Les Chênes de Macquin has been uncorked for #MerlotThursday! This Merlot-dominant blend (90%) serves as the second wine of the Premier Grand Cru Classé estate Château Pavie Macquin.
It pours up a mouthwatering Bordeaux ruby color, with some garnet variation just starting to emerge across its rim. An oversized glass can barely contain the wonderfully layered aromas: red raspberry, forest fruits, cedar and sandalwood, graphite, and dried purple flowers.
The palate is leaner with raspberries, dried red currants, pencil shavings, and a trace of toasted cumin and turmeric. It has a rich texture and a tannic structure that’s beautifully poised between softness and grip–but the finish is shorter than desired. An hour of decanting opens up some meaty iron notes along with more ethereal cherries and violets.
Oak leaves adorn the crest of Les Chênes, yet this is not an overtly oaky style. Instead, it offers a winning combination of red-fruit flavors, mineral-acid bite, and intriguing yellow spices.
Pavie Macquin’s vineyards are rooted in heavy clay soils which can delay ripening and help Merlot retain freshness even in the hot 2018 vintage. There’s noticeable alcohol heat here. But it mostly works in harmony with the wine’s propulsive first nose and lightly drying finish.
At eight years old, this Saint-Émilion second wine has both aromatic intensity and savory development, but the fruit flavors at its core are starting to hollow out a bit. Drink now through 2030.
Bottle: Les Chênes de Macquin Saint-Émilion Grand Cru (2018) – Bordeaux, France
Variety: Merlot (90%), Cabernet Franc (9%), Cabernet Sauvignon (1%)
ABV: 14.5%
Suggested retail: $49
My rating: 8.9 (out of 10)
Review disclosure: I was not compensated or provided any free products for this review. Opinions expressed on The Wine Fairy blog are entirely my own.
On Thursdays, we Merlot! You can view archived #MerlotThursday reviews here.
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