Château Pavia: The Journey of a First

The terroir of Château Pavia is considered one of the most beautiful of Saint-EmilionA road separates it from the mythical Château Ausonius and it is on these two vineyards that the first vines are said to have been planted in Saint-Emilion in the 4th century. Three distinct terroirs coexist on the 37 hectares of the domaine The vineyard features a limestone plateau, dense and deep clay soils on the coast, and sandy-clay soil at the foot of the slope. The grape varieties planted are 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Gérard Perse propelled the Château At the forefront of the winery, he has been modernizing it since his arrival in 1998. For the harvest, he opted for the best: optical sorting, conveyor belt transport of the grapes to the top of the vats, and gravity destemming and crushing. A new vat room replaced the one dating from 1923. The 20 new temperature-controlled vats allow for plot-by-plot vinification. Indeed, 20 distinct plots have been identified in the vineyard. The aging cellar contains only new barrels, which hold the wine for 18 months. Annual production amounts to only 8,000 cases of Château Pavia.

The result: a rich and intense wine while retaining the refinement of the very finest. Château was rewarded for his efforts in September 2012 when he joined, with the Château Angélus, the Ausone and Cheval castles within the Premiers Grands Crus Classés A.

A wine to be cellared and especially to be kept because it only improves after several years.

Robert Parker's rating for the 2012 vintage: 94-96+

A full-bodied wine with an opaque, purple hue, the 2012 vintage offers aromas of blackberries, black cherries, cedarwood, and floral notes. This Pavie is complex yet more approachable and youthful than most vintages. Another brilliant effort from owners Chantal and Gérard Perse. Drink in 8-10 years, but can be cellared for up to three decades.