Château Malescasse 2018

From an estate located just outside of St-Julien, without doubt deserving its ‘Exceptionnel’ badge, this is showing extremely well—if young—right now, emphasising the austerity in the tannins. Great concentration of black fruits, good persistence through the finish and a kick of spice. A ton of Médoc typicity. A yield of 23 hl/ha, with 14 months in barrel for ageing in 33% new oak.

The 2018 Malescasse is well defined and pure on the nose, with blackberry, briary, and cedar aromas gently wafting from the glass and the oak very well integrated. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins. A classically styled Haut-Médoc delivering a fine bead of acidity and notes of cedar and mint toward the finish. This is an excellent Malescasse that should age with style.

A clear contender for the best Left Bank value wine made today, this beauty is elegant, fresh, soft, silky, polished, medium-bodied, fruity, ripe, sweet, and already accessible. Drink it over the next 5–7 years.

Dark ruby garnet with purple reflections and a touch of edge brightening. Delicate notes of liquorice and blackberries on the nose, with a hint of nougat and some precious wood spice. The palate is juicy and velvety, with a clearly merlot-influenced texture and fine tannins. Accessible and with some ageing potential.

Based on 60% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Petit Verdot, the 2018 Château Malescasse offers a dense purple hue along with quality notes of black and blue fruits, smoked earth, chocolate, and tobacco-like nuances. Rich and medium to full-bodied, it has a plump, layered mouthfeel and a great finish, making for one delicious Haut-Médoc that will keep for a good decade. It’s up with the 2016 and one of the finest vintages I’ve tasted from the estate.

Extremely dark purple with violet highlights. Rich bouquet with plenty of cassis, followed by blackberry and blueberry. On the palate, dense and tightly knit with slightly powdery tannins. The focused finish shows a basket of blue berries and plum skin; thanks to its strong potential, it merits a higher score.

Kunz barrel sample 19: (60% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot) Silky, sweet, finely opulent bouquet, blackberry jelly, black cherries, caramel, mint. Medium-bodied, creamy, fruity palate with sweet fruit, fine tannins, powerful sweet aromatics, lush, sweet finish.

(60% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot) Silky, sweet, finely opulent bouquet, blackberry jelly, black cherries, caramel, mint. Medium-bodied, creamy, fruity palate with sweet fruit, fine tannins, powerful sweet aromatics, lavish, sweet finish. 17/20 2025 - 2038

Located just outside of St Julien, you get plenty of Haut-Médoc typicity, with crushed mint, flint and pencil lead, still young but with plenty of cassis, bilberry and tobacco notes adding layers and complexity. A low 23 hl/ha after a dry summer so not the most typical vintage, and one that can be drunk a little earlier than usual, 33% new oak.

Complex bouquet creating a fine symbiosis between varietal freshness and fruity intensity. Pleasant notes of blackcurrant and peppermint. The same aromatic properties are found on the palate, where the wine stands out for its balance and sapidity. It is well supported by its tannins and has the potential to spend time in the cellar while already being accessible.

Logo on the cork: CB Dark red color with black and violet highlights. Bright and beautiful. Medium-intensity nose with ripe fruit, somewhat discreet yet fragrant. Supple on the attack, juicy and well-built mid-palate; the wine firms up a bit in its tannins in the last third of the palate, but without any harshness. Normal length. Wait.

The nose is fruity and offers a little juiciness as well as concentration. It reveals notes of juicy/ripe raspberry, juicy/ripe cherry and, more subtly, a racy minerality, combined with fine touches of fresh blackberry, a subtle hint of flowers, very fine hints of zan, toast, and a very discreet hint of mocha. The palate is fresh, fruity, balanced, finely crisp, and offers good definition, juiciness, and a mineral backbone. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of fleshy/juicy blackcurrant, fleshy/juicy strawberry, and, more slightly, cherry, combined with small touches of chocolate and licorice, very fine hints of tonka bean and caramelization, as well as an imperceptible hint of coffee and Bourbon vanilla.