So much violet and lilac aromas to this with blackberry and blueberry character, too. Full-bodied and delivering limestone, chalk and lavender on the palate. Great structure, too. Needs four or five years to soften. Better in 2022.

One of the highlights of the vintage, the 2015 Pavie Macquin is positively stellar. A veritable explosion of super-ripe red cherry, rose petal and mocha makes a strong opening statement. Silky on the palate, with soft tannins and tons of sheer exoticism, the 2015 is stunningly beautiful. All of the signatures of the site are turned up to the maximum in this vivid, head-spinning wine from estate manager Nicolas Thienpont and his team. Don't miss it! vinous.com, February 2018

A pure style, with a bright cassis aroma and a core of plum and bitter cherry notes, allied to a lightly chalky spine. Long and refined, showing lovely cut and precision.

Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2015 Pavie Macquin bursts forth from the glass with profound notions of plum preserves, fruit cake, Indian spices and chargrilled meat with touches of black soil, mocha, cedar chest and unsmoked cigars. Full-bodied, voluptuously fruited and decadently styled in the mouth, the packed layers of black fruit preserves and exotic spices are well-matched by firm, ripe, grainy tannins and seamless freshness that sits comfortably in the background, finishing with great length and depth.

The 2015 Pavie-Macquin is a blend of 84% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon picked between 29 September and 17 October at 40 hl/ha. It has an almost decadent bouquet, perhaps more lascivious than the 2015 Larcis-Ducasse tasted alongside (as part of Nicolas Thienpont's "stable"), with fig-tinged red cherry and blackberry fruit, powerful but perhaps needing to muster a little more finesse? The palate is medium-bodied with a sweet core of citrus-fresh fruit. There is more nuance and precision here at the moment, fleshy and sensual with blood orange and cassis layered over the exuberant finish. It should be a delicious Saint Emilion this year, although I feel that the Larcis-Ducasse will have the sophistication and more longevity.

Nicolas and his son Cyrille Thienpont make the wine for the Corre-Macquin family. 84% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc, 2% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Sweet and rich on the nose. Then marked acidity on the palate. Rather different from and fresher than some earlier vintages.
Drink 2024-2038

Mid crimson. Beautifully fragrant with both red and dark fruit. Tastes very sweet on the palate, as if there were actually some residual sugar? Chewy texture and fruit and structure not fully integrated. The sweetness shows on the finish as it seems to clash with the acidity. Maybe it just needs more time than most. (JH)