2010 Pavie Decesse

97 POINTS

James Suckling

This is fascinating with a nutty, dried herb, spices, berry and hints of toasted character. Full body, with chewy tannins and a long, long finish. This has a wonderful density of fruit and length. Amazing. Try in 2020.

96 POINTS

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

A Blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, with 14.5% natural alcohol, the higher percentage of Merlot in this wine than in the Pavie gives it a stunning opulence, thickness and luxuriousness. Opaque purple, with notes of mulberry and kirsch liqueur leaning toward blacker fruits, subtle smoked meats and some lead pencil and vanillin, this is another brawny, full-bodied, yet remarkably precise and fresh style of wine despite its sensational extract and power. Give it 5-6 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 30-40 years.This vineyard has shrunk, as part of it was incorporated into its more famous sibling, Chateau Pavie. It is now 8.5 acres sitting slightly higher on the slope above Pavie.

94 POINTS

Stephen Tanzer - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

(15% alcohol):  Saturated dark ruby.  High-toned aromas of cassis, black raspberry, bitter chocolate and crushed-rock minerality.  Layered and powerful on the palate, but with highly concentrated cassis, black raspberry and dark chocolate flavors energized by pungent chalky minerality and strong acidity.  One feels the 15% alcohol in the wine's sheer size and chewy texture but the impressively long finish shows more tangy energy than heat.  Needs five or six years of patience, but this comes across as considerably less tanninc and forbidding than the Pavie.

94 POINTS

Neal Martin - Wine Advocate

A blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, compared to the Monbousquet, there is just a slight jamminess on the nose that is denuding the Pavie-Decesse of a little freshness. The palate is full-bodied and dense, extraordinarily powerful with masculine, structure tannins and layers of black fruit. Good focus towards the finish, this will need 15 years to reach its drinking plateau. Drink 2022- Tasted March 2011.

94 POINTS

James Molesworth - Wine Spectator

Hedonist alert-dense, fleshy layers of fig sauce, warm cocoa, dark currant confiture and exotic spice fill this red, which also shows plenty of grip, with a smoldering wood note on the back end. —J.M.

92 POINTS

Jeannie Cho Lee MW - Asian Palate

This deep ruby coloured Pavie Decesse offers a ripe expression of the 2010 vintage. The plum, blackberry and cassis flavours are generous, round and well balanced by supple tannins. The flavours are densely packed but the fresh acidity adds lift and support. This is a well crafted, modern style -- not too thick nor overly ripe. Wait at least 5 years before approaching.

James Lawther MW - Decanter Magazine

Another powerful offering from this Gérard Perse estate. Like sister Pavie, a wine of extremes with raisined notes and muscular tannic frame lifted by the freshness of the limestone terroir. Huge ageing potential but not everyone's cup of tea. Drink 2020-2040. (18 points) 18/20

Bettane & Desseauve - TAST

Viril et puissant, avec encore de l’amertume et des tanins denses, serrés, longs. Grand volume ferme. C’est toujours le vin le plus immédiatement vigoureux des propriétés de Gérard Perse, il s’affinera dès l’élevage et tout au long d’une existence qui s’annonce grande. 17/20