Château PAVIE-DECESSE 2000
On the heights of Saint-Émilion, Château Pavie-Decesse occupied a small vineyard of about 2.5 hectares located on the limestone slopes overlooking Château Pavie. Created at the end of the 19th century from plots formerly integrated into Pavie, this confidential cru had an identity closely linked to the mineral power of its terroir. The 2000 vintage shortly precedes its acquisition by Gérard Perse, which took place in 2001. The strong presence of limestone naturally favors concentrated wines but capable of retaining freshness and tension over aging. Merlot forms the heart of the blend, complemented by Cabernet Franc, which brings a more floral and structuring dimension. The small size of the property has always limited the volumes produced and reinforced the confidential character of its bottles. In the great 2000 vintage, Pavie-Decesse thus combines the generous ripeness of the right bank with a structure particularly conducive to long evolution.
Château Pavie-Decesse 2000 blends 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. Merlot largely dominates the wine’s expression with deep, fleshy, and generous matter, while Cabernet Franc brings more freshness and relief. The vineyard located on the limestone slopes of Saint-Émilion gives the vintage a framework firm enough to support the natural richness of the fruit. At that time, Pavie-Decesse was already seeking a concentrated expression of the terroir, built around low yields and advanced grape ripeness. With more than twenty-five years of evolution, the initial power has gradually softened and now leaves more room for tertiary nuances. The tannins are now more polished, while the fruit evolves towards notes of plum, candied black fruits, and spices. A properly stored bottle can still offer beautiful depth, but its interest now mainly lies in the complexity acquired over time.
The color today shows a dark garnet evolving towards ruby nuances and slightly tawny on the rim. The bouquet mixes blackberry, black plum, and candied cherry with notes of truffle, tobacco, and undergrowth. After a few minutes of aeration, cocoa, licorice, fine leather, and touches of warm stone may appear. The palate retains ample matter, now softened by aging, with velvety tannins still framing a core of deep fruit. The limestone character of the terroir brings a sensation of freshness and tension that prevents the whole from seeming heavy. The finish stretches on spices, plum, tobacco, and earthy nuances, in a fully mature register. Château Pavie-Decesse 2000 will accompany roasted pigeon, beef fillet with porcini mushrooms, royal hare, long-roasted lamb, or a preparation with black truffle.
Grape varieties: 90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc
