2016 Pavie Macquin
Buying options
Tasting notes
The 2016 Pavie Macquin was tasted on two occasions. The bottle at Farr showed signs of oxidation and was not scored. The one at Bordeaux Index’s correlated more closely to previous assessments. It had more delineation and precision compared to the Pavie, very mineral-driven, bright and lively. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins, gentle grip, silky smooth, with a precise and delineated, black pepper-tinged finish that is a delight. However, I must add a cautionary question mark to my score because of variation from bottle to bottle.
Critic scores
Average Score
James Suckling
Wine Spectator
More reviews and scores
A perfect example of coiled sinewy tannins, a fist of steel wrapped in velvet. This is so juicy yet so reserved, fully walking the tightrope of light and shade. Meticulous layers of butterscotch, cigar, turmeric, dill, mandarin peel, with sculpted clarity to the cooly-reserved blackcurrant and bilberry fruits, extremely complex and clearly determined to be around for many decades. Part of the oustanding vintages series within this vertical - and where you could just about drink the 2017 today, I would strongly suggest not doing so with the 2016. 60% new oak.
The 2016 Pavie-Macquin has a harmonious, intense bouquet of layered black cherry, bilberry and light tobacco notes; the oak is very well integrated. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, and slightly higher in acidity than I would like, although it has an irresistible silky finish. The question is, where will it go? I have found a little bottle variation and I feel this suffered because the palate might be closing down. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.
The 2016 Pavie-Macquin is an epic wine in the making. Powerful, dense and explosive in the glass, the 2016 is simply dazzling. A rush of dark cherry, plum, lavender, spice and licorice builds in a sumptuous, beautifully layered Saint-Émilion that screams with character. More than anything else, the 2016 impresses for the way it balances structure and fruit intensity. The tannins are imposing, but there is a creaminess to the fruit that renders them barely perceptible. A move towards gentler extraction paid off hugely. What a wine!
About the producer
On the hill of Pavie, this property’s 15 hectares of vines neighbour those of Troplong Mondot and Pavie. Under Stéphane Derenoncourt and Nicolas Thienpont, the property was promoted to Premier Grand Cru Classé B status in 2006.