Malartic Lagravière 2015

The 2015 Malartic-Lagravière is bolder than its peers on the nose with blackberry, raspberry, iodine and light cedar aromas, quite upfront but nicely defined, pencil lead scents emerging with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with gentle grip, and well balanced. Pencil lead again, and infused black fruit toward the finish. It is not what you might describe as an "exciting" wine, but it is well crafted and it will reward bottle age. One for the patient among you. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting.

Deeper wine from the get-go with dark violets, mocha, cassis and blackberries. The palate has suave, smooth and sturdy tannins and terrific length. Very polished and seamless with flavors of fresh black cherries, blackcurrants and blue plums. Best from 2022.

Aged 18 months in French oak barrels, 80% of which were new and 20% one-year-old, the 2015 Malartic Lagraviere is a blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 7% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple in color, it has notes of crushed black currants, fresh black berries and black raspberries with hints of tar, dried herbs and garrigue. The palate is medium-bodied, energetic and refreshing in the mouth with firm, grainy tannins and an uplifting finish. 2019 - 2033

Tasted blind. Dark crimson. Zesty and vibrant but verging on raw in terms of the acid and astringency.
Drink 2025-2038

Dark crimson. Smells deep and dark and promising. Rich, chewy and less typically Pessac but lots going on. Full and sturdy and with bags of fruit to fill out this relatively powerful Pessac. Long and embryonic. (JH) 14%
Drink 2025-2038

This Pessac Leognan Chateau has been making excellent wines in recent years under the management of owner Jean-Jacques Bonnie whose family purchased the property in 1997. The 46 hectare vineyard is planted with equal proportions of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with 8% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. A property on the rise where prices tend to be reasonable. Deep purple colour, with an elegant and perfumed nose of plums and blackcurrants. The palate is ripe, but with a fresh acidity that gives an unforced, elegant and floral character to the fruit. This vibrancy cuts through ripe cassis and sweet vanilla from the oak. The tannins are suple and smooth, giving a rounded mouthfeel. The finish is long and pure.

The 2015 Malartic-Lagravière is also terrific and comes from a 46-hectare vineyard in Léognan. Made from 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, it offers a smorgasbord of aromatics including red currants, ripe cherries, cassis, licorice, toasty oak, and spice. With full-bodied richness, building tannin, and a rounded, sumptuous style, as well as a great finish, it’s going to benefit from several years in the cellar and keep for 15-20 years. Tasted three times. 2022 - 2042

The fruit is sweet and ripe the nose has depth and the palate dark chocolate richness. The ripe fruit on the mid palate is underpinned by bramble freshness balance with at the back rich sweet fruit and depth on the finish.

The wines from this property, both red and white, are getting better and better, showing less
oak and extraction than they used to. Structured, intense, yet refreshing and well balanced,
this shows chalky minerality and fine, savoury fruit flavours. Drink: 2022-32

With a delicious scent of macerated berries and a good bright attack on the palate I can forgive the tannins because they
are bound to fall into line. Good wine.