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Malartic Lagravière 2012

RegionBordeaux
Subregion France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > Pessac-Léognan
ColourRed
TypeStill
Grape VarietyCabernet Sauvignon/Merlot

View all vintages of this wine | View all wines by Château Malartic Lagravière

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Tasting Notes

This large estate of 131 acres has been run brilliantly by a Belgian family, the Bonnies since their acquisition a number of years ago. The quality of the white and red have soared to exceptional heights, and this is certainly still one of the more realistically priced wines of Pessac-Léognan and classified crus. The 2012 is a beauty, with a dense ruby/purple color, a fabulously plush, opulent texture and medium to full-bodied flavors of cassis, spicy earth and blueberry. Quite rich, yet light on its feet, this is an absolutely textbook Pessac-Lèognan, with wonderfully velvety tannins. Drink it now, or drink it in 25 years. This is a brilliant wine. Drink 2015-2040.

94
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (218), April 2015

This shows lots of precision and focus with blueberry, mineral and dried fruit character. Full body, fine tannins and a silky finish. Refined and composed. Better in 2019.

92
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, February 2015

Very dark crimson. Smells rather leafy and Cabernet-dominated. Aromatic, then very sweet, then firm and with sandy tannins on the finish. Angular and more long term than many. Ambitious. There is great polish here. Calm finish (no heat). I admire the dryness and appetising, rather than palate-drying, tannins. Grown-up wine.

17+
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, April 2013

Deep ruby colour. The nose is bright with blueberry and black cherry fruit and a slight toast from oak. The palate is polished with soft, smooth and rounded tannins giving a lovely texture to accompany a juicy black cherry and blackcurrant fruit core. The finish is long and lifted by refreshing acidity. This is a really charming, rounded wine that will give excellent early drinking pleasure. This must be the best Bordeaux 2012 you can buy at this price. Superb value for money.

94
Farr Vintners, Farr Tasting, June 2015
Read more tasting notes...

This Belgian-owned estate has been making brilliant white and red Graves. Another beauty in a more difficult vintage than either 2009 or 2010, the 2012 Malartic Lagraviere is further evidence of how successful this vintage was in Pessac-Leognan. It possesses a dense purple color as well as a sumptuous perfume of creme de cassis, licorice, bay leaf, lead pencil shavings and barbecue smoke. Medium to full-bodied and richly fruity with soft tannin, surprising length and an impressive mid-palate (a rarity in 2012), it should drink well for 15 years. Drink: 2013 - 2028

91/93
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (206), April 2013

Very fine and elegant with a sliced plum, chocolate and tobacco character. Full and refined with pretty texture and a long finish. This has polish for the vintage. Clearly better than 2011.

92
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, April 2013
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.