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Malescot Saint Exupéry 2005

RegionBordeaux
Subregion France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > Margaux
ColourRed
TypeStill
Grape VarietyCabernet Sauvignon/Merlot/Cabernet Franc

View all vintages of this wine | View all wines by Château Malescot St Exupéry

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Tasting Notes

A beautiful wine, once again, from this property that has been on a superb qualitative roll for several decades. Dense ruby/purple with notes of graphite, background oak, youthful crème de cassis and blackberry fruit as well as a floral underpinning, it is medium to full-bodied, textured, rich and impressive. Still in a somewhat adolescent stage, it should hit full maturity in another 2-3 years and last at least two decades. Drink 2017-2037.

96
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (219), June 2015

The Château Malescot St. Exupery 2005 has a deep garnet colour. The nose is quite austere at first and then once it gets to know you, it flourishes with brambly black fruit, wild strawberry, cedar and graphite - like many, almost Pauillac-like in style. The palate is medium-bodied with dense ripe tannin. There is enormous weight and presence here, layers of powerful spicy red fruit, a very fine line of acidity and a killer line of graphite on the finish. This is an excellent Margaux that deserves another 4 or 5 years in the cellar. Drink 2020 - 2050

94
Neal Martin, RobertParker.com, February 2015
97
James Suckling, WineSpectator.com, February 2008

Deep garnet-brick in color, the 2005 Malescot St. Exupery offers up a compelling perfume of roses, cinnamon stick, dusty soil, and unsmoked cigars over a kirsch and redcurrant jelly core with a waft of iron ore. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a chewy texture supporting the generous fruit, lifted by just enough acidity, finishing long and fragrant. A stunning performance from this property, it is drinking beautifully now and should continue to give another 20 years of pleasure.

96
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, The Wine Independent, July 2022

Mid crimson without great colour concentration. Sweet, creamy nose. Then a pretty chewy cassis palate. Absolutely masses of tannins. This should come right in the end. But it certainly needs time. This may always be a bit chunky and less sophisticated than some but not overworked in any way. 13.5%
Drink 2024-2045

17
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, February 2015

Bright ruby-red. Superripe berry and chocolate aromas, with a whiff of surmaturite Fat, sweet and large-scaled, offering extraordinary volume and an almost syrupy thickness leavened by surprisingly sound acidity. This saturates the entire mouth yet manages to avoid coming off as heavy. Finishes very long and sweet, with thoroughly integrated tannins. "The best vintage since 1961," notes Jean-Luc Zuger. "This is the kind of wine I like." He advises early drinkers to give this 2005 about four hours in a decanter.

93
Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar, June 2008

Black-red, fragrant fruit, blending red and blackcurrants, attractive natural acidity to balance the ripe fruit, good length and distinctive character. Drink 2010-20.

17
Steven Spurrier, Decanter.com, April 2006

Ripe, creamy purity of black fruit. Classic, not too oaky, with pure fruit definition. Refreshing, long tannins already well integrated. Excellent and will improve. Drink from 2012. Awarded 5 stars

18.5+
Decanter.com, Decanter.com, July 2008

Came 59th out of 184 wines

16.27
-, Southwold Bordeaux Tasting, January 2009
Read more tasting notes...

This estate's finest effort - ever, the 2005 Malescot St.-Exupery should be sought out by readers looking for intensity combined with superb richness, fascinating elegance, and a surreal concoction of blue and red fruits, a silky texture, and a delicate yet powerful wine that builds incrementally, never becoming overwrought. This dense purple-colored, medium to full-bodied tour de force in winemaking is already displaying remarkable complexity. It should only get better over the next decade, and will last through 2030. I would not be surprised to see this wine merit a few more points with additional aging.

97
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (176), April 2008

While this extraordinary wine possesses superb elegance, richness, and intensity, it remains light on its feet, combining the delicacy of the appellation with significant power. A flamboyant, floral-scented nose revealing notions of truffles, black currants, charcoal, and spice is followed by a wine with gorgeous purity, fabulous intensity, medium to full body, sweet tannin, and undeniable complexity. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2030.

93/95
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (170), April 2007

The 2005 is a prodigious effort from this estate, which, despite some dazzling wines over recent vintages, rarely receives the attention it deserves. This cuvee is off the charts in terms of richness, intensity, power, and overall elegance. A stunning black/purple color is accompanied by scents of graphite, blackberries, cassis, and minerals. Incredibly pure, beautifully textured, and medium to full-bodied with sweet tannin for a 2005, this compelling Margaux will be at its finest between 2010-2030+.

93/95+
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (164), April 2006

Dark-colored, with showy aromas of ripe berries, currants and raspberries with hints of violets. Incredible nose. Full-bodied, with ultra-elegant tannins that go on and on. A fabulous wine, with the finesse and class of a great Burgundy and the power and style of Bordeaux. This is the best wine ever from here.

95/100
James Suckling, WineSpectator.com, March 2006

Exceptionally dense colour right out to rim. Some oak on the nose. Very sweet start on the front palate and, while great attempts have been made to ensure the tannins are as supple as possible, the whole is a bit of a brutal assault on the palate at present. Aggressive acidity. Quite alcoholic. May please eventually but it needs quite a bit of time. Drink 2018-25

16.5+
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, April 2006
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.