Château Malartic-Lagravière 2016

Confirms the En Primeur profile: full-bodied, dense, fleshy, yet with the makings of elegance thanks to the freshness, the flawless craftsmanship and chosen balance, the depth and great length; superb.

Ripe and fresh, with bright cherry, plum and currant pâte de fruit flavors that have a racy edge while roasted apple wood, sweet tobacco and red licorice notes fill in through the lengthy finish. Thoroughly delicious, and approachable now or capable of some cellaring. Drink now through 2030. 11,250 cases made.

Aromatic nose of violets, as well as vanilla and blue fruits, with hints of cocoa nibs and roasted coffee. Finely textured, harmonious, with purity of fruit and vibrant acidity.

I love the deep and complex nose, in which the cassis and mint of cabernet sauvignon are beautifully married to the more generous blackberry of ripe merlot and the vanilla and toasty notes from the oak are marvelously integrated. On the palate it creeps up on you slowly; the first impression is ripe yet delicate, then the fine-grained tannins charge through and light up the sky. Very long finish. Drink or hold.

The 2016 Malartic-Lagravière has a wonderful bouquet of perfumed, mainly red fruit laced with potpourri, black olive tapenade and light brine-like aromas—a bouquet full of personality. The fresh, harmonious palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, a fine bead of acidity and just the right amount of salinity toward the loam-tinged finish. Bon vin from the Bonnies.

Deep in color, here you find a wine with concentration, round, supple textures and silky tannins. The fruit shows maturity with its sweetness and serious depth of flavor. Full-bodied, plush and polished, the long, intense finish serves up dark red berries, licorice, espresso and smoke. This will be a much better wine with age, so give it at least 7–8 years before opening a bottle, if you can wait that long!

Dark ruby with an opaque core, brightening at the rim. Attractive blackberry, delicate plum and honey, and tobacco nuances on the multi-faceted bouquet. Powerful, juicy and complex, it has a chocolaty texture, well-integrated tannins, length and good ageing potential.

Ripe and floral nose with lifted aromas of cassis, raspberry, violet and tobacco, with nuanced oak. Very dense core, abundant fruit with crushed red berries, dark plum, an aromatic herbal spiciness, fine oak, tobacco and a long, powerful finish.

As to the red, the grand vin is the 2016 Château Malartic-Lagravière (53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot). Aged in 80% new barrels and hitting 13.5% natural alcohol, it offers a deep purple color with beautiful cassis, tobacco, crushed rocks, and subtle incense aromas and flavors. Balanced, medium to full-bodied, and straight-up seamless on the palate, it’s another brilliant Graves that offers ample pleasure today yet will keep for 20+ years or more.

Garnet with a brightening rim. Delicate aromas of wild cherries and apricot blossom, reminiscent of a Hermitage, followed by red currant, light tobacco and wax notes. Concentrated palate with tightly knit tannins, plenty of muscle to digest – with potential.

Kunz barrel sample 17: (53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot, 46 hl/ha) Peppery, delicately vegetal bouquet, Amarena cherries, light tobacco, graphite. Medium-bodied, well-focused, elegant palate with fine sandy tannins, good aromatics, fresh fruit, well-muscled structure, bitter finish.

Silky, dense, creamy, fruity bouquet with plums, subtle dried-fruit notes, tobacco, currants, and a hint of licorice. Dense, full, aromatic palate with vigorous fruit, creamy texture, plenty of fine tannins, powerful, sweet-toned aromatics, and a long, concentrated finish. Still has room to improve. 17/20 2023 - 2038

The 2016 Malartic Lagraviere has a deep garnet color. It offers notes of stewed black and red plums, sautéed herbs, and balsamic, with touches of damp soil, tobacco, and new leather. Medium-bodied, the palate is chewy and lively, with evolving black fruit and a savory finish.

Nose of great complexity and elegance, very ripe fruit, a texture that is both dense and satiny, with beautiful grain, freshness, and above all remarkable length. Perfectly harmonious, it will age wonderfully.

Malartic is superb, very precise, with a fresh expression of fruit and a palate that is both velvety and energetic.

Nose of black fruits, a hint of prune, black cherry, supple tannins, good body, lively, fresh and fruity, long finish.

Peppery nuances and eucalyptus notes in the bouquet of Malartic 2016, where I also detect hints of tea, graphite, and morello cherries. On the palate, the wine shows muscle and structure. Its tannins provide a touch of power and go hand in hand with the freshness of the acidic framework. A characterful wine that bridges austerity and savoriness.

Dark, intense and beautiful colour. A moderately intense nose with ripe fruit, showing a touch that evokes the Right Bank. A hint of pine wood adds to the overall freshness. Soft and supple from the outset, the wine becomes juicy and perfumed mid-palate, with a hint of resin to its flavour. It develops with a rich, deep texture, plenty of flavour and flesh, and fine tannins. This is very good and superior to the 2015.

The Bonnie family's estate has produced a richly structured wine, full of the ripe tannins indicative of the vintage. To balance the structure, powerful flavors of black currant and dark berries give ripeness. It is a wine to age; drink after 2026.