Chateau Pavie Decesse Grand Cru Classe, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru

A decent wine from a weak vintage, this was never going to set the world alight, but it is a pleasant accompaniment to food. As it ages the Cabernet Franc is becoming more pronounced, which I like, but may not be to all tastes. Flavour profile is as last note from 18 months ago, but still the Achille's heel of the wine is the finish, which is enamel stripping and unbalanced. Minimal decanting is needed.

A very pleasant drink, it is a decent performer in a challenging vintage. The nose is nicely perfumed with ripe red berry fruits, and the palate is interesting with the Cabernet Franc making its presence felt with green bell pepper notes. End palate and the finish are a little challenging with harsher notes, and with the finish being on the short side. Minimal aeration is needed, and it probably is not going to improve.

Needing minimal decanting, this is ready to go and there really is no upside to further aging. It is a halfway decent wine in a challenging vintage, but really is just a notch above a decent everyday drinker.

Brief next-morning recollections - no sign of aging in appearance, dark, deep reddish-purple in the glass, somewhat lean on the palate compared to other vintages, little in the way of secondary cedar/graphite notes.

The last 12 months have been kind to the wine and it has reached a pleasant level of maturity. It is a very intense wine with ripe red berry fruits dominating the nose and palate, but with earthy and herbaceous flavours underpinning the palate. Depth and balance are excellent, and the finish is probably its strongest feature and is 30 seconds+. Minimal decanting is needed. From a below average vintage this wine holds up well, but is not one for …

Fully-developed, medium-bodied, fresh, earthy and with a leafy component to the sweet, lifted red fruits, licorice, earth, cocoa and espresso, this is quite nice. Pop and pour was all it needed. This is not a wine to hold for more development.

It is 18 months since my first tasting of this wine. It is pretty similar to this last experience, albeit it has lost the greenness on the nose. The tannin is somewhat drying in the mouth but the palate is interesting with reasonable depth and finish. The barrier to a higher rating is an unsettling bitterness towards the end of the finish. I'm not sure this is going much further in its development and the absurdly high alcohol content of …

Les grands Bordeaux des petites années ne semblent pas être très prisées des gourous du vin! Pourtant, j'ai adoré ce grand vin, certes, à maturité (mais avec encore de l'avenir!) mais diablement enjôleur! Qu'on en juge: -Une magnifique robe, dense, riche, au joli disque cuivré -un bouquet, presque envahissant, fin et persistant (mûre) - une bouche magnifique, d'une grande richesse, suave s'exprimant par de fins et riches tannins gras fruités et floraux (mûre et violette), racés et distingués. Légère amertume …

I have held off cracking open this case until now, in spite of 2007 being an early drinking vintage. It is starting to drink well but needing a good time in the decanter. The nose is packed full of fruit but still a little green. The tannin is well balanced but still in evolvement but there is great depth with a good finish. I am a big fan of Pavie Decesse and indeed the 2000 is a great wine. This …

Happy Birthday YB, HS 2016 (Wah Lok) : Tasted blind. Reached venue late, so after 2 hours of air time in bottle already. Appearance is clear, deep intensity, ruby colour. Legs. Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of vanilla oak, blackberries, black cherries, some earthy minerality. Developing. On the palate, dry, high acidity, high alcohol (14.5%), medium+ tannins, full body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of blackberries, black cherries, vanilla oak, milk chocolate, slight earthy minerality. Medium+ finish. Good …