Château Pavie-Decesse

The vineyards of Pavie-Decesse trace their origins to 4th-century Roman viticulture, making this one of Saint-Émilion's most historically embedded sites. For centuries the land formed part of a single, unified vineyard with what is now Château Pavie. In 1855, Ferdinand Bouffard divided the estate, creating Pavie-Decesse as a distinct property. The estate earned its Grand Cru Classé status in 1954 under the Marzelle family's stewardship. Gérard and Chantal Perse acquired Pavie-Decesse in 1997, the same year they purchased Château Pavie, and immediately set about elevating quality through rigorous vineyard and cellar management.

• Vines on this site date to 4th-century Roman times
• Separated from Château Pavie in 1855 by Ferdinand Bouffard
• Achieved Grand Cru Classé classification in 1954 under Marzelle management
• Purchased by Gérard and Chantal Perse in 1997

Pavie-Decesse occupies 3.65 hectares on the celebrated limestone plateau and upper slopes of Saint-Émilion. The south-facing aspect, with a peak elevation of 85 meters, provides excellent sun exposure and natural drainage. The soils consist of red and brown clays overlying a limestone bedrock, a combination that gives the wines both structural backbone and a distinctive mineral character. The temperate maritime climate of Bordeaux moderates temperatures, while the plateau's elevation adds a measure of freshness to the naturally warm, sun-drenched site.

• South-facing slope at up to 85 meters elevation on the Saint-Émilion plateau
• Red and brown clay soils over limestone bedrock
• 3.65 hectares under vine at peak production
• Temperate maritime climate with the plateau providing additional freshness

The vineyard is planted to 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, a composition well suited to the clay-limestone soils where Merlot reaches exceptional ripeness and complexity. The resulting wines are opulent and rich, with sensuous textures, concentrated dark fruit, and a noteworthy mineral thread that reflects the limestone beneath. Despite the full-bodied, fleshy character, the best vintages under Perse ownership retained genuine freshness and aging potential. The wine earned a reputation for deep color, considerable tannin structure, and layered complexity.

• 90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc
• Opulent and fleshy with concentrated dark fruit and mineral notes
• Clay-limestone soils contribute both richness and structural backbone
• Capable of significant aging in the finest vintages

When Gérard and Chantal Perse took ownership in 1997, Pavie-Decesse entered a period of heightened ambition and investment. In 2002, six hectares of Pavie-Decesse land were transferred to Château Pavie, reducing the estate to its final 3.65-hectare footprint. The Perse family continued to produce Pavie-Decesse as a distinct label through the 2021 vintage. Following the Saint-Émilion reclassification of 2022, the estate was merged fully into Château Pavie, bringing the independent chapter of Pavie-Decesse to a close. Collectors who purchased the final vintages hold wines from one of Saint-Émilion's most storied small estates.

• Gérard and Chantal Perse owned the estate from 1997 to 2025
• Six hectares transferred to Château Pavie in 2002
• Final independent vintage was 2021
• Merged into Château Pavie following the 2022 reclassification