Merlot is the king of Saint-émilion. It develops very well on the fresh, argilo-calcareous grounds; that is the reason why you will fin a lot of Merlot in Saint-Emilion and Pomerol appellations.

Merlot is characterized by a complex nose of red berries, black fruits, spices and undergrowth.

In mouth, it brings elegance and finesse to the wine.

Very often blend with Cabernet Sauvignon, it gives birth to very attractive ageing wines.

This variety represents only 7% of the vines planted in the Right Bank vineyards; it is a minority grape but plays an important role at Château Pavie and contributes the indispensable structure necessary in great wines.

Cabernet Sauvignon does best on sandy-clay soils, and these are the areas where it is planted at Pavie, showing best in the foothills. Cabernet Sauvignon is a late-ripening variety making it less susceptible to frost; it only achieves full maturity on sandy-clay soils with low water retention, where aridity imparts sufficient warmth. Cabernet Sauvignon brings structure and tannins to the wine.

The parcels of Cabernet Franc are mostly on light clay-limestone and sandy-clay soils. A thick layer of sand covers the molasse to provide excellent natural drainage.

As with Merlot, Cabernet Franc is well adapted to clay-limestone and produces good results on sandy soil; in these conditions Cabernet ripens earlier. When brought to good maturity this grape produces rich, powerful wines of great finesse and a long finish on the palate.