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Malartic Lagravière 2020

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

This Pessac Léognan château has been making excellent wines in recent years under the management of owner Jean-Jacques Bonnie, whose family purchased the property in 1997. The 46 hectare vineyard is planted with equal proportions of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with 8% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot.

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

Label

Tasting Notes

Blackberries and licorice with blackcurrants. Mushroom, too. Medium to full body. Creamy and soft tannins that are fine textured. Delicious finish. Racy, polished and sophisticated. Drink after 2026.

95
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, May 2023

Composed of 50.4% Cabernet Sauvignon, 47.8% Merlot, and 1.8% Cabernet Franc, the 2020 Malartic Lagraviere Rouge is deep garnet-purple in color, it strolls out with confident cassis and blackberry pie scents, leading to wafts of cedar, underbrush, and bay leaves. The medium to full-bodied palate is tightly wound, with vibrant black fruits and a grainy texture, finishing long and refreshing.

93
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, The Wine Independent, March 2023

Huge depth, such beautiful texture running right through the palate, love the brambled juicy blueberry and blackberry fruits, crunchy and concentrated. Excellent quality. 65% new oak, harvest from 9 to 24 September, Eric Boislsenot consultant.

94
Jane Anson, JaneAnson.com, February 2023

Full bottle 1,305 g. Cask sample taken 6 April and I'm afraid it is written that it should be tasted before 10 April, five days ago… 50.4% Cabernet Sauvignon, 47.8% Merlot, 1.8% Cabernet Franc. Considerable changes to vinification and ageing here, not least shortening vatting times and careful tannin management in the press wines.
Dark purplish crimson. Much more mineral than fruity on the nose. But very luscious fruit on the palate. With racy texture and notably fine tannins. Strongly saline finish. Distinctive and already rather appetising. Approachable young. 14.2%
Drink 2026 – 2042

17
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, April 2021

The 2020 is a blend of 50.4% Cabernet Sauvignon, 47.8% Merlot and 1.8% Cabernet Franc. Yields are low at less than 30hl/ha. Deep ruby colour. Very fragrant and sweet on the nose with violets and blueberries. The palate is very juicy and slick, offering glossy red and black fruits with notes of vanilla and cinnamon. Fleshy and rounded to the finish, this is a seamless, easy drinking and forward style.

90/93
Farr Vintners, Farr Tasting, April 2021

(50% CS, 48% M, 2% CF; 26hl/ha; 14.2% ABV; 65% new)
Very ripe black and red fruit, but you can sense the gravel aromas, too; lovely balance, rich, fresh, finely tannic; ample and deliciously juicy, with a nice length of flavor, and with a lovely fruit-cored persistence, all within the refined frame of firm tannin. Lovers of Malartic’s ebullient style need have no concerns; the up-front generosity is still there, but the fruit is a touch fresher, the presentation has been tightened, tautened, refined, it is an adjustment of focus, not a change of image. 2025–40+.

90/92
Michael Schuster, The World of Fine Wine, May 2021
Read more tasting notes...

Lots of blackberry, cherry and walnut aromas and flavors. Some tar, too. It’s full-bodied with chewy tannins that are polished and energetic.

93/94
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, April 2021

The deep purple-black 2020 Malartic Lagraviere leaps from the glass with vibrant notes of Bing cherries, black raspberries, ripe plums and boysenberries, plus suggestions of pencil lead, wild sage and crushed rocks. Medium-bodied, the palate has lovely energy and freshness, offering a solid backbone of grainy tannins to support the lively red and black fruit layers, finishing savory.

The tentative blend is 50.4% Cabernet Sauvignon, 47.8% Merlot, and 1.8% Cabernet Franc, with only 38% of production going into the grand vin. The alcohol is 14% this year.

Commencing with the 2020 vintage, the estate has chosen a new bottle for the grand cru and second vin, highlighted by an engraved ship, the symbol of the estate.

92/94
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate, May 2021

Concentration and intensity to the cassis and bilberry fruits. Well expressed, carefully extracted and there is good balance with a crushed mint freshness on the finish. Really starts to show subtle floral edging with time in the glass. It has a silky texture and a finessed fresh core that holds interest from beginning to end. Another successful year at this estate. Tasted twice, and this is one of the successes of the appellation. A yield of 26hl/ha (24hl/ha Cabernets, 28l/ha Merlots) compared to 46hl/ha last year. 65% new oak, harvest from 9 to 24 September. Second year with Eric Boissenot as consultant.

Drinking Window 2029 - 2044

94
Jane Anson, Decanter.com, May 2021
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.