2021 Pavie

As to the Grand Vin, the saturated ruby/purple-hued 2021 Château Pavie defies the vintage with its ripe, powerful aromatics of cassis, toasted spice, chalky minerality, graphite, and hints of truffly earth. A rich, medium to full-bodied, concentrated, incredibly textured 2021, it has velvety tannins, no hard edges, and a gorgeous finish. It's a testament to the talent and work of this incredible team and is up with the crème de la crème of the vintage. The 2021 is based on 52% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, and 18% Cabernet Sauvignon, brought up in a mix of new and used barrels, hitting 14.14% alcohol and a pH of 3.67. It’s going to age for 20-25 years if well stored.

The 2021 Pavie takes time to cohere in the glass, eventually offering blackberry and blueberry fruit, with graphite emanating from the Cabernet components. Hints of mint chocolate and cassis come through with time. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins. This is a well-balanced Saint-Émilion, and I appreciate the blend of varieties and the contribution of the Cabernets. Spicier than recent vintages, there is a healthy drop of black pepper here, gentle grip and a sapid finish. It doesn't possess the complexity of the very top vintages, though given a few years in bottle it should drink well for 20 years.

The 2021 Pavie is a potent, brooding wine that is going to need time to be at its best. Floral and spice notes confer freshness on the bouquet. In this tasting, the 2021 feels a bit tight. I doubt that will be an issue in another few years' time. Structurally, the 2021 is a touch lighter than most recent vintages, but the identity is there. The move towards more Cabernet in the blend since 2019 has markedly changed the character of Pavie. The 2021 is on the linear side today. I can't wait to see how it ages. (AG)