Peter Maude Fine Wines
2023, Château Malartic-Lagravières Rouge, PESSAC-LÉOGNAN, Grand Cru Classé
$69 inc. GST
Last Year EP $73.00-
This Pessac Léognan château has been making excellent wines in recent years under the management of owner Jean-Jacques Bonnie.
The 2023 is 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot.
Excellent vintage at Malartic, rich plum colour, cocoa bean, black chocolate, anis and fennel, this is skilfully constructed. Peony and iris notes arrive through the mid palate, giving a focus on savoury Cabernet, cassis bud, mint leaf, elegant and well measured. You can see the building blocks and feel totally confident about how well it will develop over the next decade and beyond - suggest waiting at least six to eight years before opening. Great stuff from the Bonnie family, who continue to make this an unmissable Pessac.
95 Jane Anson.
Very pretty and polished with blackberry, blueberry and ink character, as well as a hint of hazelnut. It’s medium-bodied with well-integrated tannins to the fruit. Fine and flavourful finish.
95-96 James Suckling.
The 2023 Malartic Lagravière is a beautifully poised, elegant wine. It is perhaps not as exuberant as many wines in this vintage, and yet all the elements are very nicely balanced. I find the interplay of rich, heady flavours, aromatics and classicism to be intriguing. It will be interesting to see where this goes, but I like the direction. Lifted floral top notes add to an impression of understated finesse.
92-94 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.