Château Pavie Macquin, First Great Classified Growth of Saint-Emilion

Learn all about Château Pavie Macquin, Premier Grand Cru Classé “B”, in the Saint-Emilion Grand Cru appellation.

It was Albert Macquin (1852–1911) who founded Pavie Macquin in the second half of the 19th century. He was no ordinary man, and Saint-Émilion owes him a debt of gratitude. A former student of Paris-Grignon and Montpellier, he specialized in the study of rootstocks and the art of grafting. In other words, Saint-Émilion owes him the use of grafted vines, which saved the vineyard from total ruin following the phylloxera crisis at the end of the 19th century. His contribution was therefore far from insignificant. The 15-hectare estate is owned by the Corre-Macquin family. Overlooking the Fongaban valley to the west, directly opposite the medieval town, the vineyard enjoys an exceptional position on Saint-Émilion’s highest plateau, just above the limestone ledge of the famous Grande Côte. With its clay-limestone soils, the vines benefit from effective and permanent natural drainage, with the key factor being a very regular water supply—allowing the grapes to ripen under excellent conditions, even during periods of drought. Since the 1990s, the vineyard has been cultivated organically and biodynamically under the guidance of Nicolas Thienpont, assisted by the renowned consulting oenologist Stéphane Derenoncourt, who at the time was also working with Château Canon-La Gaffelière. In terms of style, the wines show remarkable freshness, pure aromatics and a chiselled palate. They combine both power (a characteristic linked to the clays) and refinement. Pavie Macquin is today one of the most sought-after Premiers Grands Crus Classés among discerning connoisseurs.