Château Pavie-Decesse: Vineyards
While Château Pavie-Decesse essentially ceased to exist as an independent estate in 2022, this profile examines its vineyards and the approach to winemaking here before the axe fell.
The rather bijou château sits on the edge of the limestone plateau above the terraces and vineyards of Château Pavie. Its near neighbours therefore included, beside the obvious Château Pavie to the south, Château Saint Georges Côte Pavie and Château Moulin Saint-Georges to the west, Château Pavie-Macquin to the north, and Château Troplong-Mondot to the east. This is a very fine roll-call of neighbours indeed.
Being situated on the edge of the plateau, about 85 metres above the level of the Dordogne, the terroir was entirely limestone, in particular the desirable calcaire à astéries, with a very thin layer of superficial soils above. The varieties planted were 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, a fairly traditional blend for the appellation. The work in the vineyard was conventional, with no adherence to organic or biodynamic methods.
