Château Malartic-Lagravière 2014 - Grand Cru Classé de Graves

Bettane & Desseauve

About wine:

A distinctive nose, clearly smoky and toasty, dominated by very ripe black fruits, hints of cocoa and peony, powerful on the palate, supported by a strong tannic structure, with prominent fruit, minerality and a long finish.

About the estate:

Perfectionist owners, the Bonnies have masterfully renovated the property's technical facilities, restored and expanded the vineyard, and above all, transformed the wines. These Belgian wine enthusiasts bought the estate from Laurent-Perrier champagne in 1990 and have brought it to its highest level. Their son Jean-Jacques has taken over, with the same attention to detail and commitment to excellence. The vineyard covers 53 hectares, including 7 hectares of white grapes, certified as sustainably farmed. The second wine, formerly known as Sillage-de-Malartic, became La Réserve-de-Malartic in 2006. The reds, which are rigorously selected, possess astonishing strength and integrity, which in no way detract from their natural finesse. The recent whites are also remarkable: they have gained in volume and smoothness on the palate and are racy, lively and well-balanced. La Réserve de Malartic, both white and red, proves to be the true little brother of the great wine.

Decanter

Guide Hachette des vins

About wine:

A clear, brilliant, deep garnet color is matched by a bouquet combining aromas of black cherry, reflecting ripe grapes, with subtle notes of vanilla and smoke. The ripe black fruit is found on the palate, which is round and warm on the attack, supported by tight tannins that remain firm on the finish. A typical Pessac-Léognan, combining a certain sweetness with the slightly angular character of the vintage.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About wine:

The 2014 Malartic-Lagravière had a fairly high-end bouquet, very open, with unrestrained aromas of kirsch, crushed strawberry, iodine, and iris. The palate is round on the attack with supple tannins, and has slightly lower acidity than its peers while remaining balanced. The depth of this Malartic-Lagravière is impressive, with subtle notes of white pepper and sage on the finish. Although it will be overshadowed by the 2015, it is a well-made Pessac-Léognan with the boldness it showed in the barrel.

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About wine:

This is a beautiful wine, full-bodied, powerful, and generous, with a dense, tight, concentrated, and richly fruity texture and a mature expression of the grape. It is full-bodied and generous, with beautiful intensity. The oak still needs to blend in.

About the estate:

Malartic-Lagravière perfectly illustrates the appellation's revival, having made spectacular progress since its purchase in 1998 by Belgian entrepreneur Alfred-Alexandre Bonnie. With his son Jean-Jacques, daughter Véronique, and daughter-in-law Séverine, the estate has, in just a few years, made up for the ground it lost while under the wing of the Champagne group Laurent-Perrier. The vineyard, superbly located on a gravelly hillock behind the château, is perfectly maintained, and modern technical facilities have enabled the reds to gain in body and depth, thanks in particular to a vineyard that is maturing and becoming more deeply rooted. The reds have never been better and are among the most interesting in the appellation. The whites also adopt a very accomplished, refined and generous style. Careful observation of the aging process led the estate to invest in 350- and 500-liter wooden containers for vinification and aging.

Wine Spectator

Wine Enthusiast

Jancis Robinson

Vinous

James Suckling

Jeb Dunnuck