Domaine Pavelot, run by Jean-Marc and Hugues Pavelot, is one of the leading estates in Savigny-lès-Beaune, with a family history in the village dating back to the 17th century. The wines here have long been some of the best premier cru buys in Burgundy, and we have a great late release that is showing so well right now from one of their top performers of the vintage, Gravins. The 2017 Aux Gravains comes from a well-exposed southeast-facing site on deep gravelly soils, covering just over 1 hectare of vines averaging 40–60 years old. The domaine practices organic farming and employs traditional vinification with 20–25% whole cluster and aging in French oak (20–30% new) for about 12 months. The 2017 vintage was a warm and even growing season, which was much needed after the very challenging 2016 vintage, yielding wines with energy and classic structure. Gravains, known for producing some of the most serious and age-worthy wines of the appellation, delivers here with a savory mineral core, notes of dark cherry, iron, dried flowers, and firm but refined tannins. This is one of the top buys for collectors seeking serious premier cru red Burgundy from a balanced, early-drinking vintage that can be enjoyed now or cellared longer. 

John Gilman 94 points! "The 2017 aux Gravains from Domaine Pavelot is another stellar young wine in the making. The aromatic constellation here is pure and elegant, wafting from the glass in a superb mix of red and black cherries, a touch of red currant, Savigny spices, raw cocoa, orange peel, gamebird, stony soil elements, cedar and a nice topnote of mustard seed. On the palate the wine is deep, full and very transparent in profile, with sappy core of very pure fruit, great length and grip and a youthfully complex, vibrant and beautifully precise finish. This will need a bit of bottle age to really start to hit on all cylinders, but it is going to be stellar when it is ready to drink. (Drink between 2024-2065)"