Pavie St-Emilion 2004

98 points (19/20) La Revue du Vin de France: "Unusually dense, the 2004 is massive and powerful, yet not lacking in breed. It needs time to round out, but it stands out as one of the vintage's success stories. (Jan 2008)"

96 points Wine & Spirits: "A conspicuously modern wine, Pavie with its hyper-ripe fruit and substantial new oak treatment stands out as an offense to some, a glorious pleasure to others. In the case of the 2004, it carries the oak beautifully, untamed by it. The wine is wild, in fact, and quite hard to resist. The cool complexity of the tannins grows out of three terroirs: the limestone plateau, a sector of gravel and limestone and a third sector of clay. The fruit opens with thick-skinned black plum power, reverberating with feral scents and violets. Staunch and formidable, the wine is packed with life. (Oct 2007)"

94 points Wine Spectator: "This is a beauty, with the singed apple wood and juniper notes fully melded with the core of lush raspberry and blackberry confiture flavors. The edges are rounded off but the spine still drives through. Ends with graphite and ganache accents and a mouthwatering hint. -Non-blind Pavie vertical (March 2017). Best from 2020 through 2035. (2017)"

94 points Robert Parker: "A real sleeper effort from the Perse family, the 2004 Pavie has a dense, bluish purple color and a wonderful, sweet kiss of blackberry, licorice, spice box and roasted herbs. The wine is rich, deep, full-bodied and absolutely remarkable for the vintage. This is certainly a candidate for one of the wines of the year and seems still relatively youthful and promising. Drink it over the next 20 years. (Aug 2015)"

94 points Lisa Perrotti-Brown (The Wine Independent): "Deep garnet with a touch of brick, the 2004 Pavie shoots out with bold notes of baked plums and boysenberry preserves plus hints of tobacco leaf, dried Provence herbs, and fragrant earth. The medium-bodied palate is lively and refreshing, with soft tannins to texture the black fruit preserves and savory layers, finishing earthy. Alcohol 14%. Drink: 2023-2035. (12/13/23)"

94 points Jeff Leve (The Wine Cellar Insider): "Drinking perfectly, the wine is built around its core of black and dark red, oceanic fruits, espresso, smoke, licorice, and spice with a minty edge. Full, round, and ready, no decanting needed, just pull the cork and enjoy. Drink from 2023-2038. (Feb 2023)"

94 points Falstaff: "Dark ruby garnet, violet reflections, delicate edge brightening. Very inviting dark berry fruit, delicate hints of blackberries, tobacco spice, ethereal nuances of mint and licorice, very attractive bouquet. Juicy and complex, firm tannins, chocolaty texture, lingers very well, has good potential, already a great food companion. (Oct 2012)"

93 points Stephen Tanzer (International Wine Cellar): "Good deep fresh ruby. Vibrant, complex aromas of blackberry, violet, licorice, espresso and minerals. Concentrated, spicy and fresh, with lovely clarity and lift to its penetrating dark fruit and mineral flavors. Densely packed and downright palate-staining for 2004 without any impression of heaviness. This has plenty of fat for the year and finishes impressively dense, with ripe, building tannins. (May/Jun 2007)"