For the Perse family, everything starts at Château Monbousquet. Although the property is certainly less known than Château Pavie, this is where their love for Saint-Emilion and their incredible adventure began.
It is said that on his way back from Saint-Emilion, Gérard Perse said to his wife one day “Honey, look what I bought”, handing her a bottle of Château Monbousquet. Chantal Perse soon realised that it was more than a simple bottle... and today, the couple live at Château Monbousquet.
This 32-hectare property, located in Saint Sulpice de Faleyrens, has the particularity of having a significant part of its terroir on deep gravel, giving depth and relief to the Cabernets.
Since the acquisition of Château Monbousquet, everything has been done in the vineyards as well as in the cellars to sublimate this terroir, notably an ambitious drainage plan in 1998.
The 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2020 vintages offered for tasting are proof of the efforts made. Henrique Da Costa, the family's son-in-law and general manager of Château Pavie, reminds us that “no magic wand, but a lot of work” is needed to sublimate the terroirs. The wines thus have remarkable tension, depth and precision. The 2020 vintage is a real revelation of the potential that Château Monbousquet can develop in sunny vintages.
Since 1998, the vintages of Château Pavie have been signed by the Perse family. Once again, the work on the great terroirs has paid off. Château Pavie was crowned Premier Grand Cru Classé “A” in 2012. First among the first of Saint-Emilion. A consecration that will be repeated in 2022. But 2022 is also the twenty-fifth harvest of the Perse family at Château Pavie, and this is also being celebrated! For the occasion, the 2022 vintage will have a special engraved bottle.
Throughout this important time, it was good to dive back into the wines of the estate. This is what this vertical review of the great 1998, 2005, 2009, 2016 and 2020 vintages, as well as the 2000 and 2010, allowed. In addition to being great vintages, these years mark many high points for the family as well as for the estate. When you taste the evolution of Château Pavie under the signature of the Perse family, you enter into the soul of the Côte Pavie. The vintages always highlight this vigour. To evolve through the years is to enter into the detail of a material that becomes ever more precise, with tannins that are ever more fine and radiant. A delicacy and a freshness that expresses itself without weakening, despite global warming. The Côte Pavie, with its southern exposure, will continue to bring out the emotions in those who have the chance to taste the different wines of Château Pavie.
Texte : Xavier Lacombe / Photos : Château Pavie
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