La Réserve de Malartic 2016 - Second vin du Château Malartic-Lagravière

Bettane & Desseauve

About the wine:

Perfectly developed nose, with good complexity, offering ripe fruit, hints of sweet spices, ample flesh, clean tannins and good harmony. A lovely second wine.

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.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

Dark purple in color, La Réserve de Malartic 2016 features plum, cooked blackberry and smoky notes, as well as hints of bay leaf, pencil lead and tobacco. Medium-bodied and packed with black fruits, the palate reveals supple, refined tannins and a brilliant finish.

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

About the wine:

It's not lacking in deliciousness, with lovely juicy fruit and a very rounded mid-palate.

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 hill behind the château, is perfectly tended, and the 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

James Suckling

About the wine:

It's ripe and supple, but with elegance, medium body and a long, silky finish that's ready to drink now. Seductive blueberry character. For drinking or cellaring.