Location and Terroir
Château Pavie is located in Saint Emilion on the right bank of Bordeaux in France. The vineyard lies in the south of the Saint-Émilion appellation and forms a contiguous area. It comprises a limestone plateau, a mid-slope and the lower slope, or foot area.
The plateau is around 85 to 110 metres above the Dordogne, the mid-slope around 55 metres and the foot area about 35 metres. Vine plots that are predominantly oriented to the south are drained by the slope and protected from northerly winds. The limestone stores winter rainfall and helps to maintain moisture in the soil during the summer.
Soils and Grape Varieties
On the plateau, there are clay-limestone soils with exposed Astéries limestone. The mid-slope consists of clay over weathered limestone and is connected with the molasse formation of the Fronsadais. On the lower slope are lighter sandy-clay soils with some gravel.
Merlot is planted mainly on the limestone plateau, Cabernet Franc on the clay-limestone mid-slope and Cabernet Sauvignon on the warmer, drier lower slope. For the 2020 vintage, the cuvée shows 50% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Franc and 16% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Wines and Cellaring
Château Pavie is produced as a red Saint-Émilion Grand Cru. The technical description of the 2020 vintage mentions a dense wine with firm structure, lively tannins and freshness. Vinification took place in temperature-controlled wooden vessels, with biological acid breakdown in barrels. The maturation lasted 18 months, 75% of which in new barrels and 25% in one-year-old barrels.
Arômes de Pavie is a wine in its own right from the estate. The 2023 vintage consisted of 50% Merlot and 50% Cabernet Franc. It was also vinified in temperature-controlled wooden vessels, with biological acid breakdown in barrels. The 18-month maturation was carried out in equal proportions in new and one-year-old barrels.
History and Cultivation
The present-day structure of the vineyard was shaped after Ferdinand Bouffard inherited the estate in 1873 and acquired neighbouring properties. In 1919, Albert Porte officially brought together several previously separate holdings into Château Pavie. Gérard and Chantal Perse took over the estate in 1998; afterwards, the vineyards and operating facilities were comprehensively restructured.
For the 2020 vintage, work including vine pruning to eight buds on old vines and six buds on young vines, thinning, leaf removal and hand harvesting with sorting is documented. The technical data sheet states 37 hectares, an average vine age of 32 years and a yield of 31 hectolitres per hectare. Château Pavie was classified as Premier Grand Cru Classé with the A award in 2012 and again in 2022.
