Chateau Pavie 2021

JEB DUNNUCK: "The 2021 Château Pavie was one of the few wines in the vintage that got a big "wow" in my notes. Based on 52% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon, it's a full-bodied, dense, powerful, beautiful 2021 with classic Pavie darker, richer fruits, notes of spicy oak, chocolate, and violets, ripe velvety tannins, and a great finish. It's not at the 2019 or 2020 level, but don't hold that against it. This is pure brilliance in 2021 and one of the wines of the vintage."

JAMES SUCKLING: "Deep black and blue fruit with cocoa and tar character. Compact and full-bodied with firm, ripe tannins that are very textured and interwoven into the wine. This has a lot of structure to go a long way. Yet it remains in balance with finesse. 52% merlot, 30% cabernet franc and 18% cabernet sauvignon."

WEINWISSER: "52 % Merlot, 30 % Cabernet Franc, 18 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 32.98 hl/ha, 14.14 Vol.-%, pH 3.67. Sehr komplexes Bouquet mit blaubeerigen Konturen, betörendem Veilchenparfüm, Lakritze und Grethers Pastillen. Im zweiten Ansatz zarte Fliedernote, rote Grütze und Graphit. Am vielschichtigen Gaumen mit cremiger Textur sowie stützender Rasse, ungeheure Spannung aufbauend, sehr tiefgründig, engmaschiges Tanningerüst und mächtiger Körper. Im konzentrierten sehr präzisen Finale eine volle Ladung Cassis, tiefschürfende Terroirwürze und erhabene Adstringenz gepaart mit edler Salznote. Kann noch zulegen!"

DECANTER: "Lovely aromas, ripe blackcurrants, damsons and plums, milk chocolate, cinnamon and vanilla. Round and mouthfilling, this has energy and vibrancy with good acidity lifting the fruit up, tannins providing chew and texture, and the minerality/austerity showing the terroir in the glass. A spiced liquorice and clove element gives the backbone of the wine, adding structure and nuance, while the fruit gives the seduction but it’s a little tight still, linear and straight - staying just the right side of full extraction. Doesn't feel so immediately approachable but this has an excellent youthful character, still with depth and layers, that will round out over ageing. A more classic, immensely enjoyable and paired-back Pavie. All the wines in the range really do show a sense of place, which at the end of the day is what you want if you're a terroir purist!"

JANCIS ROBINSON: "52% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon. 32.98 hl/ha. Cask sample. Deep purple hue. Poised and fresh with dark-fruit and floral notes. Fresh and minerally on attack but sweet and ripe in the middle, the tannins finely honed. Chalky and long on the finish. Powerful, structured, the terroir evident but everything in balance. Good potential. (JL)"

LISA PERROTTI-BROWN: "The 2021 Pavie is a blend of 52% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, and 18% Cabernet Sauvignon, aging in 75% new oak. Deep garnet-purple in color, it charges out of the gate with powerful notes of baked black plums, wild blueberries, and boysenberry preserves, plus wafts of cedar, graphite, fallen leaves, and star anise. Medium-bodied, the palate is tightly wound with tons of black fruit layers, framed by firm, grainy tannins and amazing tension, finishing very long and mineral-laced. pH 3.67."

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, tiefer Kern, violette Reflexe, dezente Randaufhellung. Frische Kirschen, ein Hauch von Orangenzesten und Edelholz, zart nach Nougat. Mittlerer Körper, rotbeerige Nuancen, präsente Tannine, noch etwas fordernd, frisch und salzig im Abgang, mineralisch im Nachhall, wird von Flaschenreife profitieren."