Château Pavie Decesse - Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2002

Wine Advocate

89 / 100

byNeal Martinthe11/9/2009

Tasted blind at Farr’s 2002 Bordeaux tasting. I under-rated this wine out of barrel. This has a ripe, clean, very poised bouquet with very good definition: wild strawberry, cranberry and a touch of vanilla. Similarly the palate is clean and pure on the entry, not a complicated wine, simple and uncomplicated, but this is more than compensated by its poise and its natural sense of being. Good acidity, nice weight and focus on the wild brambly finish. Very fine. Tasted October 2009.

Jancis Robinson

17 / 20

byJancis Robinsonthe10/13/2009

Rather dull red. Comforting fruit-cake traditional nose. Lively and fresh and a very nice whole. One of the more appetising St-Emilions. Dry finish but not drying. I see I was very hard on this wine from Gérard Perse, owner of Pavie, en primeur and al delighted to have ebeen proved wrongon the basis of this particular sample. Drink 2009-19

Wine Advocate

93 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/29/2005

An amazing achievement in this vintage, although not at the level of the prodigious 2003, 2001, or 2000, the 2002 Pavie Decesse is a dense ruby/purple-colored, full-bodied wine revealing notes of dried herbs, fruitcake, licorice, black currants, and cherries. Textured, fleshy, and concentrated, this is one of the stars of the Right Bank in this challenging vintage. Its low acidity and plush style suggest enjoying it now and over the next 15+ years.

Wine Spectator

89 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe3/31/2005

Impressive color with a serious intensity of berries, chocolate and toasted oak. Medium- to full-bodied, with round and velvety tannins and a medium finish. A caressing red. Best after 2007. 750 cases made.

Wine Advocate

91-94 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe10/31/2003

A blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, it is a superb offering with great concentration as well as intensity. A saturated purple color is accompanied by a layered, multidimensional mouthfeel, surprisingly full body, and tremendous sweetness as well as ripeness. It will be more forward, with a faster evolutionary track than the more structured Pavie. This is a brilliant effort. Part of this vineyard has been incorporated into the premier grand cru classe, Pavie, so Pavie Decesse has a small (under 900 cases) production from a 10-acre vineyard. However, it is beautifully situated on the limestone plateau above its sibling, Pavie. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2018