Chateau PavieProducer from Bordeaux, France

Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux

Château Pavie, one of the most illustrious estates in Saint-Émilion, is renowned for producing wines of exceptional power, richness, and depth. As a Premier Grand Cru Classé A, Château Pavie stands among the elite of Bordeaux, consistently delivering wines that are celebrated for their concentration, complexity, and ability to age gracefully. With a history that spans over 500 years and a unique terroir that favours Merlot, Château Pavie is a true icon of the Saint-Émilion appellation.

History of Château Pavie

The history of Château Pavie can be traced back to the Roman era, when the slopes of Saint-Émilion were first cultivated with vines. The estate as it is known today began to take shape in the 19th century, when Ferdinand Bouffard consolidated several smaller vineyards to create the Château Pavie we know today. The estate was named after the peach orchards ("pavies") that once grew on the property.

In the 20th century, Château Pavie passed through several hands, but it was under the ownership of Jean-Paul Valette in the 1970s and later Gérard Perse, who acquired the estate in 1998, that Pavie began to rise to the top of the Saint-Émilion hierarchy. Perse implemented extensive renovations, both in the vineyard and the winery, focusing on low yields, precise viticulture, and modern winemaking techniques. These efforts culminated in Château Pavie being elevated to Premier Grand Cru Classé A status in the 2012 Saint-Émilion Classification.

Today, Château Pavie is recognized as one of the leading estates in Bordeaux, known for producing wines that are both powerful and refined, with a remarkable ability to age for decades.

The Terroir of Château Pavie

The terroir of Château Pavie is one of its most defining features, contributing to the unique character and quality of its wines. The estate’s 37 hectares of vineyards are situated on the south-facing slopes of Saint-Émilion, where the soils are a mix of limestone, clay, and sand. This terroir, combined with the estate’s meticulous vineyard management, allows Château Pavie to produce wines that are both concentrated and elegant, with a remarkable depth of flavour.

The vineyard is planted with 60% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. This blend reflects the estate’s commitment to producing wines that are both powerful and balanced, with Merlot providing richness and roundness, Cabernet Franc contributing structure and aromatic complexity, and Cabernet Sauvignon adding depth and tannic structure.

The unique combination of soils, exposure, and grape varieties allows Château Pavie to produce wines that are both intense and refined, with a remarkable ability to age gracefully over decades.

Winemaking at Château Pavie

Winemaking at Château Pavie is a meticulous process that combines tradition with innovation. The grapes are hand-harvested and sorted to ensure that only the finest fruit is used in the winemaking process. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats, allowing for precise control over the extraction of flavours and tannins.

The wines are then aged in French oak barrels for 18 to 24 months, with about 70% new oak used each year. This ageing process enhances the wines' complexity and depth, allowing the tannins to soften and the flavours to integrate harmoniously. The result is a wine that is both approachable in its youth and capable of developing greater complexity and nuance over time.