Chateau Pavie, 2019, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, 0,75 l

Château Pavie is a highly regarded - if sometimes controversial - wine estate in the Saint-Émilion appellation in north-eastern Bordeaux, on the right bank of the Dordogne river. Originally classified as a Premier Grand Cru Classé (B) in 1955, it was upgraded to Premier Grand Cru Classé (A) status in 2012 and is known for its Merlot-dominated wines. Château Pavie, with 37 hectares of vineyards, is situated east of Saint-Émilion, on the southern edge of the Saint-Émilion plateau. The estate's vineyards are optimally situated, being planted in the limestone soils of the southern part of the plateau. This ensures good drainage and excellent exposure to the sun. Until the beginning of the 20th century, Château Pavie was divided into three, with Pavie Macquin and Pavie Decesse being created from parts of the estate. Pavie remains the largest of the three and is one of the larger estates in Saint-Émilion. The French merchant Gérard Perse bought Pavie in 1998 (he had previously bought Château Monbousquet in 1993 and Pavie Decesse in 1997) and, as with his previous purchases, Perse has made significant upgrades to the vineyards and cellars. Many vines were replanted and Michel Rolland was hired as a consultant oenologist. This was followed by distinctly different vintages of wines, which created some controversy. The new wines are riper, fuller and more extract-rich, with a high alcohol content. The vineyards of Château Pavie, located just two kilometres south of Saint-Émilion, are planted with around 60 % Merlot, 25 % Cabernet Franc and 15 % Cabernet Sauvignon. The completely renovated Château Pavie, designed by the Parisian architect and decorator Alberto Pinto, was unveiled in 2013.