Saint Emilion Wines

Saint Emilion Red Wine

Saint-Émilion is an appellation located on the right bank of the majestic Dordogne river, in the region of Bordeaux. The river simply surges with lifeforce, and it shows very clearly in the surrounding soil. You can practically smell the ocean in these wines, as the wind playfully rustles your hair and you stare into the horizon. The texture and flavors demand slow, thoughtful consumption, as your mind races to decode the infinite complexities of the nectar in your glass, and figure out how wine of this quality could ever have been produced by mortal hands.

The vineyards are planted to 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc and roughly 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. The soil composition can vary wildly between sub-areas and estate properties, which makes every chateau a story in itself. If you want a prime example of why terroir is considered so important among many wine enthusiasts, look no further than Saint-Émilion. Merlot is a grape varietal known for its ability to birth soft, lush wines that still retain a deep, rich taste and a potential to age gracefully. Flavors range from plums, licorice, decadent chocolate and cherries to tobacco, spice and tannin, depending on the winemaker’s style and preferences.

Any fan of red wines would feel at home in a place like Saint-Émilion. The diversity and quality of their finest wines is something out of a dream, as though the rivers of the region get directly transmuted into wine by a holy force. We’re here to help you discover your favorites among the bunch, with a selection of the finest Saint-Émilion wines available for purchase. Enjoy.

1981 Pavie

I’ve always had a soft spot for the 1981 vintage as well as these two châteaux. This was the first vintage of Bordeaux that I bought, back in 1984, with some knowledge of the region (or so I thought at the time) and Cos because the first serious vertical that I ever attended was of their wines from 1982 back to 1952. Pavie? Well, to be honest, it was the label that drew me in at first, being all old-timey Bordeaux and all. The first Pavie that I bought was a 1979 from a wine shop in Boston and from the get-go I was hooked on the blend of power and finesse that a St.-Emilion from a great terroir can exhibit. Being able to visit both of these estates in late June of 1989, on the same broiling hot day, sealed the deal.Ninteen eight-one is what some would derisively call a ‘classic’ or ‘restaurant’ vintage. In the old days some would say ‘a useful vintage’ for the fact that the wines are mostly to be drunk while waiting for “great” vintages to mature or to keep ones’ hands off of already mature ‘great’ vintages resting in the cellar. That belittles wines such as these two, I think, because more times than not I crave a graceful, finely delineated and less dramatic wine than one from a blockbuster vintage. Both of these bottles deliver the goods.Purchased by a good friend on release here in New York, both the Cos and the Pavie are decidedly at peak but based on these bottles there’s no need to fear the reaper. The Cos is a textbook rendition of the old style at the châteaux, with intense cigar box, dried cherry, licorice and pipe tobacco character and smooth, harmonious tannins that have all but faded away. As might be expected, the Pavie is more dramatic in character, but still showing the restraint that’s been typical of the ‘81s since release, offering a haunting, floral- and spice-dominated bouquet and plush, seamless plum and cherry flavors. Like the Cos, it’s fully mature but there’s no sign of undue fatigue, either. In both cases, pretty remarkable for 34 year-old wines from a vintage that’s now been mostly forgotten, but not by me.Vinous Media | 91 VM

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Saint Emilion Wines

Saint Emilion Red Wine