Ch.Pavie Macquin 1994 750ml

Wine Advocate #109 Feb 1997
These are powerful, backward, tannic wines that should be purchased by those with the discipline, patience, and the requisite youthfulness to wait 10-12 years for them to round into shape. Because of their severity, these wines can be admired more than enjoyed, but their impressive old vine core of fruit, and extraordinary purity and ripeness are noteworthy. The dark ruby-colored 1994 reveals a Musigny-like nose of violets, black-cherries, and powdered stone. This tough-textured, tannic, muscular wine exudes personality and character, but it needs 6-8 years of cellaring. It may turn out to be an outstanding wine, but since bottling, the wine has become dominated by its structure and tannin, and is less of a sure thing than I thought last year. While it possesses plenty of personality and richness, it is questionable as to whether this wine will evolve gracefully, or eventually dry out. A tough call. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2020.

Pavie Macquin is a property admirably situated on the top of the plateau of Saint Emilion. The realisation of the enormous quality of the property, as well as the will-power to produce a wine worthy of the terroir, began with the arrival of Maryse Barre in 1986. With great energy and determination, Madame Barre contributed hugely to the renaissance of the property. Her work is carried on by Nicolas Thienpont, who arrived at the end of 1994, accompanied by Stéphane Derenoncourt, already present at the chateau since 1990. They found, in Pavie Macquin, the ideal birthplace for a method of production that has since been proven the world over.
This research and this contemplation of a viticulture and vinification based on respect for natural law and a dynamic tradition have made Pavie Macquin a virtual laboratory. It is not a question of creating a new wine but simply of revealing the terroir and unveiling the qualities that were hitherto hidden. In one phrase, it meant revealing the hidden beauty of this ‘Cinderella’.
On the occasion of the reclassification of the Saint Emilion chateaux (in September 2006), Chateau Pavie Macquin was promoted to the prestigious level of Premier Grand Cru Classé.