2012 Pavie Decesse

95 POINTS

Robert Parker - Robert Parker Wine Advocate

From Chantal and Gérard Perse, this St.-Emilion is a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. It is interesting that the small vineyard of 8.5 acres (which I have walked) sits above Pavie on a steep, pure limestone outcrop. This is the quintessential limestone-based wine, with a liquor of powdered chalk mixed with cassis and blackberry. Very concentrated (almost painfully so), this highly extracted, full-bodied, massive, rich and powerful wine needs cellaring. Everything is present for a great future. This is one of the superstars of the vintage. Unfortunately, production of Pavis Decesse is minuscule, as a large section of the vineyard was incorporated into Pavie. This wine, with its opaque purple color and great density and richness is a connoisseur’s dream. Forget it for 5-8 years and drink it over the following three decades.

94 POINTS

Antonio Galloni MW - Vinous

Radiant and sexy in the glass, the 2012 Pavie-Decesse is the most gracious of the three top wines in Gérard Perse's lineup. Dark red cherry, plum, smoke, menthol and licorice are some of the notes that fused together in this beautifully focused, layered wine. Hints of violet and lavender add the closing shades of nuance. Silky tannins give the Pavie-Decesse plenty of early appeal, but there is also more than enough depth for the 2012 to drink well for a number of years. The 2012 is 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, from vines that are 50 years old on average.

93 POINTS

Wine Spectator

Delivers expressive, ripe, flowing notes of raspberry coulis, plum sauce and warm fig that pick up anise, black tea and well-roasted apple wood flavors along the way. The flashy finish pumps along authoritatively, showing integrated toast and a gorgeous echo of fruit.

93 POINTS

Roger Voss - Wine Enthusiast

92–94. Barrel sample. The diminutive neighbor of Château Pavie, Pavie Decesse's wine has its own, more mineral, tight character. It is complex but fruity, with blackberries supported by wood, acidity and dense texture.

93 POINTS

Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider

Licorice, spice, earth, plum, black cherry and stone notes are made more interesting by the soft, sexy, plush textures, polished tannins and the long, spicy, silky finish. 92-94 Pts

92 POINTS

James Suckling

This is really decadent with intense fruit as well as vanilla and coffee character. Full body, velvety tannin and a long finish. Layered and intense. Savory. Needs three or four years to come together.

Matthew Jukes

16/20

Julia Harding MW - JancisRobinson.com

Drink 2020-203090% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc. Black core and deep purple rim. Very ripe damson fruit and very powerful oak influence at the moment (80% new). Firm grip but not hard, just very powerful and concentrated, almost tarry. Impressive rather than refined, though perhaps that will come. Pretty impenetrable now. (JH)  (16,5+ points) 16/20