France·Landmark·$$$$$

Château Pavie

A large Saint-Émilion estate on a sweep of south-facing limestone and clay slopes, transformed by Gérard Perse into a powerful, modern-styled flagship.

Founded
Vineyard dates back to Roman times; modern estate assembled by Ferdinand Bouffard in the late 19th century
Ownership
Perse family (estate bought by Gérard Perse in 1998; Perse died in 2025, leaving Pavie to his family)
Price tier
$$$$$
Annual production
Approximately 6,500 cases per year
Primary appellation
Saint-Émilion Grand Cru AOC (formerly Premier Grand Cru Classé A)
Cross-references
5

About Château

Château Pavie occupies a broad amphitheatre of south-facing slopes in Saint-Émilion, its vineyards spanning limestone, clay and sandier soils. Like neighbouring Ausone, the site dates to Roman times and takes its name from the pavie peaches once grown there; the modern estate was assembled by Ferdinand Bouffard in the late 19th century. In 1998 the self-made grocery magnate Gérard Perse bought Pavie for around 31 million dollars, investing heavily to reshape it into one of the Right Bank's most ambitious wines. After Perse's death in 2025 the estate passed to his family. At roughly 40 hectares Pavie is among the largest classed estates in Saint-Émilion, producing about 6,500 cases a year of a rich, concentrated, Merlot-led wine that has become emblematic of the modern Saint-Émilion style.

Flagship wines

  • Château Pavie
  • Arômes de Pavie

Editorial notes

Practical guidance

Bold, concentrated and built to last; young vintages benefit from extended decanting and many years of cellaring.

Cross-references

Related appellations

Related styles

Related cities

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