2021 Château Pavie Macquin

The 2021 Pavie Macquin is deep, bold and luscious, but within the smaller-scaled style of the year. It is an intensely aromatic, savory Grand Vin that emphasizes finesse more than sheer power. I admire its understated elegance more than anything else. Bright acids drive through a core of black cherry fruit, mocha, spice, new leather and licorice. This beautifully balanced, harmonious Saint-Émilion captures the essence of the vintage in style. Tasted two times.

- Antonio Galloni (12/2023)

The 2021 Château Pavie Macquin is a beautiful wine in the vintage, bringing rock-solid concentration and depth as well as its hallmark purity and elegance. Cassis, blueberries, scorched earth, and violet notes define the aromatics, and it’s medium-bodied, has terrific mid-palate depth, fine tannins, and outstanding length. I love its purity, and it has classic Pavie Macquin character. This beauty will benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age and evolve gracefully over the following 15+ years. It's clearly a success in this vintage. The blend is 79% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon, representing 80% of the total production, with roughly 4,600 cases produced. (04/2024)

The 2021 Pavie Macquin has a deep garnet-purple color. Fragrant notions of star anise, lilacs, and fertile loam give way to a core of juicy plums and mulberries, plus a touch of dried lavender. The medium-bodied palate delivers an impressive intensity of bright, pure red and black berry flavors, supported by velvety tannins and great tension, finishing on a lingering, exotic spice note. (04/2024)

Though leaning to the light, trim aspect of the vintage, this reveals juicy energy behind the red currant and damson plum fruit notes, while red tea, sanguine and singed cedar accents score the finish. Nicely done. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2036. 4,600 cases made.

- J.M.

The 2021 Pavie Macquin offers up aromas of cherries, blackberries and raspberries mingled with mint, spices and bay leaf. Medium to full-bodied, with a deep core of fruit framed by chalky tannins that assert themselves on the comparatively structured, mineral finish, it's a strong effort.

- William Kelley (02/2024)