2025, Château Pavie, SAINT-ÉMILION, 1er Grand Cru Classé

Gérard Perse created a modern winery of marble, stainless steel - magnificently situated vineyard on the south-facing slopes of St Emilion. There is also more Cabernet than before and the oak is less toasted and no longer 100% new.

2025 is 60% Cabernet Franc, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot.

Fragrant apple blossom, iris and violet flowers on the nose, brings its A-game from the first moments; coupling bright plum, rose stems, and an intense grip of slate, with creamier blackberries, damson and creme patissiere. A ton of grip and length, this is in it for the long game, with pulses of oyster shell minerality to close things out. Brilliant. Here they did 8 weeks maceration, longer than most, but they felt that the wines needed a little longer to fill out through the mid palate, and for sure this is showing exceptional expansion and tension. 2035-2050. 98 Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

The 2025 Pavie is a total stunner. What a wine. Rich and dazzling in its intensity, the 2025 hits all the right notes. Inky dark red/purplish fruit, exotic spice, mocha, espresso and pomegranate literally stain the palate. The 2025 is going to require the better part of a decade to unwind, but it has a ton of potential and a very bright future. This is the first time Cabernet Franc is the dominant variety in the Grand Vin. The 2025 has plenty of the textural intensity readers have come to expect, but with less of the heavy extraction that marked the earlier years. 2033 - 2065 96-98 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.

The cabernet franc really comes through, with fine, intense, racy tannins and great length. Chalky and focused. More restrained than past vintages, with superb tension at the end. The most cabernet franc-driven Pavie ever. And it works so well. Precise is the word. 98-99 James Suckling.