Château Pavie

The 2014 Pavie is clearly the star of Gérard Perse's portfolio this year. The aromatics are the most complex and absorbing, a mixture of red and black fruit, graphite and black truffle, a faint marine influence emerging as it unfolds in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied and demonstrates less substance and glossiness than the Bellevue-Mondotte. In fact, if you had this blind you might describe it as a more "classic" Saint Emilion, underpinned by quite firm tannin that provide this with impressive backbone. There is a toughness to this Pavie, but it retains balance. It has its sights set on longevity and for that we will have to wait, but it will be worth it.

Tasted blind. Very deep crimson. Great ripeness and density. Really sweet and concentrated with rather aggressive, dry tannins. Uncomfortable to taste. Falls away on the end. Lovely nose but it falls away. Seriously hard work.

This is a magnificent Pavie with full body and polished and integrated tannins. Shows a level of precision and balance that is always unexpected. Long and harmonious. Hard now to drink now, but will reward those with long-term patience.