Château Pavie
Château Pavie
#PROPERTY: History & Terroir
The history of Château Pavie
The history of Château Pavie dates back to antiquity, when the land was dedicated to the cultivation of peaches. By the 4th century, these lands were already renowned for their production of Pavie peaches. Later, from the 19th century onwards, the vineyard took shape. By 1867, it was known as the "Pimpinelle" estate. In 1873, Ferdinand Bouffard, a merchant, inherited Domaine de la Sable from his father and set about acquiring the neighboring parcels belonging to the Fayard, Fayard-Talmont, Chapus, de Croisit and Pigasse families. After Bouffard's death, his successor, Albert Porte, unified the various properties under the name Château Pavie. In 1943, the Valette family became owners of the estate, and twelve years later, in 1955, Château Pavie was classified Premier Grand Cru Classé B de Saint-Émilion. In 1957, Jean-Paul Valette succeeded Alexandre Valette at the head of the estate.
In 1998, Gérard Perse acquired Château Pavie and undertook a series of major transformations, modernizing the facilities and improving the quality of the wines. Under his management, Château Pavie attained the prestigious status of Premier Grand Cru Classé "A" de Saint-Émilion in 2012, on a par with Château Angélus, Château Cheval Blanc and Château Ausone . In 2013, he commissioned architect Alberto Pinto to build and inaugurate the new winery, marking a new stage in the estate's history.
Today, Château Pavie is celebrated for its resolutely modern, concentrated style. The wines, made with extremely low yields and a constant quest for optimal grape ripeness, embody the quintessence of the terroir of Saint-Émilion's south coast.
Château Pavie owner Gérard Perse
Gérard Perse is the emblematic owner and winemaker of Château Pavie, one of the most prestigious estates in Saint-Émilion, in France's Bordeaux wine region. Acquiring the estate in 1998, Perse teamed up with consultant oenologist Michel Rolland and undertook an impressive transformation of the vineyard and facilities, investing heavily in modernization and quality improvement. These efforts rapidly advanced the quality of Pavie wines, making them one of the most respected names in the Saint-Émilion appellation.
Gérard Perse is renowned for his uncompromising commitment to excellence and his meticulous approach to viticulture and winemaking. He is also known for his desire to innovate, while respecting the age-old traditions that define great Bordeaux wines. Thanks to his visionary leadership and expertise, Château Pavie produces wines of exceptional quality, capturing the essence of terroir and the unique character of each vintage.
The Terroir of Château Pavie, a double address
Château Pavie's terroir, with its south-facing aspect, enjoys excellent sunshine, which enriches the complexity and quality of its wines. In addition, thanks to the natural poverty of the soils and the natural drainage resulting from the slope, the vineyard offers ideal conditions for wine production. There are two main types of soil, with complementary terroirs: the limestone plateau and the mid-slope:
Firstly, Saint-Émilion's limestone plateau, situated at around 85 meters above the level of the Dordogne River, features a clay-limestone soil resting on a layer of asteriated limestone. This combination offers solid structure, balanced acidity and a distinctive minerality to the wines.
Next, the mid-slope, some 55 meters above the Dordogne level, is characterized by a fine-textured brown clay-limestone soil. This composition favors water retention while allowing adequate drainage, giving rise to elegant, aromatically complex wines.
By fusing these two terroirs, Château Pavie takes advantage of geological diversity to produce wines that capture all the richness and subtlety of its environment. The varied soils provide an ideal setting for growing high-quality grapes, giving rise to distinctive, expressive wines.
#WINES FROM THE DOMAIN: Appellations and Cuvées
The Saint-Emilion appellation
The Saint-Émilion appellation, located in the Bordeaux wine region, is renowned for producing high-quality red wines, often described as elegant and well-balanced. Saint-Émilion wines are mainly made from Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. They are distinguished by their aromas of ripe red fruits such as cherry and plum, as well as delicate floral notes. With age, these wines often develop more complex aromas of truffle, tobacco and spice, with a well-integrated tannic structure. The Saint-Émilion appellation embodies the excellence and winemaking tradition of the Bordeaux region, offering wines of great finesse and remarkable elegance.
Château Pavie cuvées
Château Pavie
Arômes de Pavie
Château Paviechâteau Pavie, the first wine of the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru appellation, occupies a prestigious position as 1er Grand Cru Classé "A", the highest distinction in the Saint-Émilion wine classification. Located in the south-east of the village of Saint-Émilion, the vineyard covers 37 hectares. The composition of the grape varieties is mainly 65% Merlot, for roundness and fruitiness, accompanied by 25% Cabernet Franc for finesse and aromatic bouquet, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon for structure and longevity. The vines, on average 43 years old, offer controlled yields and optimal concentration. Annual production reaches around 70,000 bottles, testifying to Château Pavie's commitment to maintaining standards of excellence and quality in every vintage of this exceptional wine.
L'Arôme de Pavie is Château Pavie's second prestigious wine, bearing the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru appellation. Its blend of grape varieties is mainly composed of 70% Merlot, offering richness and roundness, with 20% Cabernet Franc for aromatic finesse and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon for structure and complexity. Each year, around 30,000 bottles of this wine are produced, testifying to the estate's commitment to maintaining high standards of quality and authenticity. L'Arôme de Pavie, reflecting the typicity of its terroir and winemaking expertise, is characterized by notes of ripe red fruit, such as cherry and plum, accompanied by subtle floral and spicy accents. This wine expresses the elegance and balance characteristic of the great wines of Saint-Émilion, while offering a refined and harmonious taste experience.
The best vintages of Château Pavie ; 1990, 2006, 2015, 2020, 2022
How much does a bottle of Château Pavie cost?
The price of a bottle of Château Pavie varies according to several factors, including the vintage, the cuvée, its rarity and market demand. Older vintages and special cuvées can often fetch higher prices due to their prestige and ageing potential. For all online purchases, explore our site to discover a wide range of selections from Château Pavie and Arôme de Pavie.
#IN BRIEF: Figures
Region: Bordeaux
Appellation : Saint-Emilion
Surface area : 37 hectares 100% red
Red grape varieties : 10% Cabernet-Sauvignon, 65% Merlot, 25% Cabernet franc
Vine culture : Reasoned