Château Pavie
シャトー・パヴィ
One of Saint-Émilion's four Premier Grand Cru Classé A estates, with Roman-era terroir and gravity-flow organic winemaking.
Château Pavie is one of only four estates holding the highest classification of Premier Grand Cru Classé A (PGCC A) in Saint-Émilion, first awarded in 2012 and reconfirmed in 2022. The 50-hectare estate sits on a magnificent hillside of limestone, clay and sand-clay soils with over 80 meters of altitude variation and south-facing exposures, creating a mosaic of micro-terroirs that has been cultivated since Roman times. The estate takes its name from the peach orchards (pavies) that once covered the slopes. After being acquired by Gérard and Chantal Perse in 1998, Château Pavie underwent a comprehensive transformation: vine density was increased, organic farming was adopted across 70% of the vineyard (with 100% organic as the target), and winemaking was perfected with gravity-flow whole-berry processing, extended cold pre-fermentation maceration, and 36-day maceration before aging in 100% new oak barriques for a minimum of 18 months. The blend varies by vintage but is centered on Merlot (45–75%), Cabernet Franc (20–35%), and Cabernet Sauvignon (5–20%), producing wines of extraordinary depth, freshness, and longevity.
www.chateau-pavie.com ↗Cuvées
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Who Is This For?
For serious Bordeaux collectors and enthusiasts seeking the pinnacle of Saint-Émilion — a historic estate with complex limestone terroir, organic viticulture, and wines of exceptional depth that reward decades of cellaring.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the classification of Château Pavie?
- Château Pavie is classified as Premier Grand Cru Classé A (PGCC A) in Saint-Émilion — the appellation's highest tier, shared with only three other estates: Ausone, Angélus, and Cheval Blanc. It was elevated to this rank in 2012 and reconfirmed in the 2022 revision.
- Who owns Château Pavie and when did they acquire it?
- Château Pavie has been owned by Gérard and Chantal Perse since 1998, when they purchased it from the Valette family for approximately $31 million. Under their direction, the estate underwent a complete revitalization in viticulture, winemaking, and infrastructure.
- What grape varieties are grown at Château Pavie?
- The 50-hectare vineyard is planted with approximately 45% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Franc, and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, though the precise blend varies by vintage. The 2021 vintage, for example, was composed of 52% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, and 18% Cabernet Sauvignon.
- What makes Château Pavie's terroir special?
- Château Pavie's 50-hectare vineyard is planted in a single block on a hillside cultivated since Roman times. The soils combine limestone, clay, and sand-clay layers with over 80 meters of altitude variation and predominantly south-facing exposures, creating a rich mosaic of micro-terroirs.
- How is the wine at Château Pavie made?
- Whole berries are transported by conveyor belt to oak tanks and crushed by gravity, followed by a cold pre-fermentation maceration of up to 8–9 days at 8°C and then a 36-day maceration. The wine is aged in 100% new oak barriques for a minimum of 18 months and bottled unfiltered. Around 70% of the vineyard is farmed organically.