Winemaker and Vineyard: Château Pavie is a thirty-seven-hectare vineyard property situated on exceptional terroir with an equally exceptional southern exposure. The estate can be divided into three easily identifiable terroirs: the limestone plateau, the hillside, and the hillside base. This arrangement enjoys extremely favorable conditions for viticulture.

Tasting: 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! robertparker.com (29.03.2019)

Service: Serve at room temperature (16-18°C) to accompany saffron chicken strips.