100-Point by James Suckling & Jeb Dunnuck.
Sharing some similarities with the 2009, this tour de force sports a saturated purple color as well as a sweet bouquet of crème de cassis, crushed rocks, white truffle, and licorice. Its oak is perfectly integrated and balanced by this wine’s massive fruit and structure. Full-bodied, deep, and superbly concentrated, with building tannins, it’s a massive wine by any measure, but what sets it apart is that it still glides across the palate and retains an incredible sense of purity, balance, and elegance. It’s drinking well today due to the vintage’s opulence.
Blend: 60% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc and 18% Cabernet Sauvignon.
 
History of Chateau Pavie:
Château Pavie is a critically acclaimed – if sometimes controversial – wine estate in the Saint-Émilion appellation of northeastern Bordeaux, on the right bank of the Dordogne river. Originally named a Premier Grand Cru Classé (B) in the 1955 classification of Saint-Émilion wines, it was promoted to Premier Grand Cru Classé (A) status in the 2012 iteration. It is known for its Merlot-dominant grand vin. The estate vineyards have a coveted position, enjoying both the limestone bedrock of the plateau and the south-facing slope that both drains excess water and gets excellent exposure to the sun. French supermarket moghul Gérard Perse bought Pavie in 1998 (having previously bought Château Monbousquet in 1993 and Pavie Decesse in 1997) and, as with his previous vineyard purchases, Perse implemented significant upgrades to the vineyards and winery. Many of the vines were replanted, and Michel Rolland was hired as consultant winemaker.