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Pavie Macquin 2008

RegionBordeaux
Subregion France > Bordeaux > Right Bank > St Emilion
ColourRed
TypeStill
Grape VarietyMerlot/Cabernet Franc

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Label

Tasting Notes

Consultants Nicolas Thienpont and Stephane Derenoncourt have produced a beautiful St.-Emilion that tastes like the quintessence of crushed rocks intermixed with blueberry, blackberry, black raspberry, licorice, camphor and truffle notes. This full-bodied effort should drink well in 4-5 years, and last for two decades or more. It achieved 14.5% natural alcohol.

94
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (194), May 2011

The 2008 Pavie-Macquin was decanted for 60 minutes before pouring. It is surprisingly backward on the nose and demanded another 30 minutes to really open, offering luscious scents of black cherry, boysenberry, crushed violet and light camphor scents that recede with continued aeration. The palate is still concentrated with layers of black fruit tinged with dark chocolate, a little heady in style but retaining sufficient balance to uphold its freshness. It is a feisty and extrovert Pavie-Macquin that feels undiminished at a decade out and in fact, I would afford bottles another four or five years to allow more terroir expression and secondary notes to develop. This has enormous potential, but winemaker Nicolas Thienpont produced a wine for those with patience. 2020 - 2035

93
Neal Martin, vinous.com, February 2018

Flowers such as violets galore on the nose. Ripe fruit too. Full-bodied, with bright fruit and citrusy acidity. Long and racy. Really bright and wonderful

90/93
James Suckling, WineSpectator.com, April 2009

Bright healthy crimson. Rich, juicy, succulent fruit. Really appetising. Lots of ripe fruit plus lots of acid and ripe tannin. Truly a youthful, but promising, package. Well done! Maybe just a tad too tart? Or maybe this will keep it going splendidly for the long life it deserves.

17
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, April 2009
Read more tasting notes...

I tasted this wine on four occasions, on one of which I was convinced it was still going through malolactic fermentation. It is another superb effort from this property that was elevated to premier grand cru classe status until a judge in Libourne, for unknown reasons, threw out the classification, a decision beyond belief, that is now under appeal. A number of exceptional wines have emerged from Pavie Macquin, which is managed by Nicolas Thienpont and Stephane Derenoncourt, and the 2008 boasts a whopping 14.5% natural alcohol, higher than in 2005, 2000, or 1998. While extremely high in tannin and very unevolved, for those with patience and cold cellars, or who plan to pass on their wines to their children, this is a worthwhile choice. It is that backward, concentrated, and impressive. It exhibits a black/purple color in addition to stunning notes of graphite, black fruits, underbrush, chocolate, and roasted coffee beans. Full-bodied, powerful, and rich, the high but sweet tannins, combined with the freshness of the acids make for a remarkably youthful, nuanced wine that should easily age for three decades.

93/95
Robert Parker, RobertParker.com (182), April 2009

This has a very precise nose, tense black cherry and blueberry, wonderful definition. Not trying too hard - very natural. The palate is just superb: very pure, extremely fine tannins, immense focus and definition. Dark cherries and a touch of blueberry. Precise finish - this is top class. Bravo! Tasted April 2009.

93/95
Neal Martin, RobertParker.com, April 2009
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.