Since 2015, this estate has made a concerted effort to up the quality of their second wine, adding 4 hectares that previously went into the grand vin as well as purchasing vines on the upper plateau. I’d say it’s working, as the 2016 Aromes de Pavie certainly has a “baby Pavie” feel in its full-bodied, rich, yet elegant profile. Sporting a deep purple color as well as powerful notes of blackberries, truffle, forest floor, and tobacco, it has remarkable purity of fruit, silky tannins, and a great finish. It ranks with the top second wines in Bordeaux and is going to keep for 20-25 years. The blend is 66% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Franc and 13% Cabernet Sauvignon and was aged in 50% new French oak.

The second wine of Château Pavie is dense with dark tannins and superripe fruit. Bold and concentrated it still highlights the fruitiness of the vintage. Although it has big tannins and great potential, the wine also shows plenty of freshness. Drink from 2024. ROGER VOSS

(93+ points) The 2016 Arômes de Pavie has a deep garnet-purple color and is a little closed to begin, slowly revealing notes of crushed red and black cherries, raspberry preserves, plum pudding, blueberry pie and prunes with touches of espresso, star anise, cumin seed and wood smoke plus a waft of dusty soil. Full, firm and grainy structured, the rock-solid frame supports all the generous black and red fruit preserves with plenty of exotic spice nuances, finishing long and earthy.- LPB

The 2016 Arômes de Pavie is succulent, racy and full of personality. Sweet dark cherry, plum, mocha, new leather and rose petal all grace this silky, super-expressive second wine from Pavie. In an effort to raise the quality of the Arômes, since 2015 the wine includes fruit from four hectares of vineyards on the plateau that were previously used for Pavie. -- Antonio Galloni

This has a lush feel, with a polished and rounded structure that lets enticing plum and boysenberry compote flavors flow through. Light mocha and graphite notes underscore the finish. Accessible already. Drink now through 2030. 5,833 cases made. — JM