2003 Château Pavie, France, Bordeaux, Saint Emilion, Wine Review

Gorgeous wine. This was controversial on release for being too big and bold, but I think it would be less so today. Maybe not. It is still a ripe wine but not overblown or raisiny, etc. Just a gorgeous expression of Merlot. Purple in color, ruby at the rim. The nose is initially tight but opens quickly showing dusty cherries, slight mocha ad roasted herbs. On the palate, black cherries layered with dry earth and just a hint of cocoa powder. Great plush yet juicy texture. This is deep with tight layering that unwind in the glass. Long finish. It probably won't get better but will continue to mature for at least another decade.

Grade:

A+

Score:

Vintage:

2003

Current Price:

$250.00USD

2010 Château Saint-Georges Côte Pavie, France, Bordeaux, Saint Emilion, Wine Review

Vintage:

2010

Score:

Grade:

B+

This had been decanted for an hour or so. Purple in color, ruby at the rim. The nose is dusty with cherries. On the palate, slight tannins. Tart cherries. Some complexity. Seems to be nearing but not quite at peak. Nice with food.

2009 Arômes de Pavie, France, Bordeaux, Saint Emilion, Wine Review

Vintage:

2009

Score:

Grade:

B+

This is from the younger wines at Chateau Pavie (under 10 years old). It is a blend of 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep ruby in color. The nose has cherries with a bit of cigar box. On the palate, this is drinking well now. Nice cherry fruit with a bit of cocoa and slight tobacco. Not a lot of concentration or complexity but it is tasty. Good acidity. It seems as though this will be as good as this gets and thought it should do another five to ten years, the safer bet is to drink it now. It will go well with stews and medium weight foods.

2005 Château Pavie, France, Bordeaux, St. Emilion, Wine Review

Vintage:

2005

Score:

Grade:

A+

Current Price:

$500.00USD

This wine was controversial on release due to its ripeness and size. At age 16, it is still a big wine but starting to settle down a bit. Just a bit. Inky purple in color, opaque and bright. The nose has black raspberries, black cherries, toast, spice, black pepper and leather. Full bodied. Wonderful velvety/jammy texture. On the palate, this is delicious. Firm tannins. Lots of black raspberry and cassis, some blueberries with spice and underlying leather. It certainly may be atypical from St.

Cheval Blanc: The “First Growth” of the Right Bank

When the wines of Bordeaux were classified in 1855 all of the wines were from the Left Bank of the Gironde River. In fact, with the exception of Haut Brion, which is from Graves, all of the wines classified were from the Medoc. Since that time, the winemaking areas of Bordeaux have greatly expanded. Some of the best wines in Bordeaux are now made on the Right Bank including some of the most expensive wines in the entire world. While there is no official classification system for all of Bordeaux, there can be no doubt that if such a system was implemented today, at least a few Right Bank wineries would make the list. Perhaps no winery deserves the mythical first growth of the Right Bank title more than Cheval Blanc. In fact, the wines of Saint Émilion, a commune on the Right Bank, were ranked in 1955 and Cheval Blanc was one of two that received the highest rank of Premier Grand Cru Classé (A). Those rankings were redone in 1969, 1986, and 1996 and most recently in 2006 (although that ranking is the subject of an ongoing legal dispute not relevant to Cheval Blanc) and Cheval Blanc has remained a First Growth in every subsequent ranking.

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1982 Château Pavie, France, Bordeaux, St. Émilion, Wine Review

Vintage:

1982

Score:

Grade:

B+

Current Price:

$168.00USD

This is certainly not today's Pavie. A very different style of Bordeaux. Whether that is good or bad is subjective. Ruby/brown in color though clear if a bit muted. The nose is all about the earthy funk. There is some slight mine and slighter cherry fruit. Tart acidity. On the palate, this starts out with thin cherries. As it blows off bottle stink, it adds some weight but tastes old and past prime. Certainly no sin for a 37 year old wine. There is a lot of funk on this wine. One of the people sharing this wine called it "dirty" which might (or might not) be a bit strong. Still,

2003 Château Pavie, France, Bordeaux, Saint Emilion, Wine Review

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2005 Château Pavie, France, Bordeaux, St. Emilion, Wine Review

Cheval Blanc: The “First Growth” of the Right Bank

1982 Château Pavie, France, Bordeaux, St. Émilion, Wine Review