Château Malartic-Lagravière 2018

Of sheer minerality and breed despite the richness; the alcohol is only noticeable on the finish.

The 2018 Malartic Lagraviere 2018 Blanc is a blend of 90% Sauvignon Blanc and 10% Sémillon. It was fermented in oak barrels, 55% new. It opens with alluring scents of fresh pears, Golden Delicious apples and juicy peaches, followed by hints of nutmeg, dill seed and honeysuckle. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers bags of apple and stone fruit flavors with a racy line and an oily suggestion to the texture, finishing on a lingering spicy note.

Racy in feel, with good cut to the mix of lemon pith, tarragon, verbena and thyme notes melding through the finish, where a lemon curd accent checks in. Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon. Drink now through 2023.

I like the grip here. A little subdued, but there’s citrus zest and lime juice along with stone-fruit character, and a good texture of pear and white peach fruit. Good quality, with the confidence and texture you want from a classified white. Tasted twice.

Aromas of apricot, passion fruit, lemon pie and custard. Crushed stones, fennel and cloves, too. It’s full-bodied with bright acidity and a layered, creamy texture. Long, rounded and mineral finish. Very tight and structured. Drink or hold.

90% Sauvignon Blanc, 10% Sémillon. A classic Bordeaux mix of fruit and creamy/spicy oak on the nose. There’s a touch of sour citrus to boost freshness and a full, rounded, leesy texture that adds richness and length. Not terribly long but balanced on the mid palate. (JH)

With a strong beeswax character, the wine easily shows off a nose of green apple, yellow citrus, lemon curd, vanilla and floral aromas. Vibrant, juicy, sweet and creamy, with stony accents to its layers of fruit, the sweetness and lift on the finish come through nicely. The wine is made from a blend of 90% Sauvignon Blanc and 10% Semillon.

Light yellow-green, silver reflections. Inviting bouquet with subtle papaya and mango and a hint of biscuit. Medium complexity, silky texture, delicate ripe pear fruit with dark minerality and fine herbal savouriness on the finish. Already balanced and easy to drink.

Pretty pineapple, honeyed lime, and a touch of minerality emerge from the 2018 Château Malartic Lagraviere Blanc. It's another delicious, nicely textured, medium-bodied white in the vintage that brings lots of fruit as well as vibrancy and freshness. Enjoy bottles any time over the coming 5-7 years.

Pale yellow with delicate linden-green highlights. Playful bouquet of mandarin, grapefruit and primroses. On the steely palate, a finely nervy supporting backbone, peppery extract and noble minerality in the background. Aromatic finish with lemongrass and cooled green tea.

Kunz barrel sample 19: (90% Sauvignon Blanc, 10% Sémillon, 36 hl/ha) Silky, fruity, delicately bitter bouquet, peach, melon, caraway. Finely creamy palate with sweet fruit, light acidity, powerful aromatics, long, delicate finish.

(90% Sauvignon Blanc, 10% Sémillon, 36 hl/ha) Velvety, fruity, delicately off-dry bouquet, peach, melon, caraway. Finely creamy palate with sweet fruit, light acidity, powerful aromatics, long, delicate finish. 17/20 2023 - 2036

A wine that I have tasted several times over the summer, most recently during a vertical at the property. It’s at a lovely moment to drink, showing the vintage’s rich concentration in its juicy white peach, mango and apricot pit notes, combined with a slate-like texture that keeps everything focused. Likely to age a little faster than some other white vintages of Malartic, simply because of the summer heat, but it has energy, fragrant white flower notes, and is delicious. From 7ha of white vines with an average age of 32 years, and a yield of 32hl/ha in 2018. Harvested from September 10 to 24. Michel Rolland and Eric Boissenot are consultants. 55% new oak but in varying sizes, and a mix of Bordeaux and Burgundy barrels.

The white 2018 Malartic Lagraviere shows pronounced notes of warm apricots, guava, and candied orange peel, with hints of cedar, crushed rocks, and struck flint. Medium-bodied, the palate has a satiny texture and a refreshing line cutting through the ripe stone fruits, finishing long.

A restrained nose with a touch of oxidative character that will require a few years of ageing to mellow and bring out the stone-fruit and spice notes. The palate is fairly generous, with a key strength being a lovely long finish.

The nose is fresh, mineral, and offers good structure and intensity. It reveals notes of white flowers, fresh lemon, and, more subtly, vineyard peach, combined with touches of fresh gravel/minerality (terroir) as well as a very discreet hint of yuzu. The palate is fresh, fruity, balanced, and offers good definition, smoothness, lovely tension, precision, balance, appealing gourmandise, and a fine acidic backbone. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of ripe lemon, ripe mandarin, and, more slightly, Granny Smith apple, combined with touches of quenette, crushed vineyard peach, as well as a hint of lychee and blossom. Good length. A lovely wine with fine grain and appealing gourmandise.

A complex wine with aromas of yellow fruits (peach and mango), dried flowers, and candied citrus. The attack shows a fine grain (it’s beautifully textured) and lime, a marker of vibrant acidity. The finish lingers on refined pink grapefruit. A gastronomic wine.

The white wine from this estate has become a reference point, and this release continues that reputation. It is rich while keeping freshness through crisp acidity. Spice and touches of tropical fruits add richness and complexity to a wine that is sure to age. Drink from 2024.