This is always an extremely masculine, dense, burly wine, and the 2010, which tips the scales at 14.5% alcohol (just slightly under that of the 2009), has a final blend of 80% Merlot and the rest virtually all Cabernet Franc, with just 1% Cabernet Sauvignon. Loads of crushed rock and chalkiness, along with licorice, black truffle, smoked game and black fruits dominate the aromatics and flavor. Backward, formidably endowed, full-bodied and almost atypically massive and huge, with gargantuan extraction, this is a wine for patient connoisseurs to forget about for close to a decade.
Winespectator (96)
Packed, offering dense but clearly defined layers of blackberry coulis, plum paste and black currant pâte de fruit, intertwined with mouthwatering graphite and Lapsang souchong tea notes. The bramble- and spice-filled finish just won't quit. Despite displaying power and breadth, this features good cut and leaves a mouthwatering impression of purity.
Rene Gabriel (18)
Rene Gabriel rates this wine 18/20 points.
Vinous (97)
A towering, statuesque wine, the 2010 Pavie-Macquin is distinguished by its vertical explosiveness and soaring intensity. Red cherry jam, plums and dried flowers are some of the many aromas and flavors that open up as the 2010 gains breadth over time. Naturally, the 2010 is still a very young wine, but it is incredibly impressive just the same, not to mention one of the highlights of the morning.
