Pure perfection in red wine, the 2020 Château Pavie checks in as 50% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Franc and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon, all raised in 75% new French oak. Absolutely incredible in every way, it has a sensational bouquet of crème de cassis, smoked tobacco, chocolaty oak, graphite, white truffle, and hints of flowers. Pure, full-bodied, and concentrated, with perfect integration of its fruit, oak, and tannins, it's one of those wines that needs to be tasted to be believed. Hats off to the Perse team for not following trends and for continuing to make a truly Grand Vin that offers a rare mix of power and elegance. Give bottles just 4-5 years and enjoy over the following three decades.
100 points, Jeb Dunnuck (Mar 2023)
This opens up on your palate like a butterfly. It takes your breath away. Purity of blackberry, raspberry and black cherry. Lavender. Very, very impressive. Full and chewy with tight and polished tannins that go on and on. Energetic and structured. Crisp and vivid. Superb finish. Better after 2029 but a joy to taste.
100 points, James Suckling (May 2023)
#28 - James Suckling Top 100 of 2023
A blend of 50% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Franc, and 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2020 Pavie has a deep garnet-purple color. After a swirl or two, the nose erupts with powerful notions of baked plums and blueberry preserves, giving way to fragrant notes of molten licorice, lilacs, crushed rocks, and chocolate box, with just a touch of black olives. The medium to full-bodied palate is dense and muscular, charged with amazing tension and textured with super fine-grained tannins, finishing very long with multi-layered exotic spices, mineral and floral notes. Shimmery!
99 points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Independent (Mar 2023)