Pavie 2014

Tasted blind. Very deep crimson. Great ripeness and density. Really sweet and concentrated with rather aggressive, dry tannins. Uncomfortable to taste. Falls away on the end. Lovely nose but it falls away. Seriously hard work.Drink 2026-2042

This gushes with boysenberry, açai berry and blackberry confiture notes, but they are quickly harnessed by fine chalky minerality that stays well-buried throughout, imparting mouthwatering cut despite the copious fruit. Features lavish spice and licorice, and the fruit and minerality is there. If you've got it, flaunt it. Best from 2026 through 2040. 6,665 cases made.

The 2014 Pavie has an intense bouquet with blackberry, raspberry and light mint aromas, very well defined although you would never describe it as extravagant - more a little "showy". The palate is medium-bodied with chewy tannin, not as refined as I expect and I discerned a little bitterness at the front end. Yet it has a gorgeous spicy core of fruit and all it needs is a little more precision and length. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. 2019 - 2035

The 2014 Pavie is clearly the star of Gérard Perse's portfolio this year. The aromatics are the most complex and absorbing, a mixture of red and black fruit, graphite and black truffle, a faint marine influence emerging as it unfolds in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied and demonstrates less substance and glossiness than the Bellevue-Mondotte. In fact, if you had this blind you might describe it as a more "classic" Saint Emilion, underpinned by quite firm tannin that provide this with impressive backbone. There is a toughness to this Pavie, but it retains balance. It has its sights set on longevity and for that we will have to wait, but it will be worth it. Drink Date 2024-2050

The Château Pavie 2014 is a blend of 60% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc and 18% Cabernet Sauvignon picked between 3 and 10 October, a lower percentage of Merlot as the vineyard moves towards more Cabernet in the blend. Matured in 80% new oak and 20% one-year old, it has an opulent and delineated bouquet that is heads above the Bellevue-Mondotte. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, the Cabernet in sync with the Merlot, silky smooth in the mouth with a plush but not cloying finish. The mineralité shows through nicely, partly because of that higher percentage of Cabernet. This is a different style of Pavie compared to previous vintages and the team were clear in their emphasis on more Cabernet and less oak. The result is a Pavie that really exploits its propitious terroir and a wine that even compared to Gérard Perse's other 2014s, demonstrates more complex, more class and classicism. This is one of the standout wines in Saint Emilion. Drink: 2020 - 2045

A firm and juicy wine with very pretty dark fruit, mineral and floral character. Full body, round tannins and a fresh finish.

The 2014 Pavie is deep garnet in color with a touch of purple. A little closed to start, it needs some swirling to bring out notes of baked plums, boysenberry preserves, and black raspberries leading to wafts of crushed redcurrants, pencil shavings, and forest floor. The medium to full-bodied palate is tightly knit with mineral-laced black and red berry flavors, framed by grainy tannins and bold freshness, finishing with a real skip in its step. Leave it another 4-5 years, then drink over the next 20 years+.