fully disclosed upon first encounter but revealed through patience and reflection. This 1998 Pavie portrays an illustrious moment in time, sagaciously captured within each bottle—a narrative worth exploring for both connoisseur and investor alike.
Market price (USD)
$3,320.00
12x75cl
Highest score
97
POP score
160
Scores and tasting notes
The 1998 Pavie is deep garnet-brick in color. So much fruit comes charging out of the gate here: profound crème de cassis, baked blackberries and blackberry preserves with notions of beef dripping, crushed rocks, unsmoked cigar, sandalwood and dried lavender. Big, rich and beautifully impactful, it is completely packed with taut, muscular black and blue fruit preserves, maintaining nice firm grainy tannins with layer after layer of exotic spices, meat and earth notions, finishing epically long and minerally. Should easily continue to cellar for 25+ years.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown - The Wine Advocate, 31 May 2018
I have always found much to enjoy in this, Gerard Perse’s sophomore vintage. Now at 15 years of age it is maturing in pleasing fashion with slightly pinched blackberry fruit infused with black olive and iodine. There is real backbone on the palate: sensual dark cherry and kirsch fruit, touches of cassis coming through with great poise and refinement on the finish. Pretty irresistible now, though it should last another 15 years without too much problem. Tasted December 2012.
Neal Martin - Wine Journal Jul 2013
A 50-year wine, this opaque purple-colored offering exhibits a strong, precise nose of black fruits, liquid minerals, smoke, and graphite. Extremely full-bodied, yet brilliantly delineated, powerful, and awesomely concentrated, it boasts a fabulous mid-palate as well as a finish that lasts for nearly a minute. This vin de garde requires 5-6 years of cellaring. A tour de force in winemaking, it has the potential to be the most profound Pavie ever produced, except for its two successors. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2045.
Robert Parker Jr - Wine Advocate #134 April 2001