Château Pavie-Decesse and Château Pavie have the same owners, but the wines remain as distinctive as ever. Why? The terroir. Château Pavie-Decesse sits on a limestone plateau mixed with clay and contains 90 merlot. The result is a Saint-Émilion grand cru classé wine that more than lives up to its classification.

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We’ve got 99 problems, and most of them are related to Château Pavie Decesse not getting the credit it deserves. For too long, the Saint Émilion estate has lived in the shadows of its big brother, Château Pavie. That’s despite sharing the same ownership and limestone plateau as its lauded brethren. The Bordeaux red blend (600 cases produced) has even accumulated nine 98-point ratings or higher since 2015, with this vintage earning two. 

The blend of 90 merlot and 10 cabernet franc has an intense garnet-purple hue that evokes power and purity. Energetic notes of blackberries, red cherries, plums, graphite, wildflowers, and anise emerge from the glass, with a throughline of limestone minerality. The 2020 Château Pavie Decesse expands across the palate with silky tannins that crescendo into a smoke-laden finish. In the words of Jeb Dunnuck, “it's a magical Saint-Émilion that should live for 30-40 years.” 

The Final Sip: Scooch aside, Château Pavie. The 2020 Château Pavie Decesse deserves its fair share of the spotlight.

2020 chateau pavie decesse grand cru classe, saint-emilion grand cru

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James Suckling

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate