Château Pavie: Albert Porte
During the early 20th century, as well as the necessary recovery from phylloxera, there was of course also war and then economic depression to contend with. Perhaps influenced by the difficulties of the times Ferdinand Bouffard had sold all his estates in 1918 to Albert Porte. It was Albert Porte who sold Château Pavie-Pigasse, which would eventually be renamed Château Pavie-Decesse, and it was indeed he who then amalgamated the domaines, creating the Château Pavie we know today.
Although he therefore has some significance in this story, Albert Porte remained here for only a few decades. He held tenure until midway through World War II, at which point the domaine was sold. The new owner was none other than Alexandre Valette, who also owned Château Troplong-Mondot, who took possession in 1943.
Alexandre Valette
Alexandre Valette was a négociant from Saint-Ouen, and he was clearly a successful one. Not only did he own two very significant domaines in St Emilion, it was he who was at the helm when Château Pavie was ranked as premier grand cru classé, level B, in the first St Emilion classification, which was published in 1955. Tragically, however, Alexandre was not able to enjoy this recognition for too long; he died just a couple of years later, in 1957.
