Pavie Macquin

Château Pavie Macquin

Classification: First Growth (Premier Grand Cru Classé B)

Château Pavie Macquin is one of 3 vineyards which were once part of an estate owned by Ferdinand Bouffard, a 19th Century Bordeaux négociant who also owned part of Château Héritage Haut Brion. Bouffard's estate included a variety of plots, including the Fayard Talleman, Pimpinelle, Dussaut, Pigasse and Larcis Bergey vineyards. Whilst most of these vineyards were consolidated to form Château Pavie, 2 remained distinct; Pigasse vines, which formed the basis for Château Pavie Decesse, and the Chapus Pavie vineyard. This vineyard was bought by Albert Macquin, who was famous for his pioneering work against phylloxera and instigated the grafting of French vines onto American root stocks. Albert remains for posterity the saviour of the Saint Emilion vineyards, and perhaps for all of Bordeaux. 

The estate is owned by Albert's grandson and his family, who since 1995 have contracted Nicolas Thienpont (from the renowned dynastic family of wine merchants and chateaux owners who are responsible for wines such as Le Pin and Vieux Chateau Certan) to manage the estate, whilst Stéphane Derenoncourt has control over the vinification. It was Chateau Pavie Macquin that started the career of Derononcourt in 1993. Whilst the 1993 vintage was a disastrous year for most chateaux, Derenoncourt produced a great wine for Pavie Macquin that year. Thus began his rise to fame (he now consults for some 60 wine making estates around the world).

Château Pavie Macquin lies at the top of the plateau of Saint Emilion, next to the hill of Mondot and on the edge of the Fongaban rift. It neighbours Châteaux Troplong Mondot, Pavie and Trottevieille. The soils are chalky clay and the grapes grown are 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Wine Style
The wines of Château Pavie Macquin are rich, aromatic and supple with notes of liquorice, spice, wood, plum and blackberry. They are smooth and stylish with rounded flavours and good balance. They age well but are approachable when young.

Owner: Famille Corre Macquin
Château Website: www.pavie-macquin.com
Oenologist: Stéphane Derenoncourt