Château Pavie Macquin 2023

Super fragranced on the nose, really floral and evocative with heady aromas – expressive, ripe and sweet fruit elements too. Super high acidity on the palate, but actually this really works with a soft, chalky, powdery bite to the tannins. It’s edging on lean, straighter and less concentrated than Larcis Ducasse at this stage. The focus here is the fun, lifted side. So precise, finessed, and detailed with layers of fine tannins, bright fruit and tons of energy, yet still with concentration and firm red summer-berry fruit. I love it.

With little effort you find an array of flowers, licorice, tobacco, and red fruits, and black plums in the perfume. The palate is edgy, fresh, and with a depth of flavor, which is perfect for the lush, vibrant waves of salt-edged, sweet, pure fruits that fill your palate as it lingers. This is a very strong effort that will evolve without effort for 2 or more decades, yet have the ability to drink well with just a few years of bottle age. The wine blends 82% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink from 2029-2055.

Dark ruby, deep core, purple reflections, brightening on the rim. Liquorice and candied violets, fine wood spice, ripe red cherries, intense bouquet. Juicy, red-berry character, showing accentuated freshness, ripe tannins, mineral, subtle fruitiness, a very charming style; an animating food wine with certain ageing potential.

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. Tasted twice.

Nuances of ripe dark berries mingle with chalky notes, resulting in an aromatic harmony that is as precise as it is thrilling. Carried by an elegant texture, the wine unfolds along a linear path where the freshness announced by the bouquet is faithfully echoed. The velvety tannins deliver formidable intensity, yet it is beautifully tempered by the freshness of the acidity.

A lovely gourmand nose, plush and precise, with a certain breadth in freshness, accuracy, and fine concentration. It expresses notes of fresh boysenberry, ripe/fresh wild black berries and, more subtly, star anise, together with hints of almost aromatic herbs, Madagascar pepper, crushed cherry, almost roasted-fresh strawberry, and a discreet touch of cornflower, fine hints of licorice stick, and touches of toasty nuances. The palate is beautifully fresh, juicy, mineral, and balanced, with lovely definition, suavity, an appealing elongated, almost chiseled profile, harmony, elegance, and depth. It shows notes of juicy/pulpy blackberry, pulpy blackcurrant and, more subtly, fresh/finely tart blue fruits, joined by touches of raspberry, vibrant redcurrant, as well as discreet almost roasted-herb nuances in the background (very discreet), blond tobacco, and chocolatey tones. Good length. Supple, sapid, and savory tannins, with a lovely limestone/saline and chiseled character. An airy side to its power

Fascinating bouquet, ripe fruit, spicy notes, violets, floral tea, herbs; powerful on the palate, with spice and verve, delicate red fruit, fine-grained tannins, fiery finish. A lot of elegance this year.

Subtle underlying tension runs from start to finish, keeping the mix of bitter cherry, mulled plum, iris and sandalwood notes focused and streamlined in feel. A savory flicker at the end brings you back for more. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2027 through 2040. 3,916 cases made.

Deep colour with bright highlights. An intense, refined nose, fruity and pure. Precise on the attack, flavoursome through the mid-palate with a complex character, the wine melts into the finish, at once rich and refined. Long and very good. Note a change in the blend compared with the En Primeur sample: 75% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc. This goes hand in hand with the gradual increase of Cabernet Franc in the blend of this estate, with vines planted in 2013 and 2016 at a density of 8,800 vines per hectare.