Chateau Malartic Lagraviere, Pessac-Leognan Grand Cru Classe, Rouge 2022

Awesome levels of blackcurrants, darker cherries, roasted herbs, chocolate, and scorched earth all emerge from the 2022 Château Malartic-Lagravière, an incredibly concentrated, rich, layered beauty that has velvety tannins, a deep, layered mid-palate, and a blockbuster finish. It's easily the finest I've tasted from this château and is a riveting 2022 that deserves 4-6 years in the cellar and will keep for two decades or more. The 2022 is based on 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, with the élevage spanning 20 months in 60% new French oak. There are a little over 8,000 cases of this brilliant wine.

A fascinating Malartic-Lagraviere from this hot vintage, but the wine is surprisingly fresh, showing depth, innate balance and complexity. The mineral-etched fruit turns glossy, with fine aromas of cassis, berries, plums, spices and a hint of violets. Almost full-bodied, with a complete package of fruit and chalky tannins. Long, juicy and posh. One of the best ever. Drink from 2027.

Round, concentrated, vibrant and dynamic, a lovely burst of intense red and black fruits before quite serious tannins take hold in the mouth. Fine but full, they give the frame and the structure, setting the tone for a serious wine while the fruit and freshnes softly expand giving an aerial element to the finish. A lovely wine with intensity and detail, not the most demonstrative or juicy and appealing right now, but really well made and delivered. Supple, bright, chalky, chewy, this wine has intensity and precision. A little bit serious towards the end, the fruit just losing some focus, where it becomes more about the tannins and freshness but lots to like here with good potential. 1.5% Cabernet Franc. A yield 27hl/ha. HVE3 certified.

The Bonnie family is on a roll at this excellent property. Dense and concentrated but with finesse and acidity, this has a beautiful balance, and a creaminess to the fruit that is superb. Appealing pulses of white pepper and sage spice, well drawn out through the palate, exceptional skill shown during ageing at controlling the oak impact. Yields in the low 30hl/h, but maintains freshness. Vinified in a mix of small wooden casks and stainless steel vats, aged in oak.

The 2022 Malartic Lagravière is a pretty sexy wine, its considerable tannins notwithstanding. A blast of dark cherry, plum, licorice, chocolate, new leather and spice makes a strong opening statement. The 2022 is dense and packed to the core, with formidable intensity of fruit and equally imposing tannins. This is a brute.

The 2022 Malartic-Lagravière has a more outgoing and expressive nose than Domaine de Chevalier or Smith Haut-Lafitte, yet it too has impressive complexity and convincing terroir expression. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins. A lovely, fleshy mid-palate, quite caressing in style, with fine acidity and a healthy dose of black pepper on the finish. Excellent, a Malartic-Lagravière that pushes some of the pricier names of the appellation. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting in London.

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2022 Malartic Lagraviere Rouge charges out with profound notes of creme de cassis, chocolate-covered cherries, and plum preserves, followed by suggestions of garrigue and unsmoked cigars. The full-bodied palate is taut with dense, muscular black fruits, supported by firm, rounded tannins and just enough freshness, finishing with great length.

A blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot, 2.5% Petit Verdot and 1.5% Cabernet Franc, the 2022 Malartic Lagravière reveals aromas of cassis, blueberry, spices, graphite and menthol. Medium to full-bodied, round and concentrated with structuring tannins, it’s a dense, powerful, demonstrative Malartic Lagravière.

A blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot, 2.5% Petit Verdot and 1.5% Cabernet Franc, the 2022 Malartic Lagravière reveals aromas of cassis, blueberry, spices, graphite and menthol. Medium to full-bodied, round and concentrated with structuring tannins, it’s a dense, powerful, demonstrative Malartic Lagravière.