Château Malescot St Exupéry 2023

Heavenly, floral bouquet with cassis and raspberry; taut and structured, crisp fruit, fine, distinctive tannins, showing flow and length. Once again, exceptionally well crafted.

Here we have a wine that succeeds with aromatic refinement, including white flower, crushed herbs, blackberry, plum, cassis and raspberry with hints of fine dark chocolate. Quite nice indeed. Now, the palate does have an initially tight and structured feel, highlighted by high-toned, crisp fruit, but then comes the seashell fresh finish, which grew on me, with a veritably appealing drinkability aspect. Potential for a higher score once barrel ageing takes its course.

Black cherries, blackberries, licorice, chocolate, and flowers create an opulent, deep, dark, styled wine. The fruits are ripe, soft, polished, sweet, clean, and pure. There is weight, with ample lift, making it fresh, as well as fruity. The amount of new French oak for the aging has been reduced from 80% to 60%, which has added more complexity to the wine. The wine is a blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot. 14% ABV. Harvesting took place September 19–October 10. Drink from 2029–2055. 93–95 pts.

Dark ruby, purple reflections, brightening at the edge. Delicately tobacco-like, ripe cherry fruit, hints of cranberries, floral touch, candied orange zest. Deep, dark berry fruit, vivid tannins, subtle fruit on the finish, nougat on the finish, salty aftertaste, good ageing potential.

Deep ruby colour, grilled sandalwood and incense, cocoa bean and campfire, blackberry and cassis, high extraction. Léa Zuger came back from Canada five years ago to take over the estate from her father Jean-Luc Zuger. Michel Rolland is the consultant. 60% new oak, harvest from September 19 through October 10, yield of 39 hl/ha, 26.8 ha currently in production as they have just pulled up their Cabernet Franc to replant with Cabernet Sauvignon.

Licorice notes along with floral nuances highlight the elegance and inviting character of Malescot’s bouquet. With fine-grained tannins that emerge from mid-palate, the wine is built on a solid structure. A subtle austerity enhances the aromatic expression on the finish and ensures a lingering finale. A bold, vigorous wine that deserves a little time to open up.

Logo on the cork: AL Dark, intense color. Very aromatic, fruity nose with a hint of seaweed in the background. Delicate on the attack and flavorful on the mid-palate, the wine develops pleasantly, but the finish is simple, which surprises me. Blend: 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot. Alcohol content: 14%. Yield: 20 hl/ha.

The 2023 Château Malescot St.-Exupéry remains charming and approachable, revealing aromas of cassis, violet, dark berries and pepper, seamlessly integrated with oak. Medium- to full-bodied, rich and dense, it is built around a sapid, enveloping core of fruit, framed by velvety tannins and concluding with a delicately fresh, licorice-inflected finish. The blend—58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot—was matured for the first time partly in foudres, complemented by 60% new oak.