This takes the fruit of 2009 but harnesses it even more quickly, with rivets of graphite and apple wood studding the core of plum sauce, blackberry reduction and raspberry pâte de fruit. Ample singed apple wood lines the finish, melded wonderfully with the fruit, while the minerality lingers on and on in the background, waiting in reserve. Around it all, a beguiling violet note dances. The combination of power and purity is a wonderful thing.—Non-blind Pavie Macquin vertical (December 2014). Best from 2020 through 2035. 3,750 cases made. — JM

A towering, statuesque wine, the 2010 Pavie-Macquin is distinguished by its vertical explosiveness and soaring intensity. Red cherry jam, plums and dried flowers are some of the many aromas and flavors that open up as the 2010 gains breadth over time. Naturally, the 2010 is still a very young wine, but it is incredibly impressive just the same, not to mention one of the highlights of the morning.

The strong nose, with its flowers, mint, licorice, cocoa, plum, wet earth and cherries is a treat. Still youthful, the wine is rich, concentrated, opulent, luscious and intense. But it does need more time before it really begins to show its all. Wait 5 more years and enjoy it for 2-3 decades after that.

This is always an extremely masculine, dense, burly wine, and the 2010, which tips the scales at 14.5% alcohol (just slightly under that of the 2009), has a final blend of 80% Merlot and the rest virtually all Cabernet Franc, with just 1% Cabernet Sauvignon. Loads of crushed rock and chalkiness, along with licorice, black truffle, smoked game and black fruits dominate the aromatics and flavor. Backward, formidably endowed, full-bodied and almost atypically massive and huge, with gargantuan extraction, this is a wine for patient connoisseurs to forget about for close to a decade. Anticipated maturity: 2022-2040+.
-Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #205 Feb 2013

(96-98+ pts)
2010: Although not as potent alcoholically as its 2009 counterpart (14.5% in 2010 versus 15% in 2009), the 2010 is still a very big wine. The final blend was 85% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc and 1% Cabernet Sauvignon and production was slightly more than 3,400 cases. This black/purple-tinged wine exhibits lots of minerality (from this terroir’s clay and limestone soils) as well as the entire spectrum of black fruits. Full-bodied and backward, it’s like drinking crushed limestone/chalk when you taste this intense, tannic, powerful wine. It will require 8-10 years of cellaring and should evolve for 35-40+ years.

Gorgeous nose with great complexity. Blackberry, licorice and a steely mineral note. Lots of chalk, nutmeg and violets too. Dense and full-bodied on the palate with a beautiful fruit and a sumptuous fruity finish that just goes on and on. Velvety tannins and layered texture with lots of raw licorice. Drink from 2018.
-www.jamessuckling.com, 'Tasting Report: 2010 Bordeaux "More Great Vintage"', 3 Feb 2012

(95-96 pts)
Super compacted with incredible intensity of minerals, black fruits, licorice and spices. Full and dense. Wild fruit that goes on for minutes. A little firm as always but will open nicely.

(84% merlot, 14% cabernet franc and 2% cabernet sauvignon): Bright saturated ruby. Vibrant aromas of cassis, licorice, bitter chocolate, herbs and sexy oak. Tightly wound, primary and uncompromising, conveying a low-pH mouth feel to its medicinal black fruit, espresso and pungent spice and mineral flavors. This wine's superb richness and weight (the label says 14.5% alcohol) are currently hidden by its firm spine. The brooding, youthfully imploded, slightly saline finish builds slowly and inexorably. Lay this beauty down and forget about it for a decade.

Tasted at the Union de Grand Cru in London. The Pavie-Macquin has wonderful delineation and poise on the nose: raspberry, wild strawberry, crushed stone and a hint of apricot. It is quite modern in style – but wonderfully controlled and generous, almost to the point of Burgundian purity. The palate is medium-bodied with super-fine tannins. There are hints of sage and quince infusing the red fruit profile, whilst the finish is silky smooth. It is perhaps just a little sweeter than I envisaged out of barrel? Hopefully it will calm down in bottle. Tasted November 2012.

(93-95 pts)
The Pavie Macquin has a gorgeous, lifted, opulent bouquet with pure dark berries, boysenberry and dark plums with superb delineation. Seductive indeed. The palate is medium-bodied with ripe, juicy tannins, layers of pure vanilla-tinged red fruits with a harmonious silky finish that retains freshness and vibrancy. This is yet another lovely Pavie-Macquin. Tasted April 2011.