The 2016 Pavie a blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc. Very deep purple-black in color, it needs a little coaxing to begin, slowly unfurling to reveal a fragrant perfume of violets, chocolate-covered cherries, crushed blueberries and eucalyptus over a core of preserved plums, kirsch, black raspberries and crème de cassis plus hints of licorice and chargrilled meat. Full-bodied and built like a brick house, it has a solid foundation of firm, super ripe, grainy tannins and seamless freshness interknit with the black fruit preserves and minerally layers, finishing very long and very decadent. Superb!
100 points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate (Mar 2019)
Spectacular aromas of crushed berries, such as blueberries and raspberries. Fresh flowers with hints of sandalwood. Exotic. Saturated palate of so much fruit, yet remains agile and energetic. Great length and texture. Fills your mouth. This needs time, but a classic. Twin brother of the perfect 2015.
100 points, James Suckling (Mar 2020)
Turning the dial up considerably, the 2016 Château Pavie leaps out of the glass with a thrilling bouquet of crème de cassis, toasty oak, graphite, white truffle, crayons, and flowers. A blend of 60% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc, and 18% Cabernet Sauvignon brought up in 85% new French oak (the new oak has been dialed back in recent vintages), this full-bodied Pavie is made in a more elegant, seamless style compared to prior great vintages, yet it still has brilliant depth of fruit and concentration, ripe, present tannins, a seamless texture, and an awesome finish.
99 points, Jeb Dunnuck (Feb 2019)
The 2016 Pavie, matured in 80% new oak, has a thrilling bouquet of layers of small black cherries, boysenberry, fig and a hint of licorice, all very well defined; the oak is nicely integrated. The medium-bodied palate offers ripe, sappy black fruit, grippy tannin, a smooth texture and crisp acidity toward the finish. This is a seamless Pavie, but backward compared to its peers, and it needs several years in bottle before it even entertains the prospect of drinking pleasure.
98 points, Neal Martin, Vinous (Jan 2019)
A perfect example of coiled sinewy tannins, a fist of steel wrapped in velvet. This is so juicy yet so reserved, fully walking the tightrope of light and shade. Meticulous layers of butterscotch, cigar, turmeric, dill, mandarin peel, with sculpted clarity to the cooly-reserved blackcurrant and bilberry fruits, extremely complex and clearly determined to be around for many decades. Part of the oustanding vintages series within this vertical - and where you could just about drink the 2017 today, I would strongly suggest not doing so with the 2016. 60% new oak.
98 points, Jane Anson (Jan 2022)
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