CHÂTEAU PAVIE

A very precise Pavie, this has a compacted palate of blue fruit as well as raspberries and hints of sandalwood. Medium-bodied with a tight, linear finish. Racy and fresh at the end. A blend of 51% merlot, 32% cabernet franc and 17% cabernet sauvignon. Rating: 95-96 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2025)

51 M 32 CF 17 CS 13.7% Some sweet herbs with a little spearmint and black rather than red fruit with some sweet spices of oak wrapped around. There is an intensity and depth of the fruit underneath. In the mouth there is a lot of chalky black fruit with some clay minerals and cocoa. The fruit is concentrated and deep, cassis, plum and a little sloe. Nothing either over- or underripe with lovely freshness and red berries - redcurrant and raspberry notes on the finish. mid-weight well managed tannins will provide this wine with a great longevity, although it may prove to be approachable a little earlier than many vintages here due to its elegance, around eight to ten years from release. Rating: 94 Rod Smith MW, www.timatkin.com (Apr 2025)

The 2024 Pavie is potent and explosive to the core. Blackberry, espresso, licorice, cloves and leather are dialed up to the maximum. The 2024 is an imposing, brawny Pavie that is likely to need a bit of time to be at its most expressive. Today, the 2024 is quite the bruiser, especially in terms of its tannin profile. Like so many wines in 2024, the balance here is on the razor's edge, suggesting that élevage will be critical, especially in terms of preserving the wine's fruit. Aging is 65% new oak and 35% once-used barrels, in other words, on the lower side in terms of new oak at this address. Tasted two times. Drinking range: 2034 - 2054 Rating: 92-94 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Apr 2025)