Pavie Macquin 2023

Aromas of sweet raspberries, cherries and plums mingle with notions of licorice and creamy new oak, introducing the 2023 Pavie Macquin, a medium to full-bodied, layered and concentrated wine with a deep core of fruit, tangy acids and powdery tannins. As higher density plantings on the plateau with superior vine genetics start to enter into production, and as the south of the property is restructured, this estate's tannins are becoming more refined, even if the very low pH of 3.35 still tends to foreground the wine's structure.

The 2023 Pavie Macquin was picked from September 18, finishing with the Cabernet Sauvignon on October 3, cropped at 48hl/ha. The nose offers a mélange of red and black fruit with light wilted rose petal and iris scents. The Cabernet Franc (17% of the blend) imparts loamy aromas. The palate is very svelte and creamy on the entry, but there is real depth and freshness here. Harmonious and poised, it fans out beautifully on the finish. This is more elegant and complex than the 2022, and my score reflects this. Superb.

Shiny ruby colour. The nose is very sweet here, with tones of strawberry laces and raspberry jam. The palate has the interplay of sweet mint, glossy cherries and raspberries, and something like fruit pastilles. It is quite full bodied but there is a real tang and freshness to cut through. The tannins are a little clunky, but they are certainly more in keeping with the fruit than was the case at this estate a decade ago. Hedonistic.

This is a twitchy, lively red with brambleberry, black olive and a real sense of limestone. The tannins are very well integrated. Lots of energy. Medium body. Extremely long. Very cool, fine wine from this estate in this year. 3.35 pH. 14.2% alcohol. 82% merlot, 17% cabernet franc and 1% cabernet sauvignon. Best ever?

The 2023 Pavie Macquin is deep garnet-purple in color. Wow! It prances out with a showy perfume of lilacs, iris bulb, star anise, sandalwood, and Sichuan pepper leading to a core of redcurrant jelly, wild blueberries, and black raspberries plus earthy suggestions of moss-covered tree bark and fallen leaves. The medium to full-bodied palate shimmers with energetic red and black berry layers, framed by firm fine-grained tannins and magic tension, finishing very long with lots of chalky and red berry sparks. This is electric. The pH this year is 3.40.

Touch of gunsmoke reduction softens to show gentle grilled oak notes, skilful construction, cocoa bean, espresso, blueberry, pomegranate, oyster shell salinity. This has grip and intensity, tension, energy, a brooding quality that switches into a vertical lift through the palate. Brilliant construction, and a joyful reflection of the power of terroir. 48hl/ha. Thienpont-Derenoncourt team, celebrating 30 years of collaboration, Corre-Macquin family, Nicolas Thienpont director director. Tasted twice.

The 2023 Pavie Macquin is one of the stars of the vintage. An exceptional, vibrant wine, Pavie Macquin dazzles from start to finish. Seamless tannins wrap around a core of inky red/purplish fruit, lavender, mint, spice and blood orange, all framed by bright, salivating acids. The transition toward higher-density vineyards and greater freshness is paying huge dividends. This is a stellar effort from the château and long-time consultant Stephane Derenoncourt, who has kept Pavie Macquin as one of just a handful of estates he personally follows these days. In a word: Brilliant! Tasted two times. 2030-2053

82% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Franc and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon. Cask sample.
Firm and spicy on the nose. Juicy palate with well-integrated tannins. Oak still present. Less power than top years but balanced and harmonious. (JL) 14.5%
Drink 2030 – 2045