Château Pavie Macquin St Emilion Grand Cru Premier Grand Cru Classé B 2018

One of the standouts of the vintage, with blackcurrant fruits that are layered through with bitter black chocolate, espresso, smoked earth and gourmet bioche notes. There is a generosity here that makes it all the more impressive when it switches out of the exuberance into a tighter squeeze of oyster-shell minerality and a tight core of tannins that pulse with electricity. Once again you are reminded of the architecture of Pavie-Macquin, and the ability of clay-limestone to deliver both power and restraint, and to allow for space and breathing room between the tannins. Part of the oustanding vintages series within this vertical. 60% new oak, 47hl/ha yields.