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Pavie Macquin is a Premier Grand Cru Classe (B) growth of Saint-Émillion, planted mostly to Merlot on the region’s famous limestone plateau. The Chateaux is named after Albert Macquin, the man oft-credited with much of the innovation around rootstock grafting that eventually saved the vineyards of Europe from the infestation of phylloxera. Prior to the 1998 vintage the wines are thought to not adequately reflect the potential of the terroir of the property, but in the past few decades the chateau has built an incredibly strong reputation.

Château Larcis Ducasse 1er Grand Cru Classé (B), St-Emilion Château Larcis Ducasse, situated on the Right Bank of the Gironde, is ranked 1er Grand Cru Classé B in the 2012 Classification of Saint-Émilion wine. Long before there was a Château Larcis Ducasse, vines were tended on the land by the Romans. Through the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, the wine was highly regarded and premiums were paid even then. The most recent chapter in the story of Château Larcis Ducasse begins in the late 19th century when Henri Raba purchased the vineyard. Since then, ownership has passed through several generations and today is in the control of the Gratiot Alphandéry family. While the underlying quality and potential remained, the Château had somewhat fallen out of favour in the latter part of the 20th century. Since 2002, there has been something of a reversal of fortunes with the winery being under the management of Nicolas Thienpont. After 10 years under his watchful eye, the Château was promoted to 1er Grand Cru Classé B in the 2012 Saint-Émilion classification.

Château Trotte Vielle 1er grand cru classe (B), St-Emilion The name literally translates to ‘trotting old lady’ and origin of this name somewhat contested. Some say it is a reference to an 18th-century lady who ‘trotted’ about the village in search of gossip while the winery says they can produce written evidence of the name some few hundred years before that. We can concern ourselves less with the origins of the name and more on what to expect from the wine. The Left Bank winery has been owned by the négociant house Borie-Manoux (who also own Château Batailley in Pauillac and Château Beau Site in St-Estèphe) since 1949. Located east of St-Émilion, the walled vineyard is planted to (almost) half and half 95% Merlot and Cabernet Franc, with the former slight edging in the number of vines. The balance of the vineyard is planted to Cabernet Sauvignon. Form the 10-hectare walled vineyard, the grapes are harvested by hand, fermented in concrete vats before the wine is wine is matured in majority new oak, French of course.