2016 Pavie-Macquin, St-Émilion (375ml)

“Tasted at the château with Nicolas Thienpont, this displays a dark and hugely concentrated nose, a melange of creamed black plum and black cherry liqueur, with nuances of white flower petals, toast and vanilla, with a bright, pure and very expressive style. The palate follows on from this beginning in a very true style, broad and textured, weighty, nevertheless with a very fresh and bright character. It is dense, sinewy and textured towards the finish, with a huge seam of tightly knit tannins running through the core of the wine, giving the palate a massive grip, but the substance of the fruit, all dark and savoury, copes with this remarkably well. This is a real tour de force, certainly substantial, and loaded with potential, with a future that I can see stretching out for many decades. So long and tannic in the finish. Excellent.” (12/2018)

“Lovely this wine, and it delivers again in 2016. Understated, restrained and utterly delicious, limestone character, dark berry fruit, cold ash, graphite, elderflower, bilberry, salted cracker, saffron, 60% new oak for ageing.” (01/2026)

“This is very linear and driven with a precise and driven center palate. Full-bodied, tight and compact. Energetic and well formed. Give it at least five years.” (01/2019)

“Pavie Macquin 2016 has a deep garnet color and is a little closed to begin, offering glimpses of plum preserves, Morello cherries, and blackberry pie scents, followed by hints of menthol, candied violets, dark chocolate, and wood smoke, with a touch of crushed rocks. Full-bodied, rich and opulent in the mouth, the palate delivers amazing tension to counter the richness, textured by plush, rounded tannins, finishing on a lingering ferrous note. (LPB)” (10/2025)

“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! (AG) 97+” (12/2019)

“This juicy wine wears its alcohol lightly, contrasting the tannins and firm structure with freshness and acidity. Blackberry flavors dominate along with attractive perfumes. (RV)” (05/2019)

“A 15ha estate owned by the Corre family, descendants of Albert Macquin, who bought the property in 1887 and was the first in St-Emilion to replant his entire vineyard on to phylloxera-resistant American rootstocks. Nicolas Thienpont has managed the estate since 1994, Stéphane Derenoncourt consulting since 1990. In 2016 the blend was 82% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Franc and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged in 70% new oak. Georgie Hindle: Perfumed, dark fruit aromatics. Juicy, supple, lively and fresh, just gorgeous. On the plusher, more high-toned end, but very well constructed and presented. Vincenzo Arnese: Aromas of coffee beans and mocha, followed by toasted chestnut and integrated wood. Nice structure and good ripeness. Long finish. Arthur Coggill: Nose morphs between aged fruit and lacquer, settling on blackcurrant. Really smooth, juicy palate, gentle mouthfeel, red cherry, plum and mocha, with chewy, grippy tannins. (Panel Tasting)” (03/2023)

“Pavie Macquin has a nose of dairy products and red fruits. It is a spicy and well composed wine with loads of sweet fruits and a good aftertaste with notes of plums and blackberries. You feel the layers of dark peppery tannins underneath and this is indeed a very fine example of Pavie Macquin. A true classic. (IB)” (01/2026)

“Engaging, with a gush of warm raspberry, plum and boysenberry compote flavors leading the way, while red licorice, apple wood and sweet tobacco notes strut through the finish. Nice intensity overall gives this a mouthwatering echo and pulls you back for more. (JM)” (03/2019)