Château PAVIE-DECESSE 2001
On the limestone plateau of Saint-Émilion, Château Pavie-Decesse occupied a tiny vineyard of about 2.5 hectares, partly enclosed within the lands of Château Pavie. Detached from Pavie at the end of the 19th century, the cru developed its own identity thanks to a homogeneous terroir of limestone mixed with clay, particularly favorable to merlot. The year 2001 marks an important milestone in its history as Gérard Perse then acquired the property, continuing the assembly of a group of great terroirs around Pavie. The strong dominance of merlot naturally gives the wines a deep and enveloping body, while the cabernet franc brings more freshness and relief. The limestone character of the plateau plays an essential role in the balance, maintaining tension and precision despite the ripeness of the fruit. The small size of the estate also explains the particularly confidential production of Pavie-Decesse. The 2001 vintage fits into a classic Saint-Émilion style, less sunny than 2000 but capable today of offering a complex and fully evolved expression.
Château Pavie-Decesse 2001 is based on a blend of 90% merlot and 10% cabernet franc. Merlot thus forms the backbone of the wine, with a generous texture and an expression dominated by black fruits, plum, and spices. Cabernet franc complements by bringing aromatic tension and freshness in the finish. The clay-limestone terroir supports a naturally firm structure, particularly useful to accompany an evolution over several decades. With more than twenty-five years in bottle, the youthful power has gradually melted away and now leaves more room for tertiary nuances. The tannins are more polished, while the primary aromas evolve towards notes of undergrowth, tobacco, and truffle. A properly stored bottle is now in a maturity phase where the balance between evolved fruit, texture, and minerality becomes central.
The color should present a deep garnet with ruby and tile hues on the rim. The nose develops aromas of black plum, candied cherry, and blackberry, accompanied by notes of blond tobacco, fine leather, and undergrowth. With aeration, nuances of truffle, cocoa, licorice, and sweet spices may appear. The palate retains a broad but softened body, with now melted tannins giving a smoother sensation. The limestone freshness maintains precision and prevents the whole from tipping towards an overly heavy expression. The finish prolongs notes of evolved black fruits, spices, fine earth, and tobacco. Château Pavie-Decesse 2001 will pair particularly well with roasted pigeon, beef fillet with porcini mushrooms, confit lamb, royal hare, or a preparation with black truffle.
Grape varieties: 90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc
