Winemaker and Vineyard: Château Pavie is a thirty-seven-hectare vineyard situated on an exceptional terroir with equally exceptional south-facing exposure. The estate can be subdivided into three easily identifiable terroirs: the limestone plateau, the slope, and the foot of the slope, all at varying altitudes above the Dordogne River.

Tasting: Composed of 50% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Franc and 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2020 Pavie weighs in with an alcohol of 14.82% and a pH of 3.61. It is aging in French oak barriques, 75% new. Opaque purple-black colored, notes of plum pudding, blueberry pie and dark chocolate-covered cherries charge out of the gate, followed closely by hints of eucalyptus, star anise, unsmoked cigars and fertile loam with a hint of cedar chest. The full-bodied palate is built like a brick house, offering very firm yet wonderfully ripe, velvety tannins and seamless freshness to support the densely laden, muscular black and blue fruits, finishing very long and with loads of mineral-laced layers. As hedonic as it is cerebral this year, it is a beautiful paradox. robertparker.com (20.05.2021)

Service: Serve at room temperature (16-18°C) to accompany eggs meurette with chanterelles.