| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Right Bank > St Emilion |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
Stéphane Derenoncourt and Nicolas Thienpont produce this impressively concentrated wine from vines that are situated between Pavie and Troplong Mondot. The 15 hectares are planted with 84% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon.
This site can deliver such powerful, tannic wines that I was left especially impressed by the supple, harmonious style of the 2022 Pavie Macquin. Unwinding in the glass with notions of sweet wild berries, rose petals, spices, violets, bay leaf and new oak, it's full-bodied, deep and vibrant, with a layered core of fruit, bright acids and a long, penetrating finish, where powdery structuring tannins make themselves felt but without any asperity. Of course, this remains a deep and powerful wine, but Nicolas Thienpont and his team continue their shift toward more judicious extraction, with excellent results.
Bright ruby in the glass, the nose is sweet with strawberry laces, boiled sweets and vanilla. The palate is juicy and red fruited, but has a confected edge. Polished with a slightly disjointed acidity, the tannins have a firm pinch on the finish.
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.
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.
80% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Franc, 1% Cabernet Sauvignon. Cask sample.
Dark crimson to the rim. Spicy and exotic on the nose. Generous but lifted on the palate, the limestone terroir manifest. Powerful but refined tannins. Plenty of punch and persistence but handled with care. Clearly one for the cellar. (JL) 14.5%
Drink 2030– 2048
