Château Pavie 2017, Saint-Emilion 1° Grand Cru Classé A - Parker 99

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, all located at different altitudes above the Dordogne. The conditions are extremely favorable for viticulture, particularly due to the soil's poverty, excellent sunlight, and natural drainage.

Tasting: There was no frost in the vineyard in 2017, due to its situation high upon the limestone plateau. Composed of 60% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc and 18% Cabernet Sauvignon, which was harvested from September 25 to October 3, the 2017 Pavie is very deep garnet-purple in color and rolls slowly and sensuously out of the glass with growing scents of Black Forest cake, black plum preserves, blueberry compote and fruitcake plus suggestions of melted chocolate, licorice, crushed rocks and Indian spices with a waft of violets. Full-bodied, the palate packs a powerful punch, laden with electric layers of energetic black and blue fruits. All this decadent fruit is supported by fantastic freshness and very, very ripe, velvety tannins, finishing with epic length.

Service: Serve at room temperature to accompany beef entrecôte with Espelette pepper.