Pavie 2012 (750ML)

96 WI / 96 JS / 95 RP / 95 WS / 95 VM

No. 9 James Suckling's Top 100 List of 2012 Red Bordeaux

To celebrate the property's promotion to Premier Grand Cru Classé "A" status, the 2012 vintage comes with a special black label.

The 2012 Pavie is medium to deep garnet colored. It charges out with flamboyant prunes, Chinese five spice, and sandalwood notes, followed by hints of cast-iron pan, dusty earth, and fallen leaves. Medium to full-bodied, rich, and decadently spicy, the palate delivers velvety tannins and a lively line, finishing with great length. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Independent

This shows incredible depth and density for the vintage with dark berry, dark chocolate, spice and chalk character. Full body, firm and velvety tannins and a long and powerful finish. Needs five or six years to soften. Try in 2020.- James Suckling

The 2012 Pavie celebrates its reclassification and upgrade to Class A St.-Emilion by sporting a new black label with gold print. Fortunately, every Pavie has benefitted since Perse began a complete makeover of this estate in 1998. From 47-year-old vines, the 2012 has an inky purple color, judicious toasty oak in the nose interwoven with copious blackberry and blackcurrant fruit, Christmas spices, as well as licorice and graphite. Full-bodied, rich and moderately tannic, it will require 5-7 years of bottle age but should drink well for 20-30 years. Kudos to Chantal and Gerard Perse for their extraordinary commitment to quality, which is so evident in this more challenging vintage than some of the great years like 2009 and 2010. Very low yields of 28 hectoliters per hectare were obtained from this 92-acre estate.- Robert Parker, Wine Advocate

A beauty, with rich and supple plum and blackberry confiture notes that stream along over a dense but velvety structure. The licorice and toast aspect is more restrained here, and there are long, cool menthol, apple wood and earth accents through the finish.--Non-blind Pavie vertical (March 2017). Best from 2018 through 2030. 5,830 cases made. - James Molesworth, Wine Spectator

The 2012 Pavie has been impressive on the two occasions I have tasted it so far. Exotic scents of graphite, smoke, new leather and dark fruit open up first. Deep, intense and rich, especially within the context of the year, the 2012 finds greater finesse and nuance with time in bottle. Pavie is a rare 2012 that is going to require time in bottle, as the tannins are imposing at this early stage. I imagine the 2012 will be divine in another few years. Even today, it is exceptionally well-balanced and harmonious in the modern-day flamboyant Pavie style. The 2012 is 60% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon that spend 28 months in barrel. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media