Perhaps there might be no such thing as bad publicity but when noted fine wine critics Jancis Robinson and Robert Parker Jr had a very public difference of opinion over the quality of Château Pavie in 2003, vineyard owners Gerard and Chantal Perse must have been a little bit worried. Robinson called Pavie “ridiculous”, giving it just 12/20, with Parker rushing to its defence. Calling Robinson “a Bordeaux reactionary,” he said her comments were “very much in keeping with her nasty swipes at all the Pavies made by Perse”. Divide it may, but Pavie is a wine to be reckoned with.

Perse, an ex-professional cyclist and businessman, has fine wine running in his veins. Owner of six other vineyards between Saint-Émilion and Castillon Cotes de Bordeaux (the others being Monbousquet, Bellevue Mondotte, Clos des Lunelles, Château Clos l’Église and Château Sainte-Colombe), Perse has noted oenologue Michel Rolland consulting on all seven vineyards. Rolland oversees the harmonisation of the 60% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon blend, ensuring its density and deep colour (opaque in better vintages). These are particular hallmarks of all Perse wines; with each vineyard keeping its distinct character.

One of just two properties to be promoted to Grand Cru A status (from B) in 2012, suffice to say that like it or not, this is a good wine. With the promotion to Grand Cru classe A, prices predictably surged, even for more mature vintages. The elevation put Pavie on the investor's radar, and the wine has continued to climb - up approximately 30% in five years. Prices in the UK and Europe tend to be lower than in the U.S. and Asia, partly due to the influence of Robert Parker on the fine wine market in the U.S. This leaves investors to believe that the interest in Pavie stateside is based on sentiment rather than quality.

2017 release prices were just shy of €3,950 per case, 10% lower than 2016. Pavie topped the leaderboard in Liv-ex’s fine wine classification in 2013 and 2014. However, Liv-ex classified it as 2nd growth in 2017.