Wines Saint-Émilion Château Pavie Macquin - 2016

Viniou Reviews

Château Pavie Macquin 2016 is a prestigious red wine from the renowned Saint-Émilion appellation, classified as a Premier Grand Cru Classé. The 2016 vintage in Bordeaux is celebrated for its elegance and balance, and here, Merlot dominates the blend, supported by Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. The vineyard’s old vines are rooted in the limestone plateau of Saint-Émilion, lending the wine a remarkable minerality and freshness. The vinification process at Château Pavie Macquin combines traditional methods with a meticulous modern approach—grapes hand-harvested at optimal ripeness, gentle extraction, and careful maturation in French oak barrels, a significant proportion of them new.

Saint-Émilion itself lies on the Right Bank of Bordeaux and is famed for its picturesque medieval village, gently rolling hills, and ancient terroirs. The climate is moderately temperate, influenced by proximity to the Dordogne river, allowing Merlot to thrive. The soils are an intricate patchwork of limestone, clay, and sand, contributing layers of complexity and depth to the region’s wines. Saint-Émilion’s rich winemaking history stretches back to Roman times and, today, its top châteaux like Pavie Macquin exemplify the appellation’s capacity for crafting long-lived, expressive wines.

With its structure, ripe fruit, and polished tannins, Château Pavie Macquin 2016 pairs exquisitely with refined dishes. Classic French pairings include roasted rack of lamb, beef fillet with wild mushrooms, or duck breast with a red wine sauce. Regional cuisine options such as entrecôte à la bordelaise or confit de canard further highlight the wine’s finesse. For a vegetarian option, try it with a mushroom risotto or grilled aubergines drizzled with truffle oil.

To fully appreciate its aromatic complexity and beautiful evolution, decant the wine for at least one to two hours before serving. The ideal tasting temperature is between 16-18°C, which will reveal its silky tannins, vibrant fruit, and harmonious oak integration. This 2016 vintage can be enjoyed now with some aeration or cellared for another decade for further development.