Château Pavie Macquin 2022

Château Pavie Macquin: Where Winemaking Mastery Meets Saint-Émilion's Essence

Perched upon the picturesque slopes of Saint-Émilion, Château Pavie Macquin stands as a testament to the artistry and unwavering commitment of winemaking. This St-Émilion Premiere Grand Crus Classés property exemplifies the deep connection between man and terroir, showcasing the profound impact that meticulous vineyard management and the unique soils of the region can have on the final expression of the wines.

With a history spanning over a century, Château Pavie Macquin carries a legacy that intertwines the vine and the vigneron. Originally a part of the expansive estate of Ferdinand Bouffard, a renowned 19th-century négociant, it found its identity when acquired by Albert Macquin. Albert Macquin, a leading specialist in grafting American rootstock to European vitis vinifera vines, played a pivotal role in combating the devastating phylloxera plague that struck Bordeaux. In honor of his contributions, Château Pavie Macquin bears his name, rooted in the tradition of the times.

The estate's 15 hectares of vines are nestled on the prestigious Côte Pavie, neighboring renowned vineyards such as Château Pavie, Château Pavie-Decesse and Château Troplong Mondot.  These vineyards boast a diverse array of soils, encompassing nine different types with variations of limestone and clay. It was not until the arrival of the self-made vigneron, Nicolas Thienpont, in 1994 that the quality of the grand vin soared to new heights. Possessing a Midas touch, Nicolas Thienpont's innate understanding of the vineyard and his devotion to producing wines that reflect the true essence of terroir earned him critical acclaim. 

Nicolas firmly believes that the quality of a wine lies in its ability to express its terroir. Embracing this philosophy, Château Pavie Macquin transitioned to organic farming, adopting 100% organic techniques for vineyard management. These strong principles have proven successful, as every vineyard under Nicolas' management has garnered accolades and critical acclaim. His expertise even led Château Larcis Ducasse to be recognized as a Premiere Grand Cru Classé in 2012 and Château Bellevue as a Premiere Grand Crus.

The vineyards of Château Pavie Macquin are predominantly planted with 80% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon. The grapes, benefiting from the unique microclimate of the region, tend to ripen a bit later, ensuring optimal phenolic maturity. Prior to vinification, the grapes undergo careful optical sorting to ensure only the finest fruit is selected. In the vat room, the wines are fermented whole berry in a blend of concrete and oak fermenters, a meticulous process that further enhances the purity and complexity of the final product.

When indulging in a bottle of Château Pavie Macquin, one is greeted with richly concentrated and lush wines that offer a beautiful combination of power and minerality. Described as generous and opulent, these wines possess a remarkable longevity. In truly exceptional vintages, it is advisable to exercise patience and allow the grand vin to rest for 10-12 years, as they gradually reveal their full potential.

Step into the world of Château Pavie Macquin, where the mastery of winemaking meets the true essence of Saint-Émilion's terroir. Immerse yourself in the symphony of flavors, textures, and aromas that capture the spirit of this remarkable estate.

"The 2022 Pavie Macquin, 65% Merlot and 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, is deep garnet-purple in color. It is quite closed to start off, revealing scents of cedar chest and dried roses before giving way to a fragrant undercurrent of blackberry pie, Morello cherries, and boysenberry preserves, plus suggestions of Indian spices and cast-iron pan. The full-bodied palate is super-taut and muscular, delivering a firm frame of ripe, grainy tannins and fantastic tension to support all the tightly wound layers, finishing very long and minerally. Likely to require considerable patience before it hits its stride, its a Pavie Macquin for marathon runners, not sprinters." - Lisa Perotti-Brown, The Wine Independent (5/2023) Ratings: 96-98

"Creamy depths of colour and flavour, powerful damson and black cherry fruits, this is utterly compelling and beautifully concentrated. No question that the tannins are crowding in through the front of the palate, eager to make an impression, but they quickly soften and widen, and in between is air, spice, flowers, just nuanced and beautiful. The power of limestone in hot vintages on display. 3.4ph, great stuff from this 14.5ha estate, Nicolas Thienpont director." - Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux, (5/2023)  Ratings: 98

"The 2022 Pavie-Macquin was picked 14 to 27 September at 31hL/ha. Black cherries, crème de cassis, crushed violets on the nose. This is the most opulent amongst Nicolas Thienpont's portfolio, though I find just a touch more terroir expression on the Larcis-Ducasse. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, satin-like in texture. A little more tertiary in its second half, with white pepper liberally-sprinkled toward the finish. Quite understated in style, I suspect it will spread its wings during its élevage. - Neal Martin, Vinous (5/2023) Ratings: 92-94

"Another wine that's going to flirt with perfection is the 2022 Château Pavie Macquin, and this might be the finest vintage I've ever tasted from this address. A blend of 80% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Franc, and a splash of Cabernet Sauvignon, it reveals an inky purple hue as well as a stunning bouquet of pure cassis, liquid black raspberries, truffle, scorched earth, and graphite. Full-bodied, concentrated, and massive on the palate, it may be the largest-scaled Pavie Macquin ever produced. But don't let that scare you off – it stays flawlessly balanced, has pure, fine-grained tannins, and a great finish. I'll be a buyer." - Jeb Dunnuck  (5/2023) Ratings: 96-98+