Château Malartic-Lagravière 2014 - Grand Cru Classé de Graves

Bettane & Desseauve

About the wine:

Characterful nose, clearly smoky and toasty, dominated by very ripe black fruit, with hints of cocoa and peony. Powerful palate, backed by a strong tannic structure, with good fruit, minerality and a long finish.

About the domain :

As perfectionist owners, the Bonnie family have masterfully renovated the estate's technical facilities, refurbished and extended the vineyard and, above all, transformed the wines. These wine-loving Belgians bought the estate from Champagne Laurent-Perrier in 1990, and have since taken it to its highest level. Son Jean-Jacques has taken over, with the same care and commitment to excellence. The vineyard covers 53 hectares, including 7 hectares of white grapes, certified under sustainable agriculture. The second wine, formerly called sillage-de-malartic, became la-réserve-de-malartic in 2006. The rigorously selected reds possess astonishing strength and uprightness of constitution, without detracting from their native finesse. The recent whites are also remarkable: they have gained in mouthfeel and smoothness, and are racy, nervous and well-balanced. Réserve-de-malartic, in both white and red, is proving to be the true little brother of the grand vin.

Decanter

Guide Hachette des vins

About the wine:

A limpid, brilliant deep garnet-red color is matched by a bouquet combining aromas of black cherry, reflecting ripe grapes, with fine vanilla and smoky notes. The ripe black fruit is echoed on the round, warm palate, supported by a tight tannic structure, still strict on the finish. A typical Pessac-Leognan, combining a certain sweetness with the slightly square character of the vintage.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

The 2014 Malartic-Lagravière presented a rather upmarket, very open bouquet, with scents of kirsch, crushed strawberry, iodine and iris that don't hold back. The palate is round on the attack, with supple tannins, and has slightly lower acidity than its peers, yet remains balanced. The depth of this Malartic-Lagravière is impressive, with a subtle note of white pepper and sage on the finish. Although it will be overshadowed by the 2015, this is a well-made Pessac-Léognan with the boldness it has shown in barrel.

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

About the wine:

This is a very fine wine, full-bodied, powerful and generous, with a dense, tight, concentrated and richly fruity texture and a mature expression of the grape. Full-bodied and generous, with a beautiful intensity of body. The oak has yet to melt.

About the domain :

A perfect illustration of the appellation's revival, Malartic-Lagravière has made spectacular progress since it was bought by Belgian entrepreneur Alfred-Alexandre Bonnie in 1998. With his son Jean-Jacques, daughter Véronique and daughter-in-law Séverine, the estate has made up in a few short years the lost ground it had accumulated when it became part of the Champagne group Laurent-Perrier. The vineyard, superbly situated on a gravelly hillside behind the château, is perfectly tended, and modern technical facilities have enabled the reds to gain in fullness and depth of body, thanks in particular to a vineyard that is getting older and more deeply rooted. The reds have never been so good, and are among the most interesting in the appellation. The whites, too, are very accomplished, well-crafted and generous. Observational work on ageing has led the cru to invest in 350- and 500-litre wooden containers for vinification and ageing.

Wine Spectator

Wine Enthusiast

Jancis Robinson

Vinous A. Galloni

James Suckling

Jeb Dunnuck