The 1998 Pavie Decesse is medium to deep garnet-brick in color and explodes with fabulous plum pudding, prunes, blackberry preserves and blueberry pie notes with hints of smoked meats, garrigue, dusty soil, cast iron pan and star anise with dried roses and cinnamon stick wafts. Full-bodied, concentrated and packed with rich exotic spice and black fruit preserves layers, it has loads of mineral and meat sparks and a very, very long, layered finish. Incredible! For cellaring potential, I give it 20+ more years.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 96 RPWhat glorious aroma. It's so clean and focused, with crushed raspberry and blackberry on the nose and hints of oak barrels. Full-bodied, with chewy tannins and lots of fruit. Big and powerful and very young. Give it time; it's getting better and better.—'88/'98 Bordeaux blind retrospective (2008). Best after 2013. 2,500 cases made.Wine Spectator | 93 WSThe 1998 Pavie Decesse has a delightful, quite expressive and thoroughly enjoyable bouquet with intense dark cherry, blueberry, truffle and liquorish. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly grainy tannin, black cherry and melted tar, a touch of tobacco towards the linear finish. It just attenuates a little when you want it to fan out, but at 20 years this is a commendable Saint-Émilion, if better on the nose than the palate. Tasted at the château.Vinous Media | 90 VM
