Chateau Paveil de Luze Margaux Bordeaux, Complete Guide

Learn everything about Chateau Paveil de Luze Margaux with wine tasting notes and wine with food pairing tips. Learn the best vintages, a history of the property and information on the vineyards and winemaking. If you want to read about other important, Bordeaux Chateaux: Links to all Bordeaux Wine Producer Profiles

Chateau Paveil de Luze History, Overview

Chateau Paveil de Luze has been owned by the de Luze family since 1862 when the Medoc estate was purchased by Baron Alfred de Luze. The de Luze has an even longer history in the Bordeaux wine region as successful negociants.

As you can see, Chateau Paveil de Luze takes its name from the original owner. At the time of the original purchase, the entire property was 120 hectares. Since then, due to numerous sales of vineyard land, the estate has been reduced to its current size.

By 1973, the property had fallen into a state of disrepair, as only 10 hectares of vines remained planted. Slowly but surely, the vineyard was replanted and is now in the same shape as it was when the family originally purchased the vineyard.

In 2004, the vineyard was taken over by the next generation of the family. The following year, in 2005, they began a complete renovation of Chateau Paveil de Luze in the cellars, winemaking facilities, and chateau. Their next move was to hire the team of Stephane Derenoncourt as their consultant for their Left Bank estate on both the winemaking and vineyard management.

The owner of the estate, Frederic de Luze also owned and managed a large negociant company, LD Vins. And if that was not enough to keep him busy, he was also the director of the Alliance de Cru Bourgeois. Currently, the property is consulted by Stephane Derenoncourt who has been working with the estate since the 2010 vintage.

In 2016, Chateau Paveil de Luze became the first estate in Bordeaux to begin renting rooms at their chateau using Airbnb. Sadly, Frederic de Luze passed away at just 54 years of age in 2016. Since then the estate has been managed by his sisters, Catherine de Luze and Marguerite de Luze.

Chateau Paveil de Luze Vineyard, Terroir, Grapes, Winemaking

The 32 hectare Margaux vineyard of Chateau Paveil de Luze is planted to 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot. All of the Cabernet Franc vines have been removed and replaced. Located in the upper northwest corner of the appellation, the vineyard is planted in one large, single block of vines situated in the commune of Soussans, close to the chateau.

The terroir is mostly gravel with some clay in the soils. The vineyard is planted to a vine density of 7,000 vines per hectare. Picking is done using machine harvesting. Aside from vineyards, behind the chateau, there are verdant gardens and a small, picturesque lake.

Chateau Paveil de Luze Winemaking

To produce the wine of Chateau Paveil de Luze, vinification takes place in small, temperature-controlled, stainless steel vats that are 150 hectoliters in size. Malolactic fermentation takes place in tank. The wine of Paveil de Luze is aged in an average of 30% new, French oak barrels for 12 months before bottling.

There is a second wine, Chateau de La Coste. Previously, the second wine was sold as L’Enclos de Banneret. On average, the annual production of Chateau Paveil de Luze is close to 12,500 cases per year. Paveil de Luze is a good Bordeaux value wine from the increasingly expensive Margaux appellation.

The best vintages of Chateau Paveil de Luze are: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2012, 2010, 2009, 2005 and 2000.

When to Drink Chateau Paveil de Luze, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time

Chateau Paveil de Luze can be enjoyed on the young side with decanting, but the wine is much better wine, these days. Young vintages can be decanted for an average of 1-2 hours, give or take. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment.

Chateau Paveil de Luze is usually better with at least 4-6 years of bottle age. Of course, that can vary slightly, depending on the vintage character. Chateau Paveil de Luze offers its best drinking and should reach peak maturity between 8-18 years of age after the vintage.

In addition, the estate also produces a white Bordeaux wine, Paveil de Luze Blanc which is produced from a blend of 70% Sauvignon Blanc and 30% Semillon. The wine is aged in French oak barrels for an average of 8 months prior to bottling. The wine is sold as a generic Bordeaux AOC wine, as the production is white wine in Margaux is forbidden.

Serving Chateau Paveil de Luze, with Wine, Food, Pairing Tips

Chateau Paveil de Luze is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift.

Paveil de Luze is best served with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, and grilled dishes. Chateau Paveil de Luze is a perfect match with Asian dishes, hearty fish courses like tuna, mushrooms, and pasta as well as cheese.

Since 2006, the estate has also produced Pont Rouge du Paveil, which is made from vines planted outside the Margaux appellation. Thus the wine is sold as a generic AOC Bordeaux wine.

www.chateaupaveildeluze.com