Winegrower Bordelais - Saint-Emilion
Pavie-Macquin
From Albert Macquin’s pioneering discovery,
to recognition for a Château: the slow,
but sure progress of Pavie-Macquin
In 1884, the Saint-Emilion Association was established. Phylloxera had been wreaking havoc since 1866. Each winegrower was seeking solutions and this system of pooling ideas together eventually produced successful
results. Albert Macquin, owner of Château
Pavie Macquin, was THE man responsible for
“reconstruction”. Saint-Emilion owes him the discovery of grafting vines onto rootstocks, which would save his own vineyard from ruin as well as that of the entire Bordeaux region. A part of history and a wine estate that Albert’s descendants, for continuity in the pursuit of excellence, have adhered to as History with a capital “H”. Over the years, the aim was always to reveal the expression of the terroir, despite the chaos caused by successive wars and economic difficulties. Mrs Maryse Barre, director of the estate from 1986, truly believed in this terroir..
Nicolas Thienpont
To enable the vines and the terroir to reveal their natural expression, during the 1990s she introduced biodynamic methods in which she had tremendous faith. But a number of human and climatological problems put the estate in a precarious financial situation. In 1994, Nicolas Thienpont took over and now manages the domain with the recommendations of Stéphane Derenoncourt, who has worked with this property since 1990. Thanks to all the efforts made and the terroir upon which it stands, Châtau Pavie Macquin has gradually and step by step risen to the prestigious rank of Saint-Emilion First Great Classified Growth.
“This classification represents the Bordeaux Wine Trade’s recognition of the quality of our wine
wines that draw their character from a terroir that stands in the centre of a triangle formed by Châteaux Trottevieille, Troplong-Mondot and Côte de Pavie. Due to the renown, the geology of the soils, the prices, the quality and the image of Pavie-Macquin, progression from Classified Growth to Classified First Growth seemed obvious, but this needed to be confirmed by our peers. This position as one of Saint-Emilion’s First Growths obliges us to ensure greater precision in our work in order to maintain our rank” Nicolas Thienpont explains.
Stéphane Derenoncourt Winemaking methods remain classic and traditional with careful attention given to working the soils in the vineyard: regenerating life giving the vine the basic elements it needs and maintaining maieutic reasoning is fundamental. Since the classification, deliberations and investments have continued, inspired by biodynamics to give utmost care to the grapes and the expression of the terroir, because
“by working the soils with a biodynamic approach, we once again find a plant that is really alive, that reacts to its environment and reveals its origin: the terroir of Pavie-Macquin” he continues. “Between now and 2012, we are planning to build a large reception room with a terrace, to allow us to welcome wine connoisseurs and professionals, as well as a vaulted cellar which will become a wine collection gallery and a museum to house the vintages of Pavie-Macquin.” Investments in a Classified First Growth: silent upon its excellent terroir for the creation, in this beautiful setting, of a jewel whose value has been clearly recognized since 2006. This rank will undoubtedly be further strengthened by the forthcoming classification in 2012, still under consideration by governmental authorities and the powers that be in Saint-Emilion.
Florence Varaine
Properties managed
by Nicolas Thienpont as a consultant:
• Château Larcis Ducasse(2002)
• Château Pavie Macquin
• Château Duffau-Lagarosse (2009)
• Château Bellevue (sold to Château Angélus in 2007)
• Château Haut-Plantey managed by Cyrille Thienpont
• Château Berliquet – Classified Great Growth (2008)
Château Pavie Macquin
- Asteriated clay-limestone plateau and clay-limestone
- 15 hectares, 84% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc, 2% Cabernet Sauvignon
- Maturation in barrels: 80% new and 20% having contained one wine,
for a period of 16 to 20 months, but this duration can vary from one
vintage to another.
Second wine: Les chênes de Macquin.
Château Pavie Macquin
Nicolas Thienpont - 33330 St-Émilion
Tel. + 33 (0)5 57 24 74 23 - Fax : + 33 (0)5 57 24 63 78contact@pavie-macquin.comwww.pavie-macquin.com
