Château Pavie Macquin 1989

$147.00
Out of stock
SKU
4318-1989

• Domaine: Château Pavie Macquin
• Appellation: Saint-Emilion
• Classification: Premier Grand Cru Classé B
• Origin: Right Bank, Bordeaux, France

Château Pavie Macquin is a St-Émilion Premiere Grand Crus Classés property that exemplifies the connection between man and terroir.  The estate boasts a rich history that is heavily steeped in a century-spanning relationship between vine and vigneron.  The grand vin of Château Pavie Macquin are considered truly extraordinary, with a beautifully pronounced  minerality that captures the truest essence of St-Émilion terroir.

The property was once a part of the large estate of Ferdinand Bouffard, a very popular 19th Century négociant. Ferdinand Bouffard is famously accredited for the inception of the illustrious Premiere Grand Crus Classés A property, Château Pavie.  Château Pavie Macquin was a smaller portion of the estate and was  acquired by Albert Macquin, who was the leading specialist in grafting American rootstock to European vitis vinifera vines.  His remarkable work helped vignerons in Bordeaux combat the catastrophic phylloxera plague at the turn of the century.   In the true tradition of the times, Château Pavie Macquin was named after Macquin.  

The 15-hectares of vines are located on the Côte Pavie, near the vineyards of Château Pavie, Château Pavie-Decesse and Château Troplong Mondot.  There are nine different types of soil, with different variations of limestone and clay.  Before 1988, the wines of this estate were fairly mediocre and it wasn’t until the self-made vigneron - who seemingly the Midas touch - Nicolas Thienpont joined the team in 1994 that the quality of the grand vin skyrocketed. Soon critics began to take notice.  Nicolas Thienpont’s grandfather purchased Château Troplong-Mondot and though there was a familial connection to winemaking, Nicolas studied law and philosophy at University before venturing into the Wine Trade.  One might even go so far as to say that his interests in philosophy and law explain his devotion to producing wines in the image of terroir: it is the law he lives by.   

Nicolas staunchly believes that the quality of a wine is the expression of its terroir.  Château Pavie Macquin switched to organic farming, using 100% organic techniques for vineyard management.  It seems like Nicolas’ strong principles serve him well, as every vineyard he manages and implements his techniques at achieves a wealth of accolades and critical acclaim.  It was Nicholas Thienpont’s management that turned Château Larciss Ducasse into a Premiere Grand Cru Classé in 2012 and Château Bellevue into a Premiere Grand Crus. 

Château Pavie Macquin has vineyards that are planted with 80% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon.  The vines tend to ripen a bit later here, and the grapes are optically sorted before vinification at Château Pavie Macquin.  In the vat room, the wines are fermented whole berry in a mixture of concrete and oak fermenters.  In truly great vintages, the grand vin does require a bit of time to fully reveal themselves and we suggest letting them rest for 10-12 years.  The wines at Château Pavie Macquin have been described as richly concentrated and lush wines with long finishes.  They are extremely generous and offer a beautiful combination of power and minerality.      

Tasting Notes

"I have been extolling the virtues of these wines since the late eighties. Extremely old vines, organic farming, and some of the lowest yields in Bordeaux produce densely-colored, highly-extracted, exceptionally pure and elegant wines that possess a Burgundian-like texture and complexity. The 1989 continues to be one of that vintages "sleepers." The color remains a youthful ruby/purple. The bouquet offers copious quantities of black-raspberry and cassis fruit nicely touched by stony/mineral and floral scents. The spicy, vanillin component is subtle. This full-bodied, highly-extracted, elegant wine should reach full maturity in 2-3 years; it will last through the first 15 years of the next century." - Robert Parker Jr., The Wine Advocate (2/27/1997, Issue 109), Ratings: 90

"The 1989 Pavie-Macquin is one of the sleepers of the vintage. The opaque deep ruby/purple color suggests old vines and sensational extract. The implications drawn from the wine's color are fulfilled in the mouth. Fabulously concentrated, with wonderful purity of raspberry flavor, and fine balance, this massive, highly extracted, medium-bodied wine should last for up to 20 years. It is a real beauty." - Robert Parker Jr., The Wine Advocate (2/27/1993, Issue 85), Ratings: 90

"Which St.-Emilion tastes like a grand cru red burgundy - let's say Musigny? The 1989 Pavie-Macquin, which is one of the great sleepers of the vintage. The opaque deep ruby/purple color suggests very old vines and sensational extract. The implications drawn from the wine's color are fulfilled in the mouth. Fabulously concentrated, with wonderful purity of raspberry flavor, and great balance, this massive, highly extracted, medium to full-bodied wine should last for up to 20 years. It is a real beauty. This property is largely unknown, so move quickly before the price soars." - Robert Parker Jr., The Wine Advocate (4/22/1992, Issue 80), Ratings: 90

 

More Information
Stock Status Out of Stock
Appellation Saint-Emilion
Vintage 1989
Brand Château Pavie Macquin
Shipping Weight 3.000000

Saint-Émilion is one of the most prestigious wine appellations in the Bordeaux region of France, renowned for its exceptional red wines and rich viticultural history. Located on the Right Bank of the Dordogne River, Saint-Émilion is a place of great beauty and a UNESCO World Heritage site, thanks to its remarkable blend of natural and cultural attributes. The Saint-Émilion appellation is characterized by a diverse terroir featuring a mix of limestone, clay, and sandy soils that provide the foundation for its distinctive wines. The unique microclimates and elevations within the appellation contribute to the variety of flavors and styles found in Saint-Émilion wines.

The primary grape varieties used in Saint-Émilion wines are Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon, with Merlot often dominating the blends. These grapes thrive in the region's favorable climate, moderated by the proximity of the Dordogne River and the buffering effects of the limestone plateau.

Saint-Émilion is famous for its unique wine classification system, which divides the vineyards into four tiers: Premier Grand Cru Classé A, Premier Grand Cru Classé B, Grand Cru Classé, and Grand Cru. This classification reflects the quality and prestige of the individual vineyards and châteaux within the appellation, with only a select few achieving the highest ranking of Premier Grand Cru Classé A. Until the re-classification in 2022, Château Cheval Blanc, Château Ausone, Château Angelus, and Château Pavie were the only four members of the Premier Grand Cru Classé A tier. Out of disagreement with the standard-setting governing body, Cheval Blanc and Ausone voluntarily dropped out. Angelus followed suit shortly after. With Pavie remaining the only member, Premier Grand Cru Classé A saw the addition of Château Figeac following a long-expected and well-deserved promotion.

Saint-Émilion wines are known for their finesse, complex aromas, and beautiful balance of fruit, tannins, and acidity. While they share some similarities with wines from the neighboring Pomerol appellation, they often have a slightly more structured and tannic character due to the higher proportion of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon in the blends. With age, these wines develop a velvety texture and reveal an array of flavors, including dark fruits, floral notes, and hints of earthiness.

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