2016 Pavie Macquin, St-Émilion (3L)

“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.” (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. Drink this impressive wine from 2025. (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)