96 Robert Parker
The 1998 Pavie Decesse is medium to deep garnet-brick in color and explodes with fabulous plum pudding, prunes, blackberry preserves and blueberry pie notes with hints of smoked meats, garrigue, dusty soil, cast iron pan and star anise with dried roses and cinnamon stick wafts. Full-bodied, concentrated and packed with rich exotic spice and black fruit preserves layers, it has loads of mineral and meat sparks and a very, very long, layered finish. Incredible! For cellaring potential, I give it 20+ more years.
18 Rene Gabriel
99: Dunkles, leuchtendes Rubin-Purpur. Umwerfendes, verführerisches Bouquet; viel Süssholznoten und eine verschwenderische Frucht (Rumtopf). Im Gaumen ein Ausbund von Tanninsüsse, Vanille und wiederum eine sehr reife Frucht, wirkt unerhört dicht, konzentriert und sehr lang. 18/20 vorbei
89 Wine Spectator
Bubbling over with ripe berry, violet and cherry aromas. Full-bodied, with polished, velvety tannins and a long, ripe finish. Falls slightly short of outstanding. Best after 2005. 2,500 cases made. ?JS