Chateau Pavie Decesse Saint Emilion Grand Cru 2018 750ml

The 2018 Pavie Decesse is a deep garnet-purple wine made up of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. It bursts out of the glass with exuberant notes of stewed black and red cherries, plum pudding, and blackberry preserves, leading to an undercurrent of Indian spices, cardamom, camphor, and star anise, plus a waft of woodsmoke. The palate is totally coated with black fruit preserves and exotic spices, supported by a strong, velvety texture and loads of freshness, finishing on a lingering menthol note, and is medium to full-bodied. It’s delicious right now, but give it 4-5 years or more in the bottle to reach the next level, then sip it over the next 25+ years.

The AOC Saint-Émilion-Grand-Cru is located in the Libournais on the right bank of the Dordogne and encompasses the same geographical area as Saint-Émilion. The production standards for the grand cru label are harsher than those for the AOC Saint-Emilion: a yield restriction of 40hl/ha and a 12-month mandatory maturing period. The appellation encompasses 4,030 hectares of limestone, clay-loam, and sandy soils. This AOC’s mixes are dominated by Merlot, but Cabernet Franc and Cabernet-Sauvignon are also vinified here. Every year, Saint-Émilion-Grand-Cru produces 150,291 hl of red wine.

In Saint-Emilion, the 2018 vintage is remarkably similar to the 2015 vintage. A fantastic year.