2011 Pavie Decesse

94 POINTS

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

This well-known estate situated on the limestone hillside above Pavie is produced from a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. Another brilliant offering from the Perse family, the dense opaque purple-colored 2011 reveals plenty of floral notes intermixed with super-concentrated cassis and kirsch. The chalky limestone soils provide minerality to this full-bodied, powerful, concentrated St.-Emilion. Some tannins are noticeable, but they are sweet. This 2011 should be drinkable in 3-4 years and last for 15-20.

93 POINTS

Neal Martin - Wine Advocate

The 2011 Pavie Decesse is a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc cropped at 26hl/ha at 14.3 degrees alcohol. It has an extremely ripe bouquet with macerated dark cherries, fig, a touch of fresh prune in the background and an intriguing oyster shell note. The palate is full-bodied with layers of ripe toasty black fruit with sufficient acidity to keep it balanced. It is fresh in the mouth, has a firm grip, but says “Come back after ten years.” Huge persistency on the finish! Tasted April 2012

93 POINTS

James Suckling

Wow. The smoky, berry, nut and ripe-fruit character is impressive in this wine. It’s full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a loads of oak on the finish. Some might find it too much, but it will come together with age. Try in 2018.

93 POINTS

James Molesworth - Wine Spectator

Offers driven fruit, with intense plum sauce, blackberry confiture and blueberry paste flavors, layered together and stitched with dark mocha and tobacco notes, all backed by a long, dense, velvet-textured finish. A showy style, but everything is in place. Best from 2016 through 2028.

92 POINTS

Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider

Blackberry liqueur, mocha, stone, chocolate, floral, coffee and truffle scents create the perfume of this inky black/purple wine. Dense and concentrated, the wine is very tannic and leaves a strong mineral sensation along with a wealth of ripe fruit. This will require time to soften. Pavie Decesse was one of the last wines to finish harvesting in St. Emilion in 2011. 92-93 Pts

Ian D'Agata - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

Deep ruby.  Very ripe aromas of blueberry syrup, dark chocolate and licorice, with an exotic liqueur-like quality.  Tightly wound and penetrating but heavily extracted, with the dark fruit and spice flavors presently kept under wraps.  Finishes firmly tannic and slightly bitter, with a note of licorice.  Much less expressive and showy than it was at the Primeurs:  I wouldn't even think about opening a bottle for at least another six or seven years. (89(+?) points)

René Gabriel - WeinWisser

2016-2029 17/20

Julia Harding MW - JancisRobinson.com

Drink 2019-2030 3.5 ha. 90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc. Very dark with a rich black cherry rim. Anthocynanins came out easily. Powerful and dark and dense. Very ripe but no overripeness and really nice acidity. Not as dry as the Monbousquet, a little more rounded. Very dense but not hard. Lots of chew but has fruit depth too, and persistence. (JH) 14.3% 16/20