Location and Terroir
Château Pavie is located in Saint-Émilion on the right bank of Bordeaux, on the Côte Pavie. The vineyard covers 42 hectares in a single contiguous block and is divided into a limestone plateau, a hillside position and the foot of the slope. The plateau lies at approximately 85 to 110 metres above the Dordogne, the Côte reaches around 55 metres and the foot of the slope is about 35 metres above sea level.
Soils and Viticulture
On the plateau there are clayey-limestone soils with exposed Astérien limestone. The Côte consists of a thick layer of Fronsadais molasse over rugged limestone, while at the foot of the slope there are lighter sandy-clay soils with some gravel. The south-facing vineyard plots are protected from north winds. Château Pavie divides them into 21 technical plots based on planting date, soil analyses and varietal suitability. The estate reports that it has dispensed with herbicides since 1998, has used horse-drawn ploughs since 2013 and has been certified to the French environmental standard High Environmental Value, level 3.
Grape Varieties and Cellar Work
The vineyard plots are planted with approximately 50 per cent Merlot, 30 per cent Cabernet Franc and 20 per cent Cabernet Sauvignon. Merlot is planted predominantly on the plateau, Cabernet Franc on the Côte and Cabernet Sauvignon at the foot of the slope. The grapes are hand-harvested, sorted and visually sorted by berry. For vinification, the winery uses temperature-controlled wooden casks; malolactic fermentation takes place in barriques. This is followed by an approximately one-week cold maceration, eight to ten days of alcoholic fermentation and at least three weeks of post-maceration. Maturing in casks lasts around 18 months.
Wine and History
Château Pavie is a red wine of the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru appellation and is classified by the French classification authority INAO in the 2022 Saint-Émilion classification as Premier Grand Cru Classé with the A accolade. For the 2020 vintage, it states 50 per cent Merlot, 34 per cent Cabernet Franc and 16 per cent Cabernet Sauvignon. According to Château Pavie, viticulture on the Côte Pavie dates back nearly two thousand years. The Perse family came to Saint-Émilion in 1993 and subsequently developed the vineyard plots as well as the facilities for winemaking.
