Tasting Notes
Vinous 90+
Fully saturated inky purple. Black cherry, mocha, violet, coffee and minerals on the nose, along with a strong oakiness. Enters the mouth sweet and candied, with rich, deep flavors of dark berries and cherry, but turns increasingly austere on the back half. Finishes very long and less tannic than the Pavie Decesse and Bellevue-Mondotte (other reds in the Perse stable), with good focus. But here too, I wonder if the wine has enough verve and fruit to stand up to its tannic clout. Forget about this in the cellar for the next eight years or so.
Wine Advocate 95+
The 2011 Pavie is composed of 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon (14.3% alcohol). It possesses a certain approachability, which is somewhat disarming for the big, robust, super-concentrated and ageworthy style Pavie has favored since 1998. The opaque purple-hued, full-bodied 2011 offers a sweet kiss of kirsch, blackberry, cassis and licorice, but no evidence of toasty oak despite the fact it is bottled about six months after most other premier grand cru classes in St.-Emilion. One of the most complete wines of the vintage, this superstar possesses gorgeous texture and opulence, and can be drunk in 3-4 years, or cellared for two decades.
