Medium-plus colour, still a hint of cherry-red colour. The nose is rather ‘anti-2000′ with a beacon of pure, fresh, faintly blue-skinned fruit at the core and a top note that is slightly more diffuse and herby (that’s a little more 2000!). The palate is not as plush as it was in its youth, but the late attack of the tannins I noticed in previous bottles is now gone – they are are certainly still there if you look for them, but are no problem now. Decently balanced, it’s as ripe as most 2000s but with a fresher aspect to the aromas. Decently concentrated and showing a wiry muscle, I regret only buying 6, I regret even more that only 3 remain…
Pavelot Jean-Marc et Hugues
1997 Pavelot Jean-Marc et Hugues Savigny-lès-Beaune Les Dominode
2000 Pavelot Jean-Marc et Hugues Savigny-lès-Beaune Les Dominode
Medium colour. Plenty of depth and interest on the nose – black-cherry shaded. The balance is rather good – good acidity and fresh, darker fruit flavours. The tannins have a little bitter chocolate edge, but there’s real depth here – very successful for the vintage, little of the 2000 confiture on the nose and palate. Clearly a little rustic in the finish, but it’s got good length.
1999 Pavelot Jean-Marc et Hugues Savigny-lès-Beaune Les Dominode
Still deeply coloured. A nose of coal and dark blackberry jam. Plenty of wine here; intense, lingering acidity and decent length. The tannin is present but it’s well-kept and the fruit at its core remains fresh, dark and primary, at the edge I sense some secondary flavours making an entrance. Very drinkable but still at least 5 years from the leading edge of maturity.
2005 Pavelot Jean-Marc et Hugues Savigny-lès-Beaune Les Dominode
Medium-plus colour. The nose starts as a sumptuous swirl of deep cherry and well-integrated oak, an hour from opening and it’s tighter with edges of tobacco and cocoa. Like the nose, this starts hyper-concentrated yet plush, but like the nose it’s a transitory period before it tightens to show its inner self; intensity, excellent acidity and furry tannin before a good finish. Sumptuous and hedonistic for 25 minutes, underneath there’s the power and structure for 25 years of development. Given the tightening I would suggest drinking only over the next 6 months before sleeping for at least 10-plus – but buy all you can find, and that’s despite a 30% price increase over the last 4 vintages.
1999 Pavelot Jean-Marc et Hugues Savigny-lès-Beaune Les Dominode
The first from the case. Medium-plus cherry red – still very young looking. The nose is broad and quite dense, a little meaty, just a little moist undergrowth too – not particularly fruit-driven – though an hour in the glass gives cleaner, higher toned dark mineral notes and finally a little tobacco mixed with red berries. Fresh with intense dark fruit, very linear and quite mineral. The texture is silky and despite the linear presentation gives the impression of some nice oak upholstery – a little grainy tannin adheres to the palate. Very young with a fine future ahead.
1997 Pavelot Jean-Marc et Hugues Savigny-lès-Beaune Les Gravains
2001 Pavelot Jean-Marc et Hugues Savigny-lès-Beaune Les Dominode
Medium cherry-red. A high-toned nose that starts with a little oaky influence before settling into a wide, red raspberry/cherry blend. Athletic, lithe bodied – no fat – lovely acidity and a fruit concentration that seems to grow in the mouth. Less obviously tannic than the 2000, this is a lovely, classicly styled and obviously young wine, but a definite re-buy.
1997 Pavelot Jean-Marc et Hugues Savigny-lès-Beaune Les Dominode
Medium ruby-red. The nose starts a little meaty taking time to become more and more legant – the last sips have beautiful red fruit – quite haunting. The palate is almost good with ripe fruit of reasonable density, but less than perfect balance – particularly in the acidity department. Coarse and slightly anonymous to start, though lots of air reveals lots of wine. Finishes well, I won’t rush my last 4 bottles…