Pavie St-Emilion 2019

99 points Jeb Dunnuck: "The 2019 Château Pavie is another beauty that offers more density and sexiness than just about every other wine in the vintage, yet it is still an unnecessarily restrained expression of this terroir, which is the fad in Bordeaux these days. Based on 50% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Franc, and 18% Cabernet Sauvignon that was brought up in 80% new French oak, this deep purple-hued effort has a great bouquet of ripe black cherries, darker currants, tobacco leaf, violets, and graphite, with a beautiful sense of minerality and salinity on the palate. Full-bodied, concentrated, and powerful, it has plenty of background oak, a deep, layered mid-palate, terrific tannins, and a great finish. It shows the more understated, elegant style of the vintage yet is still pure Pavie. Hide bottles for 5-7 years and enjoy over the following 30+. Drink: 2027-2060. (4/11/22)" Very showy, with loads of warm fig, boysenberry and raspberry confiture flavors coming in waves, showing maybe a hint of torrefaction along with melted licorice, warm ganache and fruitcake notes. There's a loamy hint through the finish, and a touch of graphite helps give this the spine it needs. Hard to deny the fruit here, though I lean toward the '10 for its cut and drive. -- Non-blind Pavie vertical (March 2017). Best from 2020 through 2045.

98 points James Suckling: "Lots of blackberry and grilled meat with earth and spice. Some smoky undertones, too. Blackcurrants. Complex. Full-bodied with round, juicy tannins, yet they turn extremely fine and very linear and go on for minutes. Great length. A blend of 50% merlot, 32% cabernet franc and 18% cabernet sauvignon. Try after 2027, but already a joy to drink. (2/20/22)"

98 points Chris Kissack (Winedoctor): "From the Pavie slopes which look out up the valley of the Dordogne, and which should rightly give one of the appellation’s greatest wines, something which seems to have been realised in 2019. This is half Cabernet, a mix of Sauvignon and Franc, and half Merlot, a blend which provides a lot of drive to the style here. The aromatics are intense and expressive, with pressed violets, blackcurrant and currants, wrapped up in coffee bean and hints of perfumed black tea. The palate does not disappoint, with beautifully integrated fruit, touched here with notes of graphite and slate, within a sinewy substance and some highly polished and tightly-knit tannins. It remains texturally complete, polished and stylish, with a finish of volume and velvet. Excellent, and exactly the sort of joy Pavie should give. The declared alcohol is 14.5%. (Dec 2021)"

97 points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "The 2019 Pavie is incredibly elegant right out of the gate. Aromas of crushed rose petal, cedar, mint and sweet pipe tobacco are immediately alluring. The 2019 is sensual and inviting, with no excess weight and fabulous overall balance. Blood orange, red/purplish fruit, cinnamon and mint develop effortlessly. Time in the glass brings out Cabernet Franc aromatics and structure, leading to a feeling of vertical intensity that is hugely appealing. Drink: 2029-2049. (Feb 2022)"

97 points Wine Spectator: "[$359 list] Dreamy right from the start, with a seductive mouthfeel to its mix of raspberry puree, cassis and creamed plum flavors infused with rooibos tea, black licorice and alder accents. Long and extremely fine-grained through the finish, with subtle floral lift and a lingering hint of chalky minerality. Gorgeous. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2025 through 2040. (5/31/22)"

96 points Jane Anson (Inside Bordeaux): "50% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Franc, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon. Layered, powerful, supple tannins, full of nuanced liquorice, cocoa bean, espresso, cigar box, grilled almonds, tar, bitter mandarin and black truffle that are packed in tightly against cassis fruits. This has been well handled over ageing, and feels contained, carefully holding the naturally powerful terroir of this site in place. 80% new oak. A great Pavie. Drink: 2029-2050. (1/17/22)"