CHATEAU MALARTIC-LAGRAVIERE Rouge, Grand Cru Classe Pessac-Leognan 2018 Bottle
Red Still Wine | France | Bordeaux | Graves/Pessac-Léognan | 75cl
£49.95
/ £299.70
£284.72case
ABV: 14%
Size: 75cl
Closure Type: Cork
Country: France
Region: Bordeaux
Sub-Region: Graves/Pessac-Léognan
Description
Château Malartic-Lagravière is renowned for its commitment to biodynamic practices, crafting wines that beautifully express their gravelly terroir. The 2018 vintage in Bordeaux was an exceptional year, characterised by a warm, dry summer, resulting in ripe, concentrated grapes with impressive aromatic complexity and structure.
Comprising 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot, this superb 2018 vintage comes after more than 20 years of environmentally-friendly practices at Malartic, continually striving for the best possible quality. The vineyard’s maturity is now giving its full expression, enabling remarkable precision on the palate and incredibly well-defined tannins
The wines had all the characteristics of a great vintage. 2018 was a very hot year, but this had relatively little effect on the aromatic profile of the white wines. They have superb balance, tremendous freshness, and a distinguished, elegant character. The reds are beautifully crafted. The Merlot offers a sublime mid-palate, with a silkiness and density that are rarely achieved. The Cabernet is spectacular, with exceptional aromatic profiles and levels of quality. The Petit-Verdots, co-fermented with the merlots, are particularly silky.
DECANTER 95 points/100
Tasted by: Georgina Hindle (at Bordeaux, 05 Jan 2022)
Drinking Window: 2027 - 2040
Apple, elderflower, white peach and apricot. Smooth and bright, this has finesse and class with real linearity and direction. I like the texture and mouthfeel - big enough to be quite a structured and round wine but with lightness and freshness too. This has real focus, perhaps not so layered and expressive at this point, but such an excellent drive of lemon and lime fruit and some bitter grapefruit edges too, that give spice and definition. Confident and poised. Great winemaking.
VINOUS 95 points/100
Drinking window: 2025 - 2038
The 2018 Malartic Lagravière is every bit as compelling as it was en primeur. Inky dark fruit, dried herbs, licorice, lavender and chocolate are all kicked up in this sumptuous Pessac-Léognan. Soft curves and silky tannins add to the wine's considerable appeal. The 2018 is undeniably flashy and alluring, I loved it.
Antonio Galloni. Tasting date: March 2021
JAMES SUCKLING 94 points/100
Blackberry, hot-stone and blueberry aromas follow through to a full body with chewy, dusty tannins that are long and chewy. It shows lots of Pessac character, reminding me of the stoney soils of the area. Give this at least three or four years to come together. Try after 2024.
THE WINE ADVOCATE 92-94 points/100
Reviewed by: Lisa Perrotti-Brown
This is a blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc, to be aged for 18-22 months in oak barriques, 70% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Malartic Lagraviere gives scents of baked red and black cherries, warm blackcurrants and balsamic with touches of underbrush, moss-covered bark and tobacco. Full-bodied, firm and chewy in the mouth, it packs in the berry preserves with some pepper and spice sparks coming through on the long finish.
Published: Apr 23, 2019
A Deeper Dive;
Château Malartic Lagravière
Located at the gates of Bordeaux, Château Malartic Lagravière, a Classified Growth of Graves, is located on the oldest wine-growing terroir in Bordeaux, considered to be the most beautiful gravel “croupe” (hillock), formed millions of years ago by alluvial deposits.
The vineyard consists of 73 hectares (180 acres) of vines – including 7 hectares (17 acres) for the white wines – made up of the following grape varieties: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot for the red wine; Sauvignon and Sémillon for the white wine.
Château Malartic-Lagravière has enjoyed a great reputation since the beginning of the last century, and is one of the six crus classified as both white and red in the 1953 Graves classification.
Since 1953, this reputed classification has brought together 14 châteaux, classified as red or white, including the prestigious Château Haut-Brion. All are located in the Pessac-Léognan appellation, created in 1987, which is made up of 70 châteaux, family estates located on the outskirts of Bordeaux, guaranteeing the continuity of Bordeaux’s oldest wine-growing terroir.
VINOUS - 95 Points
Drinking window: 2025 - 2038
"The 2018 Malartic Lagravière is every bit as compelling as it was en primeur. Inky dark fruit, dried herbs, licorice, lavender and chocolate are all kicked up in this sumptuous Pessac-Léognan. Soft curves and silky tannins add to the wine's considerable appeal. The 2018 is undeniably flashy and alluring, I loved it.
Antonio Galloni." Tasting date: March 2021
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DECANTER - 95 Points
Tasted by: Jane Anson (at Primeur week tastings in Bordeaux, 30 Mar 2019)
Drinking Window: 2028 - 2045
"Deep and rich in colour, this is more refined and subdued on the nose than some, with real focus, depth and layers. It needs time in bottle to unveil its potential as everything is curled up right now, from the blueberry and cassis fruits to the liquorice and chocolate touches. With time in the glass, the multitude of layers of spice and slate become apparent. It's a great quality wine that will not be rushed. 2% Petit verdot makes up the blend, with 70% new oak for ageing."