2023 Château Pavie Aromes de Pavie Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

Winery Château Pavie

Château Pavie is one of Saint-Émilion's leading estates, renowned for its chalky terroirs on the south-facing slopes of the plateau. The estate combines a distinct vision of ripeness and precision with a clear focus on terroir expression. Arômes de Pavie, the château's second wine, is made with the same care and attention, but in a more accessible style that emphasizes the freshness of the fruit.

More information about this winery can be found under the Winery tab.

Region, climate and location

Saint-Émilion is characterized by a mosaic of soils, with limestone, clay, and marl as dominant elements. The plots for Arômes de Pavie are situated on chalky soils that impart freshness, tension, and aromatic precision. The 2023 vintage produced grapes with ripeness and concentration, yet retained acidity, resulting in a lively and juicy profile.

Vineyards

The grapes for Arômes de Pavie come from carefully selected plots within the estate. These vineyards yield fruit with direct expression and a distinct minerality. The combination of location and soil structure contributes to the fresh and energetic style of this wine.

Grape varieties and composition

The 2023 blend consists of 50% Merlot and 50% Cabernet Franc, also known locally as Bouchet. Merlot provides ripe dark fruit and texture, while Cabernet Franc adds freshness, spice, and aromatic lift. This equal balance gives the wine both power and tension.

Harvest, vinification and maturation

After careful harvesting, the grapes are vinified with a focus on controlled extraction and preserving fruit purity. Maturation is focused on enhancing structure and mouthfeel without overshadowing the fruit's character. This approach results in a wine that is powerful yet remains fresh and accessible.

Color, smell and taste

The wine displays a deep ruby red color. The aromas of ripe blackcurrants and dark cherries dominate the nose, complemented by hints of cocoa, shelly minerality, and a chalky note. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied and distinctly flavorful, with juicy dark fruit and clear concentration. The tannins are present and slightly chewy, yet well-integrated. Despite its power, the wine remains fresh and energetic, with lively acidity and a dense, lingering finish that beautifully blends fruit and minerality.

Development and drinking window

Several drinking windows are mentioned for this vintage. Antonio Galloni of Vinous (90–92 points) suggests a drinking window of approximately 2026 to 2037 and emphasizes its early accessibility. Zekun Shuai of James Suckling awarded the wine 94 points and recommends drinking from around 2028. The wine combines immediate charm with sufficient structure to age for several years.

Summary of professional reviews

James Suckling's Zekun Shuai rated Arômes de Pavie 2023 94 points, praising its ripe, rich fruit, fresh juiciness, and dense finish. Antonio Galloni of Vinous awarded it 90-92 points, describing the wine as juicy and energetic, with vibrant reddish-purple fruit notes, floral accents, and crisp acidity that make it immediately drinkable.

The full review texts can be found in the Professional Reviews tab.

If available, you'll find the official fact sheet and additional information about this fine wine in the "Attachments" tab. We'll automatically send you this information when you order this wine. The wine is stored in our climate-controlled Wine Warehouse, and if you pick it up, you'll often receive a nice discount. You'll see your discount immediately when you select "Pick up" at the checkout page. We're located in Dordrecht, right next to the A16 motorway, with ample parking. Click here for our address.

You can read the full wine reviews from Parker, Suckling, Vinous, and Wine Spectator, among others. Need advice on finding the perfect wine to pair with your dish? Click here for our exclusive Sommelier. Free for Grand Cru customers.