In Bond Fine Wine. 2002 Château Pavie, Saint Emilion, Bordeaux, France. Premier Grand Cru Classé A • Red Bordeaux in 12x75cl. Top critic score: 94/100 (RP). Sold in bond by Albany Vintners, independent fine wine merchants.
Château Pavie was revitalised under the late Gérard Perse, whose vision and relentless pursuit of quality elevated the property into the very highest echelon of Bordeaux. Perse acquired the estate in 1998 and oversaw a remarkable reinvigoration of both vineyard and cellar, turning Pavie into one of the most powerful, sought-after and critically acclaimed wines on the Right Bank, rivalling Ausone and Cheval Blanc. At the heart of Pavie’s greatness is its extraordinary terroir: magnificent clay-limestone soils spread across the celebrated Saint-Émilion limestone plateau on south-facing slopes above the Dordogne. This rare combination of limestone bedrock, elevation and superb exposure gives the wines their signature union of richness, freshness and striking mineral tension. Today, Pavie is famed for producing deeply layered, intensely complex wines of black cherry, cassis, liquorice, ceda…
James Suckling (JS) — 93/100 · Wine Spectator, 31/03/2005 · Drink 2008+
Dark color with complex aromas of blackberries, flowers and mace with undertones of nutmeg. Full-bodied, with a solid core of velvety tannins and ripe fruit. Goes on and on. Best after 2008. 7,500 cases made.
Robert Parker (RP) — 94/100 · Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com, 01/04/2005 · Drink 2008-2025
While not as legendary as Pavie's 2003, 2001, 2000, 1999, or 1998, the 2002 is one of the top wines of the vintage. Its deep plum/ruby/purple color is followed by aromas of fruitcake, cranberries, cherry liqueur, crushed rocks, and subtle oak. Savory, full-bodied, remarkably concentrated, layered, and forward for a Pavie, it should be accessible in 3-4 years, and will evolve effortlessly for two…