2009 Ch. Pavie Macquin, St. Emilion

This was our wine of the morning in St Emilion. With an extraordinary lavender-sage topnote to the nose and seriously ripe, concentrated plum and damson fruit on the palate, this was on a different level to anything we had tasted thus far. The tannins were so ripe they simply disappeared and the juicy fruit was counterbalanced by a freshness that we had not found in the majority of Merlot-based wines. The 2009 Pavie Macquin contains 85% Merlot but the 14% Cabernet Franc (and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon) is they key here, adding minerality, poise and phenomenal length.

Rich, dense and beautifully textured. Combines an opulence of fruit with an amazing freshness and acidity. Long finish.
(Steven Spurrier - Decanter - Apr 2010)

Deep, bright crimson. Very ripe, alcoholic notes on the nose. Very sweet black cherry flavours – kirsch actually – on the palate. Super-modern elixir. Not my favourite style of wine but some will love it and it’s well done. Not too painful on the finish – just a little drying. Round and juicy and very suave with carefully chosen dry oak. Sinewy and drying. Very cool.
(Jancis Robinson MW, jancisrobinson.com - Apr 2010)

The 2009 is enormous in size, yet broodingly backward, I was somewhat surprised by the astringency of the tannins in this blend of 85% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon. It is a big wine (14.5% alcohol), black purple in color, with huge concentration of fruit and beautiful purity, but a good decade of cellaring is required.

From a top terroir, this wine is built for the long haul, and I am sure it will be even better than its relatively conservative rating at this point. Anticipated maturity: 2022-2035.
(Robert Parker - Wine Advocate - Feb 2012)

Superfocused and beautiful, like looking at Mont Blanc with a clear sky and a blanket of snow. Full and refined, with gorgeous fruit and wonderful refinement. Silky tannins. Clearly the best ever.
(James Suckling - Wine Spectator - Apr 2010)