Wine Label:
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Wine Advocate
Robert Parker recently released his latest Wine Advocate including his report on the 2008 vintage in Bordeaux. He sees many wines from 2008 rivaling their 2005s.
"... the quality of the 2008 vintage turned out to be excellent, with a number of superb wines that are close to, if not equal to the prodigious 2005 or 2000 vintages (two years with many of the best wines I have ever tasted from top to bottom)" Reviews Robert Parker 95 points
A remarkable success in this vintage, Pavie’s 92 acre vineyard situated on the limestone soils of the spectacular south-facing Cote Pavie (one of the greatest terroirs of Bordeaux) was cropped at 30 hectoliters per hectare. A blend of 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, with an atypical (for a 2008) alcohol level of 14.5% that is higher than in its 2010 counterpart, the opaque purple-colored 2008 exhibits sweet, smoky barbecue notes intermixed with creme de cassis, black cherry, toast and crushed chalk. Deep, intense and full-bodied with surprisingly civilized tannins for such a young Pavie, it reveals wonderful breadth of flavor, a savory texture and a layered mouthfeel. It should drink beautifully in 2-4 years and keep for 25 or more.
Wine Spectator 93 Points
This is lavishly oaked, with dark espresso, mocha and bittersweet cocoa notes proudly leading the way, while the core of fig sauce, melted licorice snap and blackberry confiture waits in the wings. Dense and grippy through the finish, with powerfully rendered fruit matching the dense toast. A huge wine that will need some time. Best from 2013 through 2022. 6,665 cases made. -JM
Stephen Tanzer International Wine Cellar 95 Points
(70% merlot, 20% cabernet franc and 10% cabernet sauvignon): Saturated deep ruby. Sexy, nuanced nose combines black raspberry, graphite, mocha and flowers. Thick, sweet and powerfully concentrated; wonderfully rich, broad, seamless wine with fruit of steel. Flavors of kirsch, licorice and minerals saturate every square millimeter of the mouth. Huge, broad tannins will carry this outsized wine through at least a couple decades of life in bottle.
Neal Martin Wine Journal 93-95 Points
En primeur barrel sample. A blend of 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, cropped at 32hl/ha and aged in 65% new oak, 35% one-year wooden barrels, the ’08 Pavie has a super-ripe, cassis-driven nose, hoi sin, spice and a touch of sloe. The palate is full-bodied with very fine tannins, lovely caressing texture, good acidity, just a little more refined than say Bellevue-Mondotte. Very pure on the finish although those tannins linger longer afterwards. Excellent
– a ravishing Pavie. Tasted April 2009. |
