2013 Pavie

94 POINTS

Roger Voss - Wine Enthusiast

This wine has power and firm, extracted tannins that are so dry and layering, they cut right through the blackberry fruit. It is dense, showing rich fruitiness and a firm texture, as well as the promise to age.

93 POINTS

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

A dense purple color is followed by notes of creme de cassis, mulberries, forest floor and loamy soil with a hint of spicy oak in the background. The oak component is completely balanced by the wine’s rich fruit, medium-bodied texture, and impressive purity, length and equilibrium. The 2013 Pavie should turn out to be one of the longer-lived wines of the vintage, drinking well in 4-5 years and lasting 15-20. Harvested between October 3-8, this great vineyard situated on the limestone hillsides of the Cote Pavie is a final blend of 65% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Yields were 26 hectoliters per hectare, and only 50% of the production made it into the 2013 Pavie. The Merlot crop was largely destroyed by poor flowering, and there is also some re-planting going on. When I visited the magnificent new cellars, Gerard Perse told me that most vines had no more than two to three grape bunches per vine. The natural alcohol came in at 13.26% and the pH was relatively modest. The result is one of the superstars of this difficult vintage.

92 POINTS

James Suckling

Aromas of plum, coffee bean, and rose petals follow through to a full body with firm and silky tannins and a lightly chewy finish. Needs three or four years to soften but a structured an interesting wine for the vintage.

92 POINTS

Antonio Galloni MW - Vinous

The 2013 Pavie is pure sensuality in the glass. Smoke, cassis, graphite and white flowers appear first, followed by expressive blue/purplish fruit. Firm yet well-integrated tannins lend support to a wine that boasts considerable concentration and sheer depth, especially within the context of the year. This is a rare 2013 that will require at least some bottle age. The blend is 65% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2013 was fermented in oak uprights, and saw 36 days of contact on the skins, long for the year.

91 POINTS

Neal Martin - Wine Advocate

The 2013 Pavie was actually quite reticent on the nose compared to the 2013 Bellevue Mondotte, gently unfolding with mulberry, forest floor and wild mint aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, gently gripping the mouth with a touch of chalkiness underneath the caressing finish. There is a little chewiness here and as I suspected, it might actually be the Pavie-Decesse that is the best wine within Gérard Perse's portfolio.

90 POINTS

Stephen Tanzer - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

Dark red.  Plum, blackberry and blueberry on the fruit-driven nose.  Fresh and clean on the palate, with spicy dark fruit flavors that are less dense than usual for this wine, in the style of the year.  Finishes with a hint of leafiness but also with excellent balance, youthful tannins and sneaky concentration.  Will make lovely earlier-than-usual drinking.

Steven Spurrier - Decanter

Deep, dark and reserved on the nose. Dark fruit nuances. Fine, fresh and  structured. Terroir really comes through. Firm, long finish. Powerful but  harmonious as well 18/20

René Gabriel - René Gabriel

65 % Merlot, 25 % Cabernet Franc, 10 % Cabernet Sauvignon . 26 hl/ha. Extrem dunkles Purpur mit lila und violetten Reflexen. Nussige Noten im trüffeligen Untergrund, vermischt mit Brombeeren und etwas Black Currant und kaltem Schwarztee. 18/20