2021 Chateau Pavie - St. Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classe A

Decanter.com – 94 pts – GH: *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!* - 04/2022

Falstaff Magazin – 93 pts – PM: *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.* - 05/2022

Vinum Magazin – 17/20 pts: *Deutlich durch die Eiche geprägt, samten, mit Rasse bei guter Länge, dank der spürbaren Säure, die dem ausgeprägten Süsskomplex mehr Frische verleiht.*

WeinWisser – 18,5/20pts – GL, TW: *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!* – 04/2022

JancisRobinson.com – 1/*+/20pts – JL: *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.* - 04/2022

Vinous.com – 96 pts – AG: *The 2021 Pavie is a potent, brooding wine that is going to need time to be at its best. Floral and spice notes confer freshness on the bouquet. In this tasting, the 2021 feels a bit tight. I doubt that will be an issue in another few years' time. Structurally, the 2021 is a touch lighter than most recent vintages, but the identity is there. The move towards more Cabernet in the blend since 2019 has markedly changed the character of Pavie. The 2021 is on the linear side today. I can't wait to see how it ages.* - 12/2023

Vinous.com – 93 pts – NM: *The 2021 Pavie takes time to cohere in the glass, eventually offering blackberry and blueberry fruit, with graphite emanating from the Cabernet components. Hints of mint chocolate and cassis come through with time. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins. This is a well-balanced Saint-Émilion, and I appreciate the blend of varieties and the contribution of the Cabernets. Spicier than recent vintages, there is a healthy drop of black pepper here, gentle grip and a sapid finish. It doesn't possess the complexity of the very top vintages, though given a few years in bottle it should drink well for 20 years.* - 11/2023

Thewinecellarinsider.com – 96 pts – JL: *The blend of dark, red cherries, salty crushed stones, flowers, licorice, chocolate, and espresso works to create the attention seeking perfume. Moderately less concentrated than recent vintages, but with more vibrancy, energy, and finesse, the wine delivers its salty, essence of red fruits, spice, and chocolate-mint with ease. There is tension and ample dark, red fruits that carry through to the endnote. The wine blends 52% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, and 18% Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink from 2028-2060.* - 03/2024