Chateau Paveil de Luze 2012, Margaux CBS
Chateau Paveil de Luze 2012 is supple, delicate. It gives a true character of Margaux wine. Not a big wine, but its finesse and dignity are consistent for every vintage and are almost distinctive of Classified Growths. Filled with lovely red berries and strawberry fruit, it is with well-polished tannin and balance structure. Not a big wine(abv 12.5%), this 2012 vintage is intense, with adequate complexity and length. It is a Margaux CBS.
The bitterness of its youth (in its En Primeur 2012
tasting we had had) quickly changes into bouquet(same opinion shared by Bernard Ginestet, Margaux, Edition 1990 in commenting about the character Paveil de Luze). This 2012 is going to age well and to go beyond 2020 in out views. We are also confident about the work of Stephane Derenoncourt's team(Simon Blanchard as the key person for Paveil de Luze after 2010). Also we are impressed with LD as the negoce who Has been able to maintain good market reflections to the Luze Family the owner.
Vinification for Chateau Paveil de Luze 2012 takes place in small, temperature controlled, stainless steel vats that are 150 hectoliters in size. Malolactic fermentation takes place in tank. The wine of Chateau Paveil de Luze is aged in an average of 30% new, French oak barrels for 12 months before bottling.
One of our tasters, a professional wine merchant, sold over 500 cases of the 2009 vintage in Hong Kong in one year. According to him, the quality of this wine has been very consistent.
Scores are consistent.
ANTONIO GALLONI | 90. A powerful, authoritative wine, the 2012 Paveil de Luze is shaping up to be one of the under-the-radar gems of the year. Earthy and smoky notes add nuance, but it is the wine's explosive, deep personality that stands out most. Expressive floral, savory and ferrous notes meld into the expressive finish. Although the 2012 is more power than finesse, it offers exceptional balance and tons of personality. The blend is 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot. This is an impressive effort from Paveil de Luze, a Margaux property that could probably be a classified growth. Simon Blanchard is the consulting winemaker.