CHÂTEAU PAVIE

Fragrant apple blossom, iris and violet flowers on the nose, brings its A-game from the first moments; coupling bright greengage plums, rose stems, and an intense grip of slate, with creamier blackberries, damson and creme patissiere. A ton of grip and length, this is in it for the long game, with pulses of oyster shell minerality to close things out. Brilliant. Here they did 8 weeks maceration, longer than most, but they felt that the wines needed a little longer to fill out through the mid palate, and for sure this is showing exceptional expansion and tension. Harvest September 15 to 29, first time in the Perse era that this has been entirely in September - and the final vintage under Gerard Perse. Pavie Decesse and Bellevue Mondot are now included in the main wine, bringing their limestone soils to the blend, and this is the highest amount of Cabernet to date. 21hl/ha yield, 3.58ph. Rating: 98 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (Apr 2026)

The 2025 Pavie was picked at just 21 hl/ha, the lowest ever, plus this is the first vintage with 60% Cabernet Franc from plantings in the 2000s. Matured in 65% new oak, the aromatics are far superior, more cohesive and purer than the Arômes cuvée. Still very plush and luxuriant, it has that purity, although it needs more delineation and terroir expression to come through. The palate is actually better than the nose and I appreciate the contribution that the Cabernet Franc makes in this wine, delivering fine structure and tension that I believe you would not have obtained if there were higher Merlot. Satisfying precision on the finish, this feels long in the mouth with cracked black pepper on the aftertaste. It is a different take on Pavie due to the different blend and if the aromatics can gain more complexity and nuance, then it could be an interesting proposition once in bottle. Drinking range: 2033 - 2055 Rating: 92-95 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (May 2026)

The cabernet franc really comes through, with fine, intense, racy tannins and great length. Chalky and focused. More restrained than past vintages, with superb tension at the end. The most cabernet franc-driven Pavie ever. And it works so well. Precise is the word. Rating: 98-99 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (May 2026)